- Bardu Ali
Infobox musical artist
Name = Bardu Ali
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Background = solo_singer
Birth_name = Bardu Ali
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Origin =New Orleans, Louisiana
Instrument =Guitar Vocals
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Genre =Jazz
Occupation =Guitarist Vocalist
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Associated_acts =Chick Webb
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Notable_instruments =Bardu Ali (
September 23 1906 –October 29 1981 ) was born inNew Orleans, Louisiana ,USA . He was an Americanjazz andrhythm and blues singer andguitarist , and a musical promoter.He became
master of ceremonies of the bands in which he worked early in his career –Napoleon Zyas 's,Leroy Tibbs ', andChick Webb 's. He is credited with persuading Webb to hireElla Fitzgerald . After a period leading his own band and touring England withLew Leslie 's Blackbirds, he returned to the Webb band, taking it over after Webb died. In 1940 he moved toCalifornia , where he becameJohnny Otis 's business partner, performing in Otis's band and opening the famousBarrelhouse Club with him. He played an important role in the early career of Charles Brown and wasRedd Foxx 's business manager.Although it is widely reported that Bardu Ali was born September 23, 1910, he was born in 1906, and in Mississippi. His older brothers and sister were born in New Orleans, to Ella Blackman, and Moskad Ali. Ella was a New Orleans native, and Ali was an immigrant from Arabia. There were several children born to this union, and while two of the older sons moved to Galveston, TX, Ella moved to the Bronx, NY with her remaining children, and her sister Fanny. It was in NYC where Bardu (originally spelled Bahadur) fell in love with acting and music. He got involved with the Black cinema in the late 1920s and 30s. Eventually winding up as the front man for the Chick Webb. When Webb died, Bardu eventually formed his own band, and made his way to Los Angeles with his wife Tila. He and his band were the master of ceremonies at the Lincoln theater on Central Avenue. Although Bardu and his wife Tila did not have any children together, he did have a child from another union.
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