Harry Hopkinson
Harry Hopkinson | |
|---|---|
| Also known as | Austin Layton, Harry Torrani |
| Born | 8 June 1902 |
| Died | 4 March 1979 (aged 76) |
| Occupation(s) | Music Hall performer, singer, songwriter |
| Labels | Regal Zonophone |
Harry Hopkinson (8 June 1902 – 4 March 1979), known professionally as 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".[1][2]
Biography
Hopkinson came from a family of miners in Chesterfield, 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.[1][3]
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's yodelling style has been cited as a significant influence on subsequent generations of performers, including Rex Dallas.[2][4]
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]
Discography
- "Mississippi Yodel" / "Mammy's Yodel" (1932)[5]
- "Dan, Dan, the Yodelling Man" / "Sitting In a Jail House" (1933)[6]
- "Gambling Darkie" / "Yodelling Rag Man" (1933)[7]
- "The Yodelling Monster" / "The Yodelling Hobo" (1934)[8]
- "Log Cabin" / "Lancashire Yodelling Lass" (1935)[9]
- "Yodel and Smile" / "My Guitar and Me" (1937)[10]
- "Scottie the Yodeller" / "Nursery Rhyme Yodel" (1938)[11]
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 Plantenga, Bart (2012). Yodel in hi-fi : from kitsch folk to contemporary electronica. University of Wisconsin Press. pp. 195–197. ISBN 9780299290542. Search this book on
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Smith, Graeme (2003). Continuum encyclopedia of popular music of the world. Continuum. pp. 176–177. ISBN 9781441160782. Search this book on
- ↑ Heathcote, Ktima (19 February 1988). "Why They're Still Wild About Our Harry". Derbyshire Times. pp. 8–9.
- ↑ The Virgin encyclopedia of fifties music. Virgin. 1998. p. 101. ISBN 0753502682. Search this book on
- ↑ "Beanos" (PDF). The Gramophone. June 1932.
- ↑ "Choosing Your Records" (PDF). Wireless Magazine. May 1933. p. 401.
- ↑ "Miscellany". The Gramophone. 11 (124). September 1933.
- ↑ Gray, Aural (October 1934). "MISCELLANEOUS". The Gramophone. 12 (137). p. 184.
- ↑ "MISCELLANEOUS". The Gramophone. 13 (149). October 1935.
- ↑ "Humour and Hill-Billies". The Gramophone. 15 (173). October 1937.
- ↑ "Humour, Hill Billies and Yodellers". The Gramophone. 15 (179). April 1938.
External links
- Harry Hopkinson discography at Discogs
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