Saxophonist Hal “Cornbread” Singer was a popular US R&B and jazz bandleader of the 1940s. Taking advantage of the opportunity to make a commercial impact in the world of R&B during years when the “honking” style of jumping R&B became popular, he managed to keep in both camps, recording successfully both in R&B and jazz idioms.
Hailing from Tulsa, Oklahoma, Singer studied violin as a child but later switched to reed instruments and settled on the tenor saxophone after hearing Ben Webster and Lester Young. In 1947, after a plying his trade with a number groups including Jay McShann’s orchestra, he joined Oran “Hot Lips” Page’s band and began working as a session musician with King Records. In early 1948, he left Page, formed his own small group, and cut his first single Fine As Wine. He recorded the instrumental Corn Bread, which made No.1 on the R&B charts in September 1948, and raised Singer’s profile and his nickname.
This 44-track 2-CD collection comprises A&B sides and selected album tracks under his own name on the Savoy, Acorn, Mercury and Coral labels, plus the tracks from his Prestige album Blue Stompin’, with several extended performances. The set features performances alongside Milt Larkins, Wynton Kelly, Sir Charles Thompson, Walter Page, Tyree Glenn, Milt Hinton, Sam ‘The Man’ Taylor, Kelly Owens, Mickey Baker, Leonard Gaskin and many more.
It’s an entertaining showcase for his distinctive honking style, but also underlines his prowess as a jazz musician. Singer became a centenarian on 8 October 2019 and died on 18 August 2020.
