Douglas Craig Hall

I was just thinking of Doug as his brother Bruce is in the process of reviving some old reel-to-reel tape recordings of theirs. His music and memory still remain with us.

It is impossible to sum up the feelings I have for the special person whom I called my brother, Doug. I admired the elegance of his genuine, unassuming personal nature. I envied his abilities as a classical and jazz pianist and as phenomenally talented musician. I hold in the highest esteem his patience and virtue as a loving and caring father. I am astounded at his fortitude of character in dealing with his brain tumor for virtually half of his life. I marvel at the breadth and...

Doug was everything you would want a brother to be. All you have to do is listen to the gentleness in his music to understand why people were drawn to him. There were times while playing with him that we would be lifted to a higher, spiritual place. I know that's where he is now. I will always treasure being a part of his life and I will miss him forever.

After many years of procrastinating over whether or not someone of Doug's calibre would consider taking me on as a student, I was amazed and thrilled with his graciouness in doing so.
His approach to teaching was kind, considerate, and respectful and involved helping you understand and use what you already know rather than imposing demands of his own on you.
I valued the friendship that grew from this and kept in touch frequently over the past couple of years to check in...

I had the privilege to know and work with Doug, but all too briefly and seldom. Admittedly, I envy those who were fortunate enough to perform with him often. His virtuosity coupled with disarming humility gave him a calm strength and nobility which is rare among artists. I'll never be able to sing certain songs and hear particular tunes again without thinking of Doug. God bless Doug's children, siblings, Parents, friends, and fans.

Doug was able to play from a place of peace and serenity. He truly had a sense of “effortless mastery”. Oh that I were able to that! Doug was and always will be an inspiration to me.
Robert Skiles

I met Doug in 1976 in freshman theory, North Texas State University.
The guy was a genius, I was in awe.
Who fights and survives brain cancer for 15 years? As a pianist myself, there are few diseases I would fear more that my mind's ability to assimilate thought patterns.
The never-ending faith, core of strength, determination, creativity, and sheer will to remain among us is what really awes me. Doug's family were believers and together they had quite a journey for 15 years.
I...

I was lucky enough to have Doug as my jazz piano teacher for a couple of years and what a teacher he was! I am still learning from ideas he showed me. Hearing him play was inspirational; I knew I wanted to do what he was doing and his constant encouragement made me feel that I was capable. His playing was seemed effortless and he was so modest when it would have been easy not to. I will also miss him as a friend; I still remember how we would often lose track of time just talking after...

I just got Lucky! Around '78-'79 our manager wanted us to add a keyboard player to our noisy, blues-rock, "power-trio". A friend suggested Doug. He had recently moved to town. I knew of his "child-prodigy" reputation and wasn't sure we would be a match. I am certain this was the first "rock band" situation for him. I couldn't imagine him wanting to play simple 3 chord progressions. But he jumped in and added sounds and chord voicings to my songs that I would never have imagined. We...