Adelaide Hall has been given the Google Doodle treatment for what would have been the singer’s 122nd birthday.
The American-born, UK-based entertainer was given the honour on Friday (October 20), with a drawing by London-based guest artist Hannah Ekuwa Buckman.
Hall became a key figure in the Harlem Renaissance movement of the 1920s and 1930s with her legacy growing from there – setting Guinness World Records along the way.
Google shows a special drawing on its homepage to legends or key contributors to a field, often on the day of what would have been a birthday.
Adelaide Hall was #BOTD in 1901. The American-born, UK-based jazz singer was a major figure in the Harlem Renaissance in the 20s and 30s. In 2003, she entered the Guinness Book Of Records as the World's Most Enduring Recording Artist. #musichall #blackhistorymonth pic.twitter.com/ZSbP9gojAq
— BritishMusicHallSoc (@musichallsoc) October 20, 2023
Who was Adelaide Hall?
Born in Brooklyn, Adelaide Louise Hall performed around the US in the 1920s and has been widely recognised for introducing “scat singing” – an improvised form of jazz where the voice takes the form of an instrument.
She began performing in Broadway productions but had her breakthrough in 1927 as she began to win recording contracts of her own and her song, Creole Love Call, became a chart hit. From there, her singing career began and lasted for eight decades as she released countless songs recorded across the world.
Soon after her breakthrough, she joined the cast of Lew Leslie’s Blackbirds of 1928, which ran for 500 performances and after which Hall based herself in London from 1938 onwards.
“Happy birthday, Adelaide Hall!” Google said.
“Hall’s entertainment career spanned an impressive eight decades — in fact, she currently holds the Guinness World Record for the world’s most enduring recording artist.
“Her songs continue to move listeners with each note and lyric, and her legacy lives on in the hearts of many.”
Jazz age superstar Adelaide Hall was a music legend, who from 1938 made Britain her home. In a career that spanned five decades, we take a look at her remarkable life, using newspapers taken from our Archive: https://t.co/wsWERINiqY #BlackHistoryMonth #WomenInHistory pic.twitter.com/cKlT62psyD
— The British Newspaper Archive (@BNArchive) October 11, 2023
Hall died aged 92 in 1993. The Doodle has also been shared to mark UK Black History Month.
Her Guinness World Record is for the 'most enduring artist' to celebrate her success over many years.
Marisa Lewis, a relative of Hall, added: "I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to Google for embarking on this project and allowing me to celebrate my family member, Adelaide Hall, during the UK's Black History Month.
"Adelaide was a true pioneer and possessed a rare gift – a voice that could move mountains and a talent for dance that enchanted audiences worldwide. Instilled in her by her parents' tutelage, she harnessed her natural gifts of perfect pitch, dance, and charisma, determined to support her household.
"Little did she know that her unwavering work ethic, creativity, passion, and humility would pave the way for a once-in-a-lifetime career and an enduring legacy."
