Gerri Hall

New Orleans-born Gerri Hall started out in music during the 1950s singing with Huey "Piano" Smith & the Clowns, and appeared on the original recording of "Rockin' Pneumonia" on Ace Records. She remained with Ace into the 1960s and cut a string of singles, enjoying several regional Christmas hits. Hall got around in New Orleans music circles, backing Earl King for Imperial and working live with Smiley Lewis and Benny Spellman. In addition to her work for Ace, which included the single "What I Learned About You," she cut singles for Atco and Hotline, and was good enough to rate a performing spot on the mid-'60s television soul showcase The !!!! Beat. Hall later gave up her solo work to become one of Ray Charles' Raeletts. In the 1990s, her work began showing up on various soul anthologies, among them West Side Records' The First Take Is the Deepest. ~ Bruce Eder