Alberta Hunter

Blues Singer

Birthday April 1, 1895

Birth Sign Aries

Birthplace Memphis, TN

DEATH DATE Oct 17, 1964 (69)

#212860 Most Popular

About

Chicago blues singer and nurse who, after taking a brief retirement, performed deep into her eighties. She recorded numerous songs in her early years, and in the 1940s, she toured with the USO.

Before Fame

Arriving in Chicago at the age of fifteen, she initially found little work outside of brothels and disreputable joints until the upscale club Dago Frank's hired her as a soloist.

Trivia

She left singing to start a career as a nurse, which she kept well into her second singing career.

Family Life

She was born in Memphis, Tennessee, running away from home at age twelve to travel.

Associated With

Though mostly known for her music, she did have a walk-on role in Robert Altman's Remember My Name and she also sang on the soundtrack.