Bobbye Hall

Bobbye Hall
Bobbye Hall and her pug, Ching Ching
Background information
Instruments Percussion

Bobbye Jean Hall Porter is an American percussionist who has recorded with a variety of rock, soul, blues and jazz artists, and has appeared on 22 songs that reached the top ten in the Billboard Hot 100, six of those reaching No. 1.

Early career, work for Motown and move to Los Angeles

Bobbye Jean Hall was born in Detroit, Michigan, and began her career there playing percussion in nightclubs while still in her teens. Using bongos, congas and other percussion, she played uncredited on many Motown recordings.[1] She lived in Europe for a few years during which time she changed the spelling of her name from Bobby to Bobbye, to distinguish herself as a woman and as a unique musician.[2] She moved to Los Angeles in 1970 where she was one of the few female session musicians in a male-dominated profession, a sometime associate of the Funk Brothers.[3][4] Already a veteran player by May 1971, she added her bongo skills to Marvin Gaye's "Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)".[5] Her first studio gig behind a full rock drum kit was with Chris Ethridge on his album L.A. Getaway—Ethridge said "she was great".[6]

Hall recorded several albums with Bill Withers, including his No. 1 hit "Lean On Me", and an album recorded live at Carnegie Hall. She toured with Carole King in May–June 1973 after having participated on two of King's studio albums.[7] During this tour Hall asked King to stop introducing her as "Little Bobbye from Detroit". King suggested "Ms. Bobbye Hall" and from that time forward, Hall was known as Ms. Bobbye Hall.[2] In May 1974, she performed again at Carnegie Hall, this time backing James Taylor, a follow-up to appearing on two of his albums. Stevie Wonder used Hall's percussion skills for a few songs in 1974 and 1976, including "Bird of Beauty" where her artful quica work established a mood of Brazil at Carnival.[8]

In 1973–1974, Hall began to be credited sometimes as Bobbye Hall Porter, also Bobbye Porter Hall, after her marriage to record producer Joe Porter.[9][10][11] Hall released one album of her own in March 1977: Body Language For Lovers, a soul-jazz instrumental work featuring tunes co-written by her and her husband. Billboard recommended the LP,[12] but it did not chart.

Global exposure

In 1978, Bob Dylan took her on a world tour, from mid-February to mid-December, paying her $2,500 per week—about $9,400 in today's dollars.[13] This handsome compensation was arranged to pay for the studio sessions she would be missing.[13] The men and women appearing on stage with Dylan were required to wear costumes designed in Hollywood by Bill "Spoony" Whitten, and the musicians did not like them. Lead guitarist Billy Cross said "the band looked like a large aggregation of pimps", and backup singer Debi Dye-Gibson said she and the other women "looked like hookers".[13] The show's playlist was a collection of Dylan's greatest hits, as specified by promoters at the tour's Japanese stops. All the songs, even the sparse acoustic ones, were arranged for a full band and a big sound. Hall and the musicians stayed at the best hotels side-by-side with Dylan, and flew on a chartered jet airliner which held suites and a bar. Hall joined Dylan from time to time at dinner, and was surprised to find him a longtime fan of soul food—she observed him to be "infatuated by going out with black women ...by that whole black thing, [even] eating the food."[13] He entertained her with card tricks.[13] However, the tour began to wear on him, and he called band meetings where he criticized his musicians sharply for being too formulaic. Hall remarked of these encounters, "when he spoke to us, he was not the poet."[13] A two-disc album was produced using 22 songs recorded live in Japan: Bob Dylan at Budokan, and a stop in Santa Monica, California, allowed Dylan and most of the touring band to cut a studio album, Street-Legal, with Hall on percussion.[14]

In late August 1978, in between Dylan tour dates, Hall played congas for Tom Waits's Blue Valentine album, on the track "Romeo Is Bleeding", giving it a gritty Latin feel.[15]

In 1979, she recorded The Wall with Pink Floyd. She recorded with Bob Seger's Silver Bullet Band in the early 1980s. Hall joined Stevie Nicks for her album Bella Donna and toured with her in 1981, 1983, and 1986.[16][17][18] For the 1986 film Little Shop of Horrors, Hall played tambourine and congas on the soundtrack.[19]

