Harry Hopkinson
British music hall performer (1902–1979)
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Harry Hopkinson (8 June 1902 – 4 March 1979), also known as Austin Layton and Harry Torrani, was a British music hall performer, a soprano and songwriter who has been credited as one of the world's greatest yodelers. He was billed as the "Yodeling Cowboy from Chesterfield."
Harry Hopkinson | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Austin Layton, Harry Torrani |
| Born | 8 June 1902 |
| Died | 4 March 1979 (aged 76) |
| Occupations | Music Hall performer, singer, songwriter |
| Label | Regal Zonophone |
Biography
Hopkinson came from a family of miners in Chesterfield,(Derbyshire,England) and started singing in North Wingfield Church choir. After a spell working in the local colliery he entered show business, performing with a troupe of traveling entertainers. The yodelling part of Hopkinson's act was expanded, and it was here he adopted the more commercial and continental sounding name Harry Torrani.[citation needed]
Hopkinson recorded his first yodeling song on 27 August 1931 for the Regal Zonophone label, "Honeymoon Yodel" coupled with "Happy and Free." His recording career continued until 1942, and he recorded 25 records and 51 tracks. Some of his songs were "Yodel All Day", "Yodelers Dream Girl", "Honeymoon Yodel", "The Australian Yodel" (the B-side was "The Highland Yodel"), "Mammy’s Yodel!" and "Mississippi Yodel!"[citation needed]
Hopkinson was married to wife Joy and had a daughter Dawn, he retired from show business during the late 1940s. In his retirement he worked as a watch repairer, after entering a nursing home and having suffered a stroke he died on 4 March 1979 at the age of 76.[citation needed]
Sources
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