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Leslie Hutchinson suffered from ill-health in his later years and died at New End Hospital, Hampstead in
Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson, known as "Hutch" (7 March 1900 – 18 August 1969), was a
, with one of his biggest hits, his version of "Grenada
Grenada ( ; Grenadian Creole French: ) is an island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Pe ...
-born singer and musician who was one of the biggest cabaret stars in the world during the 1920s and 1930s.
Early life
Born inGouyave
Gouyave is the capital and largest town in the parish of St John, Grenada. It is located on the west coast of the Grenada.
History
Originally called Charlotte Town after Queen Charlotte of Britain, it was renamed Gouyave by the French because of ...
, Grenada
Grenada ( ; Grenadian Creole French: ) is an island country in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines island chain. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Pe ...
, in 1900, when it was part of the British Windward Islands
The British Windward Islands was an administrative grouping of British colonies in the Windward Islands of the West Indies, existing from 1833 until 31 December 1959 and consisting of the islands of Grenada, St Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenad ...
, to George Hutchinson and Marianne (''née'' Turnbull), Hutch took piano lessons as a child.
In 1916, he moved to New York City
New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the List of United States cities by population, most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the L ...
while still in his teens. He originally emigrated to study for a degree in medicine as he had won a place due to his high aptitude, but instead he began playing the piano and singing in bars.
Career
In New York City, Hutch joined a black band led by Henry "Broadway" Jones, who often played for white millionaires such as the Vanderbilts, attracting the wrath of theKu Klux Klan
The Ku Klux Klan (), commonly shortened to the KKK or the Klan, is an American white supremacist, right-wing terrorist, and hate group whose primary targets are African Americans, Jews, Latinos, Asian Americans, Native Americans, and ...
. In 1924, Hutch left America for Paris
Paris () is the capital and most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), making it the 30th most densely populated city in the world in 2020. S ...
, where he had a residency in Joe Zelli's club and became a friend and lover of Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film.
Born to ...
.
Encouraged by Edwina Mountbatten
Edwina Cynthia Annette Mountbatten, Countess Mountbatten of Burma, (''née'' Ashley; 28 November 1901 – 21 February 1960), was an English heiress, socialite, relief worker and the last vicereine of India as the wife of (the then) Rear Admiral ...
, he came to England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Wales to its west and Scotland to its north. The Irish Sea lies northwest and the Celtic Sea to the southwest. It is separated from continental Europe b ...
and opened at the Café de Paris in London on January 19, 1927 as part of a double act with his friend, black tenor Opal Cooper. The two men made a record together (“Moonlight on the Ganges” and “Because I Love You”) and they also appeared in variety at the Holborn Empire. Hutchinson went on to be the second pianist in the pit in the Rodgers and Hart
Rodgers and Hart were an American songwriting partnership between composer Richard Rodgers (1902–1979) and the lyricist Lorenz Hart (1895–1943). They worked together on 28 stage musicals and more than 500 songs from 1919 until Hart ...
musical, ''One Dam' Thing After Another'', which opened at the London Pavilion on May 20, 1927. He had moved from the Café de Paris to another London club, Chez Victor, in February 1927 (this time without Cooper) and after an extended spell there, he transferred to the Devonshire Restaurant in November 1927. Hutchinson soon became the darling of society
A society is a group of individuals involved in persistent social interaction, or a large social group sharing the same spatial or social territory, typically subject to the same political authority and dominant cultural expectations. Socie ...
and the population in general. Hutch was a favourite singer of the then Prince of Wales
Prince of Wales ( cy, Tywysog Cymru, ; la, Princeps Cambriae/Walliae) is a title traditionally given to the heir apparent to the English and later British throne. Prior to the conquest by Edward I in the 13th century, it was used by the rulers ...
(later King Edward VIII
Edward VIII (Edward Albert Christian George Andrew Patrick David; 23 June 1894 – 28 May 1972), later known as the Duke of Windsor, was King of the United Kingdom and the Dominions of the British Empire and Emperor of India from 20 January 1 ...
