Hilda Perleno

Hilda Perleno was an American blues and jazz singer, known for her Broadway appearances in the 1920s and 1930s.

Hilda Perleno, 1926

Biography

Hilda Eugeana Perleno was a native of East St. Louis, Illinois, and attended the music conservatory at Howard University between 1918 and 1922.[1][2] Her first role as a performer was as a chorus girl in the 1924 production In Bamville.[3] In September 1924, Perleno appeared on Broadway as a chorus girl in The Chocolate Dandie.[4] In 1925-6, she found work as a first soprano for the Harlem Production Company.[5]

In 1927 she recorded Donald Heywood's "Mango Lane" and "Susanne", singing a duet with Dan Michaels as the composer accompanied them on the piano.[6][7][8] In March 1927, she appeared opposite Berlena Banks and Jesse Shipp in the Negro musical comedy Lucky Sambo at the La Salle Theatre in Chicago.[9] Perleno, along with Amanda Randolph, was one of the Three Dixie Songbirds in the production.[3] She had been appearing in the production since 1925.[10] Perleno, along with Blanche Calloway, Anna Freeman, Byron Jones, Lew Keene and Evelyn Keys performed in the 1928 show Keep Shufflin' by Miller & Lyles at the Erlanger Theater, Chicago.[11] Perleno made regular radio appearances on WCGU in 1928; at times she was joined by Donald Heywood.[12][13][14]

In April 1929, Perleno appeared in the ensemble for Messin' Around,[15] and in June, at the Royale Theatre, she had a minor role as Sheila Nesbit in the play Bamboola.[4][16] Perleno sang in the numbers "Ace of Spades", "Tampico Tune" and "Shoutin Sinners" in the musical.[17]

In 1930, Perleno appeared in Hot Rhythm,[4] and in April 1930 she appeared alongside Margaret Simms, Allen Virgel and Valaida Snow in a production of Shuffle Along in Werba's Brooklyn Theatre.[18][19] By 1931, Perleno was one of the featured performers for Ed Smalls' Club Paradise Revue. Smalls, the owner of Smalls Paradise, produced regular revues for the club featuring the Smalls' Paradise permanent cast of entertainers. He commissioned original music for the revues, which were performed both at the club and also at local theaters.[20][21][22][23] Jackie "Moms" Mabley was also one of those featured when the revue played at The Harlem Alhambra.[20]

In April 1937, she appeared supporting Ella Fitzgerald and the Chick Webb Orchestra during their one-week engagement at the Apollo Theater in New York City.[24]

References
  1. "(untitled)". The Pittsburgh Courier. Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. March 20, 1926. p. 10. Retrieved 16 March 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  2. "Student in Degree Courses". Catalogue of the Officers and Students of Howard University. Washington, District of Columbia: Howard University: 313. 1918–1922. Retrieved 16 March 2017.
  3. Peterson, Bernard L. Jr. (2001). Profiles of African American Stage Performers and Theatre People, 1816-1960. Greenwood. p. 303. ISBN 0-313-29534-4. Archived from the original on 2017-03-16. Retrieved 2017-03-15.
  4. "Hilda Perleno". Playbill. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  5. Peterson, Bernard L. (1997). The African American Theatre Directory, 1816-1960: A Comprehensive Guide to Early Black Theatre Organizations, Companies, Theatres, and Performing Groups. Greenwood Publishing Group. p. 90. ISBN 978-0-313-29537-9.
  6. "Donald Heywood (composer)". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  7. "Victor matrix BVE-41710. Susanne". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  8. "Victor matrix BVE-41708. Mango Lane". Discography of American Historical Recordings. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  9. Chicago Stagebill Yearbook. 1947. p. 145. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  10. "Lucky Sambo". Variety: 50. October 21, 1925. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  11. "Amusements--Erlanger Theater, Chicago". The Dixon Evening Telegraph. Dixon, Illinois. November 7, 1928. p. 4. Retrieved 16 March 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  12. "On the Air". The Daily Argus. March 5, 1928. p. 15. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  13. "Radio News and Reviews". Long Island Daily Press. January 31, 1928. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  14. "Radio News and Reviews". Long Island Daily Press. January 13, 1928. p. 10. Retrieved March 17, 2017.
  15. "Messin' Around". Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 23, 1929. p. 38. Retrieved March 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  16. "Bamboola Broadway Cast". Broadwayworld.com. Retrieved March 14, 2017.
  17. Peterson Jr., Bernard L. (October 25, 1993). A Century of Musicals in Black and White: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works By, About, or Involving African Americans: An Encyclopedia of Musical Stage Works By, About, or Involving African Americans. ABC-CLIO. p. 25. ISBN 978-0-313-06454-8.
  18. Brown, Scott E.; Hilbert, Robert (1 September 1986). James P. Johnson: a case of mistaken identity. Scarecrow Press and the Institute of Jazz Studies, Rutgers University. p. 271. ISBN 978-0-8108-1887-3.
  19. "Shuffle Along". The Brooklyn Daily Eagle. April 22, 1930. p. 19. Retrieved March 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  20. "Alhambra Theatre". New York Age. p. 6 27 June 1931. Retrieved March 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  21. "Alhambra Theatre". New York Age. June 20, 1931. p. 6. Retrieved March 17, 2017 – via Newspapers.com. open access
  22. Ogren, Kathy J. (1992). The Jazz Revolution: Twenties America & the Meaning of Jazz. Oxford University Press. p. 74. ISBN 978-0195074796. Archived from the original on 2016-03-28. Retrieved 2017-03-17.
  23. Malone, Jacqui (1996). Steppin' on the Blues: The Visible Rhythms of African American Dance. University of Illinois Press. p. 86. ISBN 978-0-2520-6508-8.
  24. Fritts, Ron; Vail, Ken (2003). Ella Fitzgerald: The Chick Webb Years & Beyond. Scarecrow Press. p. 16. ISBN 978-0-8108-4881-8.
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