[1] He grew up in London, Ontario, Canada, and by the 1960s had begun performing in a trio, Drummond-McCaul, with pianist, Daryl LeBerg and guitar player, Bill Williams, and by the mid-1960s had begun performing and touring with another band, the Eyeball Wine Company with Roger Brant on bass and George Dobo on guitar and piano.
His first release was an album entitled H J Boenke, his birth name, produced by Hall and his longtime collaborator, Tony Quarrington, and engineered by Daniel and Bob Lanois, in 1976.
Also playing on the album were George Dobo, keyboards; Roger Brant, bass; Mike Boyer (of the Humble Sponge), drums, and Joe Mendelson, "demented steel".
[3][4] Hall collaborated with Willie P. Bennett as well as Continental Drift members Tony Quarrington and J.P. Hovercraft as “The Screaming Vegetables” on two independent releases in the 90’s.
[5] One obituary commented on his performances: "From his then-considered daring stage apparel (a kilt-like skirt with workboots and oversized flowing bow tie, for example...) to his Zappaesque monologues and asides during songs, he seemed to do whatever came to mind with no regard for decorum or convention, his aim solely on the integrity of his artistic expression.