Noble Sissle

Lyricist • Vocalist • Bandleader • Broadway Pioneer

Inducted to the Indianapolis Jazz Hall of Fame in 2025

Noble Sissle

(July 10, 1889 – December 17, 1975)

Noble Sissle was a trailblazing composer, lyricist, vocalist, and bandleader whose career helped redefine the presence and power of African American artistry on the American stage. Born in Indianapolis, Indiana, on July 10, 1889, Sissle was raised in a musical household—his father, Rev. George A. Sissle, was a pastor and organist, and his mother, Martha Angeline Sissle, was a schoolteacher and juvenile probation officer.

Sissle's musical journey began in church choirs and high school glee clubs. He pursued higher education at DePauw University and later at Butler University in Indianapolis before dedicating himself fully to music.

In 1915, Sissle met pianist and composer Eubie Blake in Baltimore, forming a lifelong musical partnership. Together, they wrote "It's All Your Fault," which became a hit when performed by Sophie Tucker.

During World War I, Sissle served as a sergeant and lead vocalist in the 369th Infantry Regiment's band, known as the "Harlem Hellfighters." Under the leadership of James Reese Europe, the band introduced jazz to European audiences, significantly influencing the global spread of the genre.

After the war, Sissle and Blake formed the vaudeville duo "The Dixie Duo" and later co-created the groundbreaking 1921 Broadway musical Shuffle Along. This production was the first major Broadway show written and performed entirely by African Americans, featuring hits like "I'm Just Wild About Harry" and "Love Will Find a Way." Shuffle Along played a pivotal role in the Harlem Renaissance and opened doors for Black performers on Broadway.

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s, Sissle led his own orchestra, performing internationally and collaborating with artists such as Lena Horne and Sidney Bechet. He also appeared in early sound films, including Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake Sing Snappy Songs (1923), one of the first films to feature African American performers.

In the 1950s, Sissle continued to promote African American music as a disc jockey for New York radio station WMGM, showcasing Black artists to broader audiences.

Noble Sissle passed away on December 17, 1975, in Tampa, Florida. His legacy endures as a pioneer who broke racial barriers in American music and theater, leaving an indelible mark on the cultural landscape.