October 12th: Today In Music History

Considered one of the top jazz drummers of the early days, Tubby Hall (real name: Alfred) was born in Sellers, Louisiana, on this day in 1895. He joined Sugar Johnny’s Creole Orchestra in 1917 before going off to serve in the Army during World War I. Hall later played alongside Louis Armstrong (“You Can Depend On Me,” 1931) and appeared in several films featuring the great Satchmo. Hall is seen playing the drums in the 1932 Betty Boop animated short “I’ll Be Glad When You’re Dead You Rascal You,” but unfortunately the film also depicts some ugly racial stereotypes.