). Hutch was a major star in Britain during the 1920s and 1930s, and was, for a time, the highest paid star in the country. He was regularly heard on air with the BBC #REDIRECT BBC #REDIRECT BBC
Here i going to introduce about the best teacher of my life b BALAJI sir. He is the precious gift that I got befor 2yrs . How has helped and thought all the concept and made my success in the 10th board exam. ...
...These Foolish Things
"These Foolish Things (Remind Me of You)" is a standard with lyrics by Eric Maschwitz, writing under the pseudonym Holt Marvell, and music by Jack Strachey, both Englishmen. Harry Link, an American, sometimes appears as a co-writer; his input ...
". Hutchinson soon became embittered by being frequently obliged to enter parties via the servant's entrance, in spite of his popularity.
Hutch recorded several of Cole Porter's songs, including "Begin the Beguine
"Begin the Beguine" is a popular song written by Cole Porter. Porter composed the song between Kalabahi, Indonesia, and Fiji during a 1935 Pacific cruise aboard Cunard's ocean liner ''Franconia''. In October 1935, it was introduced by June Knig ...
" and Porter's list song
A list song, also called a laundry list song or a catalog song, is a song based wholly or in part on a list. Unlike topical songs with a narrative and a cast of characters, list songs typically develop by working through a series of information, o ...
"Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)
"Let's Do It, Let's Fall in Love" (also known as "Let's Do It (Let's Fall in Love)" or simply "Let's Do It") is a popular song written in 1928 by Cole Porter. It was introduced in Porter's first Broadway success, the musical ''Paris'' (1928) by Fre ...
", to which he supposedly made up some 70 new verses.
Hutch was "one of the first stars in Britain" to volunteer to entertain the troops at home and abroad during World War II
World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposin ...
, but he received no formal recognition for his service, and his name would never appear in any Honours list.
Discography
Hutch was a busy recording artist in the 1930s and 40s. His final recording, made just before his death, was for Morgan Records and was the LP "The Magic That Was Hutch".Personal life
He married Ella Byrd, a woman of African, English, and Chinese ancestry, in 1923 or 1924 in New York City. Their daughter, Lesley Bagley Yvonne, was born on 9 April 1926. He fathered seven further children with six different mothers. Gordon was born in August 1928, Gabrielle in September 1930, Jennifer in October 1939, Gerald and Chris in 1948, and Graham (Chris's full brother) in 1953, and Emma in April 1965. In 1930, one of Hutch's mistresses, British debutante Elizabeth Sperling, was discovered to be pregnant with his child. Her family tried to hush up the affair, hastily marrying Sperling off to an army officer Col Arthur Corbett, and attempting to pass off the child as his. When the child was born, however, and discovered to be of mixed race, Corbett refused to acknowledge her as his own. She (Gabrielle) was put up for adoption and Sperling's outraged father, the former diplomat Rowland Sperling sued Hutch.David Olusoga, ''Black and British: A Forgotten History'' (2016), BBC. Hutch is rumoured to have had a lengthy affair with the then- Lady Edwina Mountbatten. The rumour scandalised the British upper classes, becoming the subject of tabloid news, and an embarrassment toLady
The word ''lady'' is a term for a girl or woman, with various connotations. Once used to describe only women of a high social class or status, the equivalent of lord, now it may refer to any adult woman, as gentleman can be used for men. Inform ...
Mountbatten's royal in-laws. The Mountbattens sued the tabloids for libel. As a result of the scandal, Hutch was shunned by many of his former patrons, and his career was effectively over.
Other reported mistresses were the Hollywood actresses Tallulah Bankhead
Tallulah Brockman Bankhead (January 31, 1902 – December 12, 1968) was an American actress. Primarily an actress of the stage, Bankhead also appeared in several prominent films including an award-winning performance in Alfred Hitchcock's ''Lif ...
and Merle Oberon
Merle Oberon (born Estelle Merle O'Brien Thompson; 19 February 191123 November 1979) was a British actress who began her film career in British films as Anne Boleyn in ''The Private Life of Henry VIII'' (1933). After her success in ''The Scarle ...
.
