Betty Hutton
Biography
Known as one of the most versatile and energetic entertainers of all time, Betty Hutton has been a band singer, performed on and off Broadway, in motion pictures, on-stage, and in nightclubs. Her acting range has proven her capable of both comedic and dramatic roles, in addition to the expected musical ones.
Hutton was born Betty June in Battle Creek, MI, to a railroad worker and a homemaker. Her sister, Marion Hutton, also flourished in the entertainment industry as a singer with the Modernaires and the Glenn Miller Orchestra. In 1923, Hutton's father left the family and her mother moved to Detroit, seeking a better life for her children. At the age of nine, Hutton began her singing career in a school performance. With her mother's encouragement, she sang in beer gardens and for local and resort bands. In 1936 she traveled to Broadway, but returned to Detroit after being told she would never make it.
Determined to succeed, Hutton continued to sing and dance in clubs in Detroit. At the Continental Club in Detroit, she got a break when Vincent Lopez signed her to sing with his orchestra under the name Betty Darling. In 1939, she performed in several short musical movies: One for the Book with Hal Sherman, Three Kings and a Queen, and Public Jitterbug #1 with Chaz Chase, Hal LeRoy, and Emerson's Sextette.
Selected Discography
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