June Hutton (born June Marvel Cowan; August 11, 1919 – May 2, 1973) was an American vocalist, popular with big bands during the 1940s. She was the younger sister of Ina Ray Hutton.
Hutton was born in Bloomington, Illinois. Her parents were Marvel Svea Williams and Odie Daniel Cowan. She and her older sister, Ina Ray Hutton, both grew up to be entertainers and performers during the Big Band era.[citation needed]
When she was 15, she left home to join her sister in pursuit of a singing career.[1]
Careeredit
In her early days, she sang at the Astor Roof in New York City. After singing with her sister's orchestra in 1938, she was part of the Winston Trio, the Quintones, and the Sande Williams Band. She appeared with the Quintones in Hi Ya, Gentlemen, a failed musical with boxer Max Baer. In 1941, she became the female vocalist for the Stardusters, the singing group of Charlie Spivak & His Orchestra.[2]
After Jo Stafford left The Pied Pipers in 1944, Hutton replaced her, joining the group in May.[3] She performed with the Pied Pipers for six years, recording several hit records including the song "Dream." In 1950, Hutton left the Pied Pipers, going solo on Decca Records. (However, the trade publication Billboard reported in its December 10, 1949, issue that Hutton had already left the Pied Pipers and signed with Decca Records.[4])
Hutton's post-Pipers solo career included her debut in New York at the Copacabana nightclub November 16, 1950.[5]
In 1951, Hutton married Axel Stordahl, a musical arranger for Tommy Dorsey. In 1952, she went to Capitol Records, backed by an orchestra led by her husband. She recorded three hit records at Capitol: "Say You're Mine Again", "No Stone Unturned", and "For the First Time". They also recorded a well-regarded 1955 album, Afterglow, featuring lush arrangements and the vocal group Boys Next Door.
Full Dimensional Sound -- A Study in High Fidelity (1953 Capitol) Hutton was one of several artists included on a long-playing album to "demonstrate to audiophiles the full range and capabilities of sound reproducing systems."[16]
The Lights of Home/You Are My Love (1953 Capitol 2369)[17]
I Had a Little Too Much to Dream Last Night/Song of the Sleigh Bells (1953 Capitol 2318)[18]
Coney Island Boat/Open Your Arms (1954 Capitol 2784)[19]
^"Listen -- With Rowe". The Times-Dispatch. Virginia, Richmond. April 2, 1950. p. 10 D. Retrieved January 8, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
^"June Hutton". The Circleville Herald. The Circleville Herald. November 26, 1943. p. 7. Retrieved August 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Pied Pipers Down Beat Award Winners". Santa Cruz Sentinel. Santa Cruz Sentinel. September 20, 1947. p. 22. Retrieved August 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Hutton Inks Pact With Decca; Signs Gastel Management" (PDF). Billboard. December 10, 1949. p. 15. Retrieved August 16, 2015.[permanent dead link]
^"Music as Written: New York" (PDF). Billboard. November 11, 1950. p. 42. Retrieved August 16, 2015.[permanent dead link]
^"Music Arranger Dies". Daily Independent Journal. Daily Independent Journal. August 31, 1963. p. 2. Retrieved August 15, 2015 – via Newspapers.com.
^"Singer, TV Actor Wed in Las Vegas". Oakland Tribune. Las Vegas. United Press International (UPI). February 4, 1968. p. 29 – via Newspapers.com. Vocalist June Hutton was married Friday night during a brief ceremony to television actor Kenneth Tobey.