Hutch may have been bisexual
Bisexuality is a romantic or sexual attraction or behavior toward both males and females, or to more than one gender. It may also be defined to include romantic or sexual attraction to people regardless of their sex or gender identity, whi ...
and was alleged to have had relationships with Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film.
Born to ...
and Ivor Novello.Charlotte Breese, ''Hutch'', Bloomsbury Publishing
Bloomsbury Publishing plc is a British worldwide publishing house of fiction and non-fiction. It is a constituent of the FTSE SmallCap Index. Bloomsbury's head office is located in Bloomsbury, an area of the London Borough of Camden. It has a U ...
, 1999.
Death
Leslie Hutchinson suffered from ill-health in his later years and died at New End Hospital, Hampstead in London
London is the capital and largest city of England and the United Kingdom, with a population of just under 9 million. It stands on the River Thames in south-east England at the head of a estuary down to the North Sea, and has been a majo ...
from pneumonia
Pneumonia is an inflammatory condition of the lung primarily affecting the small air sacs known as alveoli. Symptoms typically include some combination of productive or dry cough, chest pain, fever, and difficulty breathing. The severity ...
on 18 August 1969. Forty-two people attended his funeral on 22 August 1969 at the Parish Church of St. John, Hampstead.
Legacy
On 12 October 2012, anEnglish Heritage
English Heritage (officially the English Heritage Trust) is a charity that manages over 400 historic monuments, buildings and places. These include prehistoric sites, medieval castles, Roman forts and country houses.
The charity states that i ...
blue plaque
A blue plaque is a permanent sign installed in a public place in the United Kingdom and elsewhere to commemorate a link between that location and a famous person, event, or former building on the site, serving as a historical marker. The term i ...
in commemoration of Hutch was unveiled by his daughter Gabrielle Markes at 31 Steele's Road, Belsize Park
Belsize Park is an affluent residential area of Hampstead in the London Borough of Camden (the inner north-west of London), England.
The residential streets are lined with mews houses and Georgian and Victorian villas. Some nearby localities ar ...
, his home from 1929 to 1967.
The "scandalous" character Jack Ross on the British series ''Downton Abbey
''Downton Abbey'' is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes. The series first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV on 26 September 2010 and in the United States on P ...
'', played by Gary Carr, is likely based on Hutch.
In November 2016, Hutch was featured in episode four of the BBC series '' Black and British: A Forgotten History'', titled ''The Homecoming'', presented by historian David Olusoga
David Adetayo Olusoga (born January 1970) is a British historian, writer, broadcaster, presenter and film-maker. He is Professor of Public History at the University of Manchester. He has presented historical documentaries on the BBC and contrib ...
. On the occasion of the programme, a plaque was unveiled by two of his children, Gabrielle and her half-brother Chris, in the presence of extended family at Mayfair restaurant Quaglino's
Quaglino's is a restaurant in central London which was founded in 1929, closed in 1977, and revived in 1993. From the 1930s through the 1950s, it was popular among the British aristocracy, including the royal family, many of whom were regulars ...
, where he used to perform later in his career.
Filmography
*Actor: **''Big Business'' (1930) . ... Pianist **''Beloved Imposter
''Beloved Imposter'' is a 1936 British musical film directed by Victor Hanbury and starring Rene Ray, Fred Conyngham and Germaine Aussey. It was made at Welwyn Studios and released as a quota film by RKO Pictures.Chibnall p.287 It was based ...
'' (1936) (Pianist)
**'' Happidrome'' (1943)
**'' Brass Monkey'' (1948) (aka ''Lucky Mascot'') (as Leslie A. Hutchinson) . ... Hutch
**''The Treasure of San Teresa
''The Treasure of San Teresa'' (German: ''Rhapsodie in Blei'') is a 1959 British-West German thriller film directed by Alvin Rakoff and starring Eddie Constantine, Dawn Addams and Marius Goring. It was based on a play by Jeffrey Dell. The film ...