Other musicians she has recorded for include Fanny, Kim Carnes, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Janis Joplin, Tavares, Randy Newman, Rod Stewart, Dolly Parton, Mel Brown, Leo Sayer, Cecilio & Kapono, Russ Ballard, Donovan, Joni Mitchell, Jerry Garcia, Patti Scialfa, Freda Payne, Dwight Yoakam, Donald Byrd, Gene Harris, Bobby Hutcherson, Grant Green, Ferron, Poco, the Temptations, Mary Wells, Jefferson Starship, Kenny Rankin, the Manhattan Transfer, Stanley Turrentine, Boz Scaggs, Marc Bolan, Judy Mowatt, Hugo Montenegro, Aretha Franklin, the Doobie Brothers, Kris Kristofferson, Smokey Robinson, Diana Ross, Al Kooper, the Jeff Healey Band, the Doors, Robin Zander, Lone Justice, the Mamas & the Papas, David Byrne, Marty Balin, Sarah Vaughan, Tommy Bolin, Ozark Mountain Daredevils, Harry Chapin and Tracy Chapman.[19]

Instruments

She has recorded as percussionist and drummer using the following instruments: bongos, congas, tambourine, claves, quica, wood block, tabla, full drum kit, tom-toms, cabasa, maracas, cowbell, bells, shaker, güiro, triangle, mark tree, hand claps, finger snaps[1] and finger cymbals.[20][21]

Billboard chart appearances

These songs recorded with Hall appeared on the Billboard Hot 100 chart:

ArtistSongYear-monthHighest chart position
Janis Joplin"Me and Bobby McGee"1971-001
Bill Withers"Ain't No Sunshine"1971-003
Bill Withers"Grandma's Hands"1971-0042
Marvin Gaye"Inner City Blues (Make Me Wanna Holler)"1971-099
Carole King"Sweet Seasons"1971-129
Carole King"Been to Canaan"1972-0024
Bill Withers"Use Me"1972-102
James Taylor"Don't Let Me Be Lonely Tonight"1972-1114
Joni Mitchell"You Turn Me On I'm a Radio"1972-1125
Bill Withers"Lean On Me"1972-061
Tavares"Check It Out"1973–0035
Tavares"That's the Sound That Lonely Makes"1973-0070
Marvin Gaye"Let's Get It On"1973-061
Seals and Crofts"Diamond Girl"1973-086
Seals and Crofts"We May Never Pass This Way Again"1973-1021
Marvin Gaye"Come Get to This"1973-1021
Marvin Gaye"You Sure Love to Ball"1974-0150
Smokey Robinson"Virgin Man"1974-0356
Smokey Robinson"It's Her Turn to Live"1974-0382
Jefferson Starship"Miracles"1975-033
The Doobie Brothers"Take Me in Your Arms (Rock Me a Little While)"1975-0511
Lynyrd Skynyrd"Saturday Night Special"1975-0527
Jefferson Starship"With Your Love"1976-0612
Jefferson Starship"St. Charles"1976-0664
James Taylor"Shower the People"1976-0922
Leo Sayer"You Make Me Feel Like Dancing"1976–111
Leo Sayer"How Much Love"1976-1117
Dave Mason"We Just Disagree"1977-0012
Rita Coolidge"(Your Love Keeps Lifting Me) Higher and Higher"1977-032
Leo Sayer"When I Need You"1977-051
Diana Ross"Gettin' Ready For Love"1977-0927
Diana Ross"Your Love Is So Good For Me"1977-0949
Diana Ross"You Got It"1977–0949
Leo Sayer"Thunder in My Heart"1977-1038
Leo Sayer"Easy To Love"1978-0036
Leo Sayer"Raining in my Heart"1978-0947
Quincy Jones"Roots Medley"1977-0057
Rita Coolidge"We're All Alone"1977-097
Dan Fogelberg"The Power of Gold"1978-0024
Billy Preston"With You I'm Born Again"1979-104
Pink Floyd"Another Brick in the Wall (Part 2)"1980-001
Pink Floyd"Run Like Hell"1980-0053
Marty Balin"Hearts"1981-058
Marty Balin"Atlanta Lady (Something About Your Love)"1981-0527
Stevie Nicks"Leather and Lace"1981-076
Stevie Nicks"Edge of Seventeen"1981-0711
Stevie Nicks"After the Glitter Fades"1981-0732
Bob Seger"Roll Me Away"1982-125
Bob Seger"Shame on the Moon"1983-022
Stevie Nicks"Stand Back"1983-055
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers"Don't Come Around Here No More"1985-0513
Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers"Rebels"1985-0574
Rod Stewart"Lost In You"1988-0512
Rod Stewart"Forever Young"1988-0512
Rod Stewart"My Heart Can't Tell You No"1988-054
Rod Stewart"Crazy About Her"1989-0011
Jeff Healey"Angel Eyes"1989-065
Tracy Chapman"Crossroads"1989-1090

