Ivan G. Hall was born and raised in Charlotte N.C. He played is first professional performance with a band called “Universal Funk” at the request of a neighbor and good friend, Mr. Clyde D. Brown to join the horn section at age fourteen. While attending West Charlotte High School he met Willie A. Walker II and Bobby Ray Bolin and formed “The Electric Fried Okra Band”. During his senior year in high school he auditioned to join the marching band at Johnson C. Smith University under the direction of Mr. Marvin W. Davenport. This was a critical turning point in his musical education. It would bring out the true desire to make music a life long pursuit.
Being raised in the Presbyterian Church, Ivan also played regularly for Memorial Presbyterian Church as well as Friendship Baptist Church and many others. With the music that was written for major Christian holidays being so bold and triumphant, the need for brass players made Ivan and many others in demand for Christmas and Easter.
Ivan is a graduate of N.C. A&T State University and became the section leader in the trombone section in the marching band. He also maintained a first chair in the concert and jazz bands. While at A&T, Dr. William T. McDaniel who was the chairman of the music department made sure that his students got lots of exposure to the people that were making a difference in the music industry like Donald Byrd, Woody Shaw, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and countless others giving Ivan a strong foundation in jazz and composition as well as a fundamentally sound classical background.
After leaving A&T Ivan went on the road with Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs with his soon to be very good friend and great mentor, the music director of the Zodiacs, Mr. Calvin McKinney Jr. This gave him access to many other opportunities and organizations that opened up doors that made a huge impact. Working with and performing along side groups like The Chairmen of the Board, The Shirelles, The Temptations, the Four Tops, The Spinners, Archie Bell and many others gave Ivan a unique perspective on performance.
While on the road with the Zodiacs Ivan met Mr. Paul Krayer and they became fast friends and room mates, often times setting up a recording studio in the hotel rooms after the performances and allowing the creative juices to continue to flow long after the gig. The song “Funktism”, which is on Ivan's first CD, “Full Moon”, was recorded in a hotel room in Myrtle Beach after they came of stage. Ivan has been with Paul ever since those times and does not like to go on stage without him.
The Ivan Hall Group is the culmination of years of hard work, faith, strong influences and the true desire to make music their own. With the fusion of R&B, rock, gospel and orchestral flavors with a jazz base, Ivan Hall brings a unique listening experience to all audiences, young and the not so young. He is currently performing with "The Ivan Hall Group", Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, and The Fellowship Place Presbyterian Church Praise Band. He is the sound engineer for the jazz band "Conversation Piece". Ivan G. Hall is currently a music educator Greensboro NC, also he is an instructor at the B Natural Academy of Music.
Being raised in the Presbyterian Church, Ivan also played regularly for Memorial Presbyterian Church as well as Friendship Baptist Church and many others. With the music that was written for major Christian holidays being so bold and triumphant, the need for brass players made Ivan and many others in demand for Christmas and Easter.
Ivan is a graduate of N.C. A&T State University and became the section leader in the trombone section in the marching band. He also maintained a first chair in the concert and jazz bands. While at A&T, Dr. William T. McDaniel who was the chairman of the music department made sure that his students got lots of exposure to the people that were making a difference in the music industry like Donald Byrd, Woody Shaw, The Duke Ellington Orchestra and countless others giving Ivan a strong foundation in jazz and composition as well as a fundamentally sound classical background.
After leaving A&T Ivan went on the road with Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs with his soon to be very good friend and great mentor, the music director of the Zodiacs, Mr. Calvin McKinney Jr. This gave him access to many other opportunities and organizations that opened up doors that made a huge impact. Working with and performing along side groups like The Chairmen of the Board, The Shirelles, The Temptations, the Four Tops, The Spinners, Archie Bell and many others gave Ivan a unique perspective on performance.
While on the road with the Zodiacs Ivan met Mr. Paul Krayer and they became fast friends and room mates, often times setting up a recording studio in the hotel rooms after the performances and allowing the creative juices to continue to flow long after the gig. The song “Funktism”, which is on Ivan's first CD, “Full Moon”, was recorded in a hotel room in Myrtle Beach after they came of stage. Ivan has been with Paul ever since those times and does not like to go on stage without him.
The Ivan Hall Group is the culmination of years of hard work, faith, strong influences and the true desire to make music their own. With the fusion of R&B, rock, gospel and orchestral flavors with a jazz base, Ivan Hall brings a unique listening experience to all audiences, young and the not so young. He is currently performing with "The Ivan Hall Group", Maurice Williams and the Zodiacs, and The Fellowship Place Presbyterian Church Praise Band. He is the sound engineer for the jazz band "Conversation Piece". Ivan G. Hall is currently a music educator Greensboro NC, also he is an instructor at the B Natural Academy of Music.
