Adelaide Hall (born October 20, 1901,New York, New York, U.S.—died November 7, 1993,London, England) was an American-bornjazz improviser whose wordless rhythm vocalizing ushered in what became known asscatsinging.

The daughter of amusic teacher, Hall attended thePratt Institute inNew York City. In 1921 she made her professional debut as a chorus member in thebenchmark revueShuffle Along at the 63rd Street Theatre. FeaturingFlorence Mills,Josephine Baker, andPaul Robeson, themusical helped establish African American show business. Hall later appeared inRunnin’ Wild before launching a 1926 European tour as the star ofChocolate Kiddies. After returning to theUnited States, Hall toured invaudeville and appeared on Broadway inDesires of 1927,Town Topics,Blackbirds of 1928, andBrown Buddies. Her last Broadway appearance was in 1957–59 inJamaica. She also contributed her pioneering vocals toDuke Ellington’s classic recording “Creole Love Call” (1927).

In 1934 Hall and her husband, Wilbur Hicks, took up permanent residence in Europe, opening nightclubs inParis and London, where they eventually settled. A major star abroad, she achieved that status in the United States only after her appearance in the 1979 concertBlack Broadway, 1900–1945, which was coproduced byBobby Short; the performance took place at Avery Fisher Hall in New York City and was part of the Newport Jazz Festival . She also staged a one-woman show atCarnegie Hall in 1988. Hall, who continued to perform into her 90s, was the subject of a television film,Sophisticated Lady (1989), and later her story wasrecounted on radio in a program entitledSweet Adelaide.

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