AMERF is proud to announce a relationship with Sandra Hall, long-time beloved blues diva, from right here in the ATL, as her bio will attest to.  To date, our list of Directors has not included any true musical professionals, though it is true that some of us have acted at being such from time to time.  We think Sandra will bring to us valuable insight as to the needs of specific individuals, as well as concerns among our musical community, in general.

 Sandra was born in Oakland City, Atlanta, Georgia, to the late Eddie Tigner. After singing from the age of four at a nearby church, Hall formed a duo with her sister, Barbara, called the Soul Sisters. She later formed the Exotics, singing and dancing, particularly at the Royal Peacock Club, one of the premier Atlanta nightclubs. The Exotics opened for several touring acts at that venue, including Otis Redding, Joe Tex and the Temptations. By the late 1960s, Hall had trained professionally as a nurse, supplementing her income by singing in a semi-professional vein, whilst nursing full-time. Her live work came to the attention of Ichiban Records and, in 1995, they released her debut solo album, Showin’ Off.^[7] The same year she appeared at the Sarasota Blues Fest. Sandra continues to work largely around Atlanta, but her recording exposure led her on tours in Europe, which included her performing at the Montreux Jazz Festival. Her second album, One Drop Will Do You, was issued in 1997. The Allmusic journalist Alex Henderson noted that One Drop Will Do You “isn’t an innovative or groundbreaking album, but it’s certainly a very satisfying and inspired one”.^[8]

In 2001, Sandra self-released Miss Red Riding Hood.^, and she performed at the W.C. Handy Blues and Barbecue Festival in 2005. As well as continuing to perform and record, she befriended Shemekia Copeland and gave guidance in her early career, and she regularly visits schools teaching blues culture and singing styles.  Sandra Hall continues to perform at Blind Willie’s in Atlanta. In 2011, she appeared at the Julius Daniels Memorial Blues Festival.