MARION HUTTON: MERRY MAID OF SONG

[Please read] The Glenn Miller Orchestra's canary takes flight. Her motive power: good cheer.

Marion Hutton—aka Sissy Jones, Goldielocks, The Brat, The Whack, Tootsie-Roll, Rosebud, Snow White, the Dopey Duchess—joined Glenn Miller's band in 1938, swapping vocals with boy singer Ray Eberle, affable saxman Tex Beneke, and a slick male quartet known as The Modernaires. She also appeared in a handful of films after Miller disbanded his civilian orchestra in 1942. Whatever Marion—a fair, not an accomplished singer—lacked in technical graces, she more than made up for with her sunny spirit, caroling cuteness, and irrepressible enthusiasm. The merriest of all Big Band canaries, she must have been one special lady. High spirits ran in the Hutton (originally Thornburg) family—witness the career and personality of her talented sister Betty Hutton (1921-2007), a charismatic actress and sometime singer.

IMPORTANT: Questions or comments are sincerely welcome—but only if they are nice, clean, and comprehendible. If you are a professional and prefer that I delete this video, please contact me and it will promptly be done.

Thanks for viewing.

VIDEO DEDICATED—WIITH SINCERE DELIGHT AND APPRECIATION—IN MEMORY OF MARION HUTTON (1919-1987).

Post-Script: in this video, the viewer will NOT see clips of Marion's "Jam" number from the Marx Bros. film LOVE HAPPY (1949) because I think its presentation and spirit run contrary to the joie de vivre with which Marion is best associated.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• Marion Hutton
• Glenn Miller
• Big Band
• Swing Music
• Ray Eberle
• The Modernaires
• Tex Beneke
• Freddie Slack
• Bud Abbott
• Lou Costello
• Betty Hutton
• Female Singer
• Comedy
• Classic Movies
• 1940s
• northbreed1

[Georgewos]

Marion was good mostly doing novelty songs but the best of the band singers was Helen Forrest. She sann with Artie Shaw, Benny Goodman and finally Harry James. Then did duets with Dick Haymes. My Dreams are Getting better All The Time. A big hit when Doris Day sang with the Les Brown band. The Big Bands Era was so great.

[northbreed1]

Let's concede that Helen was ONE of the best "canaries." I think Martha Tilton and Doris Day--among others, but in particular--sang exceptionally well.

[songplugger]

Thanks so much for posting this! Marion deserves more attention paid to her - what a doll!

Buddy deSylva, Betty's producer at Paramount wanted to team the two sisters in a musical.

What a shame it never happened!

[northbreed1]

Nice comment, sp, and informative!

[JohnnyNny94]

Wow, one of the most beautifulest voices I've ever heard. I love the 40's sound! Sheer heaven :D

[2agray]

I just loved her. I had all those records when I was a kid.

[TheSchlerm]

A complete fox.... I'm a pro musician (piano) doing the big bands every night and she has my vote as best OVERALL female vocalist of the time. Of course the Modernaires need no accolades. I would have married her in a second.

[MrDavearama]

@Georgewos -Your opinion. She had more going on than any of those broads. She was hotter and what a stage presence. She would be a star today.

[schussboom]

@Georgewos -- Helen Forrest, described as "The Voice of the Big Bands," had the most prolific recording career of the "canaries" and sang with the very best bands. However, I don't agree that she was "the best" canary. I'd give that to Peggy Lee, who had a long recording career that stretched five decades beyond her start with Benny Goodman. In fact, Starbucks just released a compilation CD of her work that "hit the charts" which ties Frank Sinatra's 6 hits in 6 separate decades record.

[SnowBlind853]

@Georgewos I would argue that Jo Stafford was the greatest, not as much of a big band singer, but her version of "Long ago and far away" is indisputably the best.

[shaunsstuff79]

when she joines glenns outfit she was only 17 so glenn and helen (his wife) became miss huttons legal guardians til she turned 18 !!! thats a true fact because i asked paul tanner in person and he said yes that s true !!! i have spoken with him several times over the phone since the mid 90s

[dovv2010]

thanks so much for loading this!!! I am a huge fan and I have never even seen a video of her until today!!! 

[dmeachy]

cutest voice I have ever heard! Love her! 

[fruhlings2008]

Wonderful!!!