Alberta Hunter (April 1, 1895 – October 17, 1984) was an American blues singer, songwriter, and nurse. Her career had started back in the early 1920s, and from there on, she became a successful jazz and blues recording artist, being critically acclaimed to the ranks of Ethel Waters and Bessie Smith. In the 1950s, she retired from performing and entered the medical field, only to successfully resume her singing career in her 80s.
Biography in: "The Scribner Encyclopedia of American Lives". Volume One, 1981-1985, pages 409-411. New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1998.
2
Inducted into the Big Band and Jazz Hall of Fame in 1996.
3
Although "Show Boat" had opened on Broadway in 1927, and although the character Queenie is a black woman, the role was not played by one until Ms. Hunter played it in London. In the U.S., Queenie was played in the original production by Tess Gardella, a white actress who appeared in blackface.
Soundtrack
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Originals
2015
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Mad Men
2009
TV Series performer - 1 episode
Mimic: Sentinel
2003
Video performer: "You Can't Tell the Difference After Dark"
American Masters
1999
TV Series documentary writer - 1 episode
Made in Heaven
1987
performer: "Long May We Love"
The Laundromat
1985
TV Movie performer: "Workin' Man", "Downhearted Blues", "Some Sweet Day", "I'm Having a Good Time", "Black Man", "The Love I Have for You", "My Castle's Rockin'", "I Cried for You", "My Handy Man Ain't Handy No More" / writer: "Workin' Man", "Downhearted Blues", "Some Sweet Day", "I'm Having a Good Time", "Black Man", "The Love I Have for You", "My Castle's Rockin'"
Remember My Name
1978
performer: "My Castle's Rockin'", "I've Got a Mind to Ramble", "Workin' Man", "Down Hearted Blues", "Some Sweet Day", "The Love I Have For You", "You Gotta Reap What You Sow" - uncredited / writer: "My Castle's Rockin'", "I've Got a Mind to Ramble", "Workin' Man", "Down Hearted Blues", "Some Sweet Day", "The Love I Have For You", "You Gotta Reap What You Sow" - uncredited
The Tennessee Ernie Ford Show
1959
TV Series writer - 1 episode
Radio Parade of 1935
1934
performer: "Black Shadows"
Composer
Title
Year
Status
Character
The Laundromat
1985
TV Movie
Remember My Name
1978
uncredited
Actress
Title
Year
Status
Character
Radio Parade of 1935
1934
Singer
Music Department
Title
Year
Status
Character
Remember My Name
1978
songs written and performed by
Self
Title
Year
Status
Character
Alberta Hunter: My Castle's Rockin'
1988
TV Movie documentary
Herself
Brown Sugar
1986
TV Mini-Series documentary
Herself
Today
1980
TV Series
Herself
One Hundred Years from Today
1980
TV Movie
Herself
Good Morning America
1978-1979
TV Series
Herself
The Kennedy Center Honors: A Celebration of the Performing Arts
1978
TV Movie
Herself
The Mike Douglas Show
1977-1978
TV Series
Herself - Vocalist / Herself - Blues Songwriter
New York, New York
1978
TV Series
Herself
Archive Footage
Title
Year
Status
Character
Broadway: The American Musical
2004
TV Mini-Series documentary
Herself
SexTV
2002
TV Series documentary
Herself
Wild Women Don't Have the Blues
1989
Documentary
Herself
Highlight: The Singing Cinema
1964
Known for movies
The Laundromat (1985) as Composer
Alberta Hunter: My Castle's Rockin' (1988) as Herself
$9 Million
