Willie Hall (drummer)

Willie Clarence Hall (born August 8, 1950) is an American drummer best known for his work with Isaac Hayes and as a member of the Blues Brothers band.

For other people with the same name, see Willie Hall.
Willie Hall
Hall in 2007
Background information
Birth nameWillie Clarence Hall
Also known asWillie "Too Big" Hall
Born (1950-08-08) August 8, 1950
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
GenresR&B, soul, funk
Occupation(s)Musician
InstrumentsDrums, percussion
Years active1965–present
LabelsStax
Associated acts

Biography

Hall began his career as a drummer in 1965, while still in high school. He played with the Bar-Kays and Isaac Hayes' band The Movement.[1] In the seventies, as part of the Stax-Volt Recording Section Team from 1968 to 1977, Hall backed dozens of major Stax artists on recordings, including The Emotions, Little Milton, Carla and Rufus Thomas, Johnnie Taylor, The Staple Singers, Albert King and Isaac Hayes. Hall produced Hayes' last Stax album, and did percussion on Hayes' albums Hot Buttered Soul and The Isaac Hayes Movement, as well as his Theme from Shaft.

In 1977 Hall was invited to replace drummer Al Jackson, Jr. of Booker T. & the MGs after Jackson died in 1975. Hall recorded the album Universal Language with the group before it officially disbanded. Two years later joined Hall, along with guitarist Steve "The Colonel" Cropper and bass player Donald "Duck" Dunn became a member of The Blues Brothers, which led to his appearance in the hit movie The Blues Brothers and its sequel Blues Brothers 2000. He also appeared as himself in the 2008 movie Soul Men.

Hall has toured the world and recorded with a variety of artists, including The Blues Brothers, Steve Cropper, Cab Calloway, Aretha Franklin, Ray Charles, KC and the Sunshine Band, Bonnie Raitt, Earl Scruggs, Charlie Daniels Band, Todd Rundgren and Roger McGuinn, among others. He was also a member of The Bo-Keys, a band of highly respected Memphis musicians, including Isaac Hayes' wah-wah guitarist, Charles "Skip" Pitts.

Hall is the father of rapper Gangsta Pat.[2]

Collaborations

With Rufus Thomas

  • Do the Funky Chicken (Stax Records, 1970)
  • Crown Prince of Dance (Stax Records, 1973)

With Tony Joe White

  • Eyes (20th Century Records, 1976)

With Linda Clifford

With Booker T. & the M.G.'s

With Albert King

With Jerry Butler

  • The Love We Have, The Love We Had (Mercury Records, 1973)

With Al Green

With David Porter

  • Victim of the Joke? An Opera (Enterprise Records, 1971)
  • Sweat & Love (Enterprise Records, 1973)

With Mavis Staples

With Shirley Brown

  • Shirley Brown (Arista Records, 1977)
  • Intimate Storm (Soundtown Records, 1984)

With Levon Helm

With Yvonne Elliman

  • Rising Sun (RSO Records, 1975)

References
  1. Walker, Donald (2006). The Unknown Musician. AuthorHouse. p. 252. ISBN 978-1425946890.
  2. Lisle, Andria (August 2, 2007). "Willie Hall's Journey". Memphis Flyer.
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