Alberta Hunter was singing with King Oliver's band when they hired 15-year-old Louis Armstrong, she wrote Bessie Smith's first hit, she starred opposite Paul Robeson in "Showboat" in London, the first use of Dufay Colour in Britain was for a musical segment of hers.
Then, despite touring the world, work died off and she became a nurse until mandatory retirement, at which point she made a comeback singing at age 82!
The woman lived, and the spark still in her makes this documentary irresistible. You don't have to like blues, or the jazz age, or music just life.
Anytime I watch this film, I feel charged and ready to take anything on. The same has been true for anyone I've shown it to.
Then, despite touring the world, work died off and she became a nurse until mandatory retirement, at which point she made a comeback singing at age 82!
The woman lived, and the spark still in her makes this documentary irresistible. You don't have to like blues, or the jazz age, or music just life.
Anytime I watch this film, I feel charged and ready to take anything on. The same has been true for anyone I've shown it to.
