Ina Ray Hutton, the talented daughter of pianist Marvel Ray, embarked on a spectacular career in the entertainment industry at the tender age of eight. She began her journey by singing and dancing in stage revues, which ultimately led to her appearance in the renowned Ziegfeld Follies of 1934.
As the mid-year of 1934 approached, Hutton took the initiative to form an "all-girl" band, the Melodears, which revolutionized the music scene with their hot swing beats and Hutton's sultry dancing in revealing gowns. The Melodears went on to star in several Paramount musical shorts between 1935 and 1937, and Hutton even made appearances as herself in a few feature films.
However, it was her starring role in the Columbia musical, Ever Since Venus (1944),that cemented her status as a film legend. The Melodears disbanded in 1939, and Hutton responded by organizing an all-male band, which thrived throughout the 1940s. What's more, she was the only woman to lead a prominent Big Band during this era.
Following a brief hiatus, Hutton re-entered the music scene from 1951 to 1956 with an all-female band, which enjoyed a regional television show and a limited national network run in 1956. After retiring from music in 1968, Hutton divorced her fourth husband, businessman Jack Curtis, and passed away at the age of 67 due to complications from diabetes.
Ina Ray Hutton's remarkable journey in the entertainment industry spans over four decades, leaving behind an enduring legacy as a trailblazing musician and performer.
