Minor Hall
1897–1959 (age 62)
Biography
Minor Hall, born 1897 in New Orleans, emerged as a key drummer during jazz's formative years, joining crews such as King Oliver's and later working with Louis Armstrong. His steady brushwork and sense of swing provided the foundation for some of the era's most celebrated recordings.
As the decades passed Hall became a mentor to younger players, sharing the groove and discipline he learned in the South while also enjoying quieter days in Los Angeles, where he died in 1959. He is interred at Los Angeles National Cemetery, a resting place befitting a man whose rhythms carried music across the nation.