References

  1. 1 2 "Rhythm Section Session Players". Wilson and Alroy's Record Reviews. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  2. 1 2 "Liner Note Legends #4: Ms. Bobbye Hall". Interviewed by Renee Montagne. NPR. January 9, 2015. Retrieved March 7, 2016.
  3. ↑ "Bobbye Hall". Instrumental Women Project. Archived from the original on February 19, 2006. Retrieved July 14, 2010.
  4. ↑ Gray, Michael (2008). The Bob Dylan Encyclopedia. Continuum. pp. 291–294. ISBN 978-0-8264-2974-2.
  5. ↑ Sounes, Howard (2006). Seventies: the sights, sounds and ideas of a brilliant decade. Simon & Schuster. p. 134. ISBN 0-7432-6859-8. "...such as Bobbye Hall whose insistent bongos can be heard..."
  6. ↑ Einarson, John (2005). Mr. Tambourine Man: the life and legacy of the Byrds' Gene Clark. Hal Leonard Corporation. p. 166. ISBN 0-87930-793-5.
  7. ↑ "Ode's King U.S. Tour". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 85 (15): 16. April 14, 1973. ISSN 0006-2510.
  8. ↑ Perone, James E. The sound of Stevie Wonder: his words and music. The Praeger Singer-songwriter collection. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 62. ISBN 0-275-98723-X.
  9. ↑ Raben, Erik; Nielsen, Ole J. (1990). Jazz records 1942–80: a discography. 3. Stainless/Wintermoon. p. 105.
  10. ↑ Lord, Tom (1996). The Jazz Discography. 10. Lord Music Reference. pp. H-971.
  11. ↑ Orloff, Katherine (1974). Rock 'n Roll Woman. Nash. ISBN 0-8402-8077-7.
  12. ↑ "Billboard's Recommended LPs". Billboard. Nielsen Business Media. 89 (10): 118. March 12, 1977. ISSN 0006-2510.
  13. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Sounes, Howard (2002). Down the Highway: The Life of Bob Dylan. Grove Press. pp. 314–317, 322. ISBN 0-8021-3891-8.
  14. ↑ James, Peter. Warehouse Eyes: The albums of Bob Dylan. Lulu.com. pp. 134, 141. ISBN 1-4116-8084-7.
  15. ↑ Hoskyns, Barney (2010). Lowside of the Road: A Life of Tom Waits. Random House. p. 208. ISBN 0-7679-2709-5.
  16. ↑ Bella Donna (album)
  17. ↑ The Wild Heart Tour
  18. ↑ Hounsome, Terry (1987). Rock record: a collectors' directory of rock albums and musicians (3 ed.). Facts On File. p. 414. ISBN 0-8160-1754-9.
  19. 1 2 "Bobbye Porter: Credits". Artist Direct. Retrieved August 2, 2010.
  20. ↑ Buskin, Richard (December 2007). "Classic Tracks: Stevie Wonder 'Pastime Paradise'". Sound On Sound.
  21. ↑ http://www.allmusic.com/artist/bobbye-hall-mn0000387502/credits
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