'' (1959) (aka ''Hot Money Girl'' (UK) (US), aka ''Long Distance'' (US), aka ''Rhapsodie in Blei'' (West Germany)) (as Hutch) . ... Piano Player at Billie's
*Soundtrack:
**''Big Business'' (1930) (performer: "Always Your Humble Slave")
**''Brass Monkey'' (1948) (aka ''Lucky Mascot'') (performer: "To-Morrow's Rainbow")
*As self:
**''Cock o' the North'' (1935)
**''Starlight
Starlight is the light emitted by stars. It typically refers to visible electromagnetic radiation from stars other than the Sun, observable from Earth at night, although a component of starlight is observable from Earth during daytime.
Sunligh ...
'' (1936) TV series
Cultural references
*Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Charles Williams (22 February 1926 – 15 April 1988) was an English actor of Welsh heritage. He was best known for his comedy roles and in later life as a raconteur and diarist. He was one of the main ensemble in 26 of the 31 Car ...
regularly performed impersonations of Hutchinson, including one at the Mingaladon RAF station in 1947.
*Flanders and Swann
Flanders and Swann were a British comedy duo. Lyricist, actor and singer Michael Flanders (1922–1975) and composer and pianist Donald Swann (1923–1994) collaborated in writing and performing comic songs. They first worked together in a scho ...
referenced him in the closing verse of "Song of Reproduction" (from ''At the Drop of a Hat
''At the Drop of a Hat'' is a musical revue by Flanders and Swann, described by them as "an after-dinner farrago". In the show, they both sang on a nearly bare stage, accompanied by Swann on the piano. The songs were linked by contemporary socia ...
'') - "With a tone control at a single touch / I can make a Caruso sound like Hutch".
*On 25 November 2008, Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British free-to-air public broadcast television network operated by the state-owned enterprise, state-owned Channel Four Television Corporation. It began its transmission on 2 November 1982 and was established to provide a four ...
TV in the UK showed a documentary on his life called ''High Society's Favourite Gigolo''.
*The musical play ''Hutch'' opened at the Riverside Studios
Riverside Studios is an arts centre on the banks of the River Thames in Hammersmith, London, England. The venue plays host to contemporary performance, film, visual art exhibitions and television production.
Having closed for redevelopment in ...
on 14 May 2013. written by Joe Evans, adapted from the biography by Charlotte Breese, and featuring the music of Cole Porter
Cole Albert Porter (June 9, 1891 – October 15, 1964) was an American composer and songwriter. Many of his songs became standards noted for their witty, urbane lyrics, and many of his scores found success on Broadway and in film.
Born to ...
.
*The character Jack Ross in the ITV
ITV or iTV may refer to:
ITV
*Independent Television (ITV), a British television network, consisting of:
** ITV (TV network), a free-to-air national commercial television network covering the United Kingdom, the Isle of Man, and the Channel Islan ...
drama ''Downton Abbey
''Downton Abbey'' is a British historical drama television series set in the early 20th century, created and co-written by Julian Fellowes. The series first aired in the United Kingdom on ITV on 26 September 2010 and in the United States on P ...
'', written by Julian Fellowes
Julian Alexander Kitchener-Fellowes, Baron Fellowes of West Stafford, (born 17 August 1949) is an English actor, novelist, film director and screenwriter, and a Conservative peer of the House of Lords.
He is primarily known as the author of s ...
, is based on Leslie Hutchinson.
*''A National Scandal'', a play by Eddie Lewisohn about Hutch and Lady Edwina Mountbatten, with Paul Hazel as Hutch and Bethany Blake as Edwina, opened Upstairs at The Gatehouse
Upstairs at The Gatehouse is a small pub theatre in Highgate in the London Borough of Camden.
The venue is a refurbished 1895 auditorium, upstairs from the Gatehouse pub, which has served over the years as a music hall, cinema, Masonic lodge, a ...
in Highgate, London, in October 2018.
References
External links
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Hutchinson, Leslie 1900 births 1969 deaths Bisexual men Bisexual musicians Burials at Highgate Cemetery Grenadian LGBT people LGBT singers Grenadian musicians Grenadian emigrants to the United States People from Saint John Parish, Grenada Deaths from pneumonia in England 20th-century British male singers 19th-century LGBT people 20th-century LGBT people