Person    | Male  Born 7/3/1900  Died 18/8/1969

Leslie Hutchinson

Categories: Music / songs, Race Issues

Countries: Caribbean Islands, USA

Singer and pianist who performed under the name of 'Hutch'. Born Leslie Arthur Julien Hutchinson in Gouyave, Grenada. He moved to New York with the intention of studying medicine, but started singing and playing in bars instead. He came to London in 1927 and rapidly became one of the biggest stars of the era. Even though he appeared at lavish venues, racial discrimination obliged him to enter them by the servants' entrance. His 'physique' also made him popular with many leading celebrities of the day, with Cole Porter, Ivor Novello and Tallulah Bankhead being among his reputed lovers. It was his supposed liaison with Edwina Mountbatten that led to his downfall. The 'affaire' threatened the reputation of the royal family, and after an article was published in the 'People' newspaper, King George V put pressure on the Mountbattens to sue for libel. As his career declined he squandered the millions he had made and died in near poverty at the New End Hospital, Hampstead. The Camden New Journal has some more information.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

Comments are provided by Facebook, please ensure you are signed in here to see them

This section lists the memorials where the subject on this page is commemorated:
Leslie Hutchinson

Commemorated ati

Leslie Hutchinson

Unveiled by Stephen Fry.

Read More

Other Subjects

Ian Dury

Ian Dury

Singer-songwriter. Born Ian Robins Dury at 43 Weald Rise, Harrow. At the age of seven he contracted poliomyelitis and attended Chailey Heritage Craft School. This was also a hospital for disabled c...

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial
George Webb's Dixielanders

George Webb's Dixielanders

Jazz band. The plaque says it was formed in 1944, but other sources say 1941 or 1943. They regularly performed at the Red Barn Public House in Barnehurst. The original line-up changed, and at one t...

Group, Music / songs

1 memorial
Rueben (Sleepy) White

Rueben (Sleepy) White

Discogs have a page for this artiste but it gives no personal information. There we found this cover for an album on which he worked.

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial
Mark Knopfler

Mark Knopfler

Lead guitarist in Dire Straits. Born Glasgow. Apart from the fact that they were both members of the Garrick Club, not necessarily at the same time, we can find no connection between Knopfler and...

Person, Music / songs, Scotland

1 memorial
Reg Rigden

Reg Rigden

Cornet player. He was part of George Webb's Dixielanders jazz band. In later years he was curator of the Plumstead Museum.

Person, Music / songs

1 memorial