Hutch: The true story of our biggest cabaret star, and the inspiration for Downton Abbey's Jack RossThe vivid true story of one of the biggest stars in Britain during the 1920s and 30s, and the inspiration for Downton Abbey's Jack Ross Born in Grenada in 1900, Leslie "Hutch" Hutchinson went to America in 1916 to study medicine, but soon escaped to Harlem where he witnessed the birth of "stride" jazz piano and began playing and singing in bars himself. Moving to France in 1923, he became the protege and lover of Cole Porter before coming to London where he was soon topping the bills in variety and on radio. Immaculate in white tie and tails, Hutch had enormous sex appeal, his velvet voice and superb piano improvisation attracting legions of fans, including the then Prince of Wales and, most famously, Edwina Mountbatten. Despite his success, Hutch was a profoundly insecure man with insatiable appetites for sex, drink, gambling and social status which precipitated his fall from fame to a squalid existence by the late 1960s. |
Contents
Chapter One A West Indian Upbringing 19001916 | |
Chapter Three I Love Paris 19241927 | |
Chapter Four London at Last 19271930 | |
Chapter Five London After Dark 19271930 | |
Chapter Six From Revue to Variety 19311938 | |
Chapter Seven Touring and Climbing 19311938 | |
Chapter Eight Reserved Occupation 19391945 | |
Chapter Nine Out of Fashion 19461953 | |
Chapter Twelve The Sweet Smell 19561959 | |
Chapter Thirteen Clinging On Abroad 19601966 | |
Chapter Fourteen The Darkness Deepens 19671969 | |
Plate Section | |
Appendix | |
Notes | |
Discography | |
Other editions - View all
Common terms and phrases
affair Alberta Hunter artist audience band became Berens bill Bricktop Burdwan cabaret Café de Paris Calcutta called Club Cochran Cole Porter colour cricket dance daughter David David Heneker dinner Douglas Byng dressing drink Duke Edwina Mountbatten entertainer Fats Waller film friends gave George girl girlfriend Gouyave Grenada Harlem Harold Berens Heart Heneker Hotel Hutch Hutch appeared Hutch wrote included interview Ivan jazz Jessie Matthews Joan knew Lady later Leslie Hutchinson Leslie’s letter lived London looked Lord Love lover married Max Wall musicians never night nightclub Noël Coward orchestra Palace parties Paul Robeson performance Peter pianist piano Pilkington Prince of Wales Princess programme Quaglino’s radio recalled record restaurant revue Robeson royal sang sing singer socialites song stage star stayed Street Sunday Tallulah theatre told took tour variety week Weidenfeld and Nicolson wife woman women York