Corky Hale, a renowned jazz harpist, pianist, and vocalist, embarked on her musical journey at the tender age of three, when she began taking piano lessons. Her prodigious talent was soon recognized, and at the age of seven, she was featured in a hotel lobby concert by House bandleader Horace Heidt, who gifted her with a little band jacket. Hale's formal education in piano commenced at the Chicago Conservatory at seven, and she began studying harp at the age of eight.
Throughout her illustrious career, Hale has shared the stage with a plethora of esteemed artists, including Tony Bennett, with whom she performed at The White House, and Barbra Streisand, with whom she soloed in Central Park and at the Hollywood Bowl. She has also appeared with Björk on her MTV Special in London, George Michael at London's Royal Albert Hall and Washington, D.C.'s RFK Stadium, and played harp for Liberace on his television show and at Madison Square Garden.
In addition to her impressive musical accomplishments, Hale is a devoted wife and homemaker, having been married to songwriter Mike Stoller since 1970. Together, they have built three state-of-the-art health centers, including the Dorothy Hecht Health Center in Los Angeles and the Stoller-Filer Health Center in Compton, in partnership with Planned Parenthood.
Hale is a dedicated advocate for women's reproductive rights, serving on the national advisory boards of NARAL and Planned Parenthood, as well as the California board of the Women's Reproductive Rights Assistance Project (WRRAP). In 2011, she was honored as the Champion of Choice by NARAL Pro-Choice America for her lifelong commitment to this cause.
Hale and her husband are also strong supporters of the Southern Poverty Law Center, which recognized their dedication by naming the "Mike Stoller and Corky Hale Stoller Civil Rights Memorial Theatre" in Montgomery, Alabama. They also serve on the board of the National Coalition to Ban Gun Violence.
