Turner Layton (July 2, 1894 – February 6, 1978), born John Turner Layton, Jr., was an African American songwriter, singer and pianist. He frequently worked with Henry Creamer.

Life

Born in Washington, D.C., United States, in 1894, he was the son of John Turner Layton, "a bass singer, music educator and hymn composer."Peterson, Bernard L. ''Profiles of African American Stage Performers and Theatre People, 1816-1890)'', Greenwood Press, 2000, p. 164 After receiving a musical education from his father, he attended the Howard University Dental School, later coming to

New York City New York, often called New York City or NYC, is the most populous city in the United States. With a 2020 population of 8,804,190 distributed over , New York City is also the most densely populated major city in the U ...

in the early 1900s, where he met future songwriting partner, lyricist Henry Creamer. Layton is best known for his many compositions with Creamer, the best known of which is the standard " After You've Gone", written in 1918 and first popularized by Sophie Tucker. Turner and Creamer had another hit with Way Down Yonder in New Orleans in 1922. It was recorded in 1927 by Frank Trumbauer (with Bix Beiderbecke), and was a rock and roll hit for

Freddy Cannon Frederick Anthony Picariello, Jr. (born December 4, 1936), better known by his stage name Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singer, whose biggest international hits included "Tallahassee Lassie", " Way Down Yonder in New Orleans", and " ...

in 1959. Turner and Layton contributed music and lyrics to many Broadway shows, including the ''

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' was a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934 and 1936. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Follies of the ...

'' of 1917, 1921 and 1922, ''Three Showers'' (1920), ''Some Party'' (1922) and Creamer's own ''Strut Miss Lizzie'' (1922). Beginning in 1924, Layton found major popular success in England with Clarence "Tandy" JohnstoneFriedwald, Will. ''A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers'' (New York : Pantheon Books, 2010), p. 582 as a member of the group Layton & Johnstone, quickly earning a reputation as a cabaret act, with the pair allegedly selling over "10 million records". Layton split with Johnstone in 1935 (after Johnstone had been named in Albert Sandler's divorce), with Johnstone returning to New York and continuing to perform with significantly less success. Layton continued to perform in England. An elegant song stylist, he held a regular, successful spot over the years at the Café de Paris, a

London London is the capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, 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 dow ...

club, until his retirement in 1946. He died in London in February 1978, at the age of 83.

Recordings

Two albums of Layton & Johnstone recordings have been issued on CD in the UK - on ASV ''Living Era'' (CD AJA 5426) and ''Flapper'' (PAST CD 9712). Two compilation albums of recordings by Layton have been released on CD.

Legacy

His daughter A'Lelia Shirley inherited his musical estate and left the copyright and royalties to her father's music to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London in her will on her death in January 2001.

Notable compositions

*" After You've Gone" *" Dear Old Southland" *" Goodbye Alexander, Goodbye Honey Boy" *"It Must Be Love" *"Strut, Miss Lizzie" *" 'Way down Yonder in New Orleans"

References

External links

Biography
at AllMusic
Turner Layton recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The DAHR provides some of these original recordings, free of charge, via audio streaming, along with ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Layton, Turner 1894 births 1978 deaths Songwriters from Washington, D.C. American male songwriters 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American male musicians African-American songwriters 20th-century African-American musicians