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Ina Ray Hutton and her Melodears
Ina Ray Hutton
b. March 13, 1916 Chicago, IL,
USA. d. Feb. 19, 1984
née: Odessa Cowan: Singer,
Dancer, Bandleader.
Theme Song: "Gotta Have Your
Love"
b. March 13, 1916 Chicago, IL,
USA. d. Feb. 19, 1984
née: Odessa Cowan: Singer,
Dancer, Bandleader.
Theme Song: "Gotta Have Your
Love"
Ina Ray, who, with her bleached
Platinum Blond hairdo and
svelte figure, made an alluring
band-leader. She couldn't play
any instrument, but dressed in a
form-fitting silver-lame gown,
she exuded sex-appeal. Her tag
line was 'The Blonde Bombshell
of Rhythm'. Even as a child, Ina
was already on stage,
tap-dancing in the revues of the
great vaudevillian Gus Edwards.
Platinum Blond hairdo and
svelte figure, made an alluring
band-leader. She couldn't play
any instrument, but dressed in a
form-fitting silver-lame gown,
she exuded sex-appeal. Her tag
line was 'The Blonde Bombshell
of Rhythm'. Even as a child, Ina
was already on stage,
tap-dancing in the revues of the
great vaudevillian Gus Edwards.
Ina, elder sister of June Hutton (Tommy Dorsey's Pied Pipers), was 18 years old and had been dancing
in Broadway revues such as The Ziegfeld Follies and the George White Scandals. In 1934, band agent
Irving Mills hired her to front an all-girl orchestra that he had formed.
It was a propitious moment for such a venture, and the Mills' publicity machine was able to get Ina lots
of bookings. Instead of 'leading' her band as her male counterparts would do, she would weave around
the stage with sensual movements. The band was basically a dance/show band, with a good sense of
Swing. While the band's playing could be called routine, a few of the 'sidemen' did manage to stand
out, including Mardell Owen on trumpet, Betty Sattley on tenor sax; Alyse Wells, a
multi-instrumentalist, and Betty Roudebush on piano.
From 1936, the band's repertoire was in the capable hands of Eddie Durham. During this time, Ina led
the band in some Hollywood films, and also did some recording. In personal correspondence, Ms
Maredell "Owen" Winstead, lead trumpet with the orchestra during 1936-'38, has recalled the band
members:
Arrangers: Will Hudson, Eddie Durham and possibly Bill Holman
Pianists: Ruth Lowe, Gladys Moser and Betty Roudebush
Sax: Betty Sattley, Nadine Friedman and Marjorie Tisdale
Trumpets: Mardell Owen, Kay Walsh, Estelle Slavin
Trombone: Fy Hesser, Jesse Bailey, Alyse Wells
Bass: Marge Rivers Guitar: Marion Gange
Drums: Lillian Singer and Virginia Myers
Linda Dahl, in her book Stormy Weather: The music and lives of a century of Jazz Women (New York:
Pantheon Books, c1984, p.51) quoted a 1940 interview, in which Ina Ray looked back on her career as
leader of the Melodears:
"I wanted to lead a band. It looked simple. Just waving a baton and waving.....You know. The boys
liked it. We played the provinces. I guess I saw all the men in America out front. Some of them tried to
get backstage-some sent mash notes. But I kept the sex in the saxophones. There were a lot of laughs,
and some tough breaks, too. One night in Flint we had a long haul to the next job. So we piled in the
bus and started driving. It was wet out-both rain and drunks. A car hit us and the bus turned over. It
was a mess. I had to crawl out a broken window. Then a woman asked me, 'Are you Miss Hutton? I'd
like your autograph.' Everything happened on one job in Nebraska. My wristwatch and bankroll were
stolen. The girls lost their instruments. And a firecracker blew off a couple of my fingernails."
In 1939, Ina severed her connection (or vice-versa) with band agent Irving Mills, got rid of the girls,
and commenced weaving in front of an all male big band, shown here as they appeared in the film
'Ever Since Venus'. Joe Servello was the first trombonist. George Paxton was the saxist/arranger for
this all male band. Others in the band were guitarist Jack Purcell, trumpeter Randy Brooks and Stuart
Foster on vocals. Later, the band added Hal Schaefer, a jazz pianist, and, in 1943, the Kim Loo vocal
trio.
In 1944, when Television called, Ina returned to an All Girl format. She was also in another film.
Incidentally, Ina's pianist, Ruth Lowe, later went on to write two great Frank Sinatra hits - "I'll Never
Smile Again" and "Put Your Dreams Away".
Hutton's 'Melodears' were one fine band, and the young ladies were all excellent musicians.
in Broadway revues such as The Ziegfeld Follies and the George White Scandals. In 1934, band agent
Irving Mills hired her to front an all-girl orchestra that he had formed.
It was a propitious moment for such a venture, and the Mills' publicity machine was able to get Ina lots
of bookings. Instead of 'leading' her band as her male counterparts would do, she would weave around
the stage with sensual movements. The band was basically a dance/show band, with a good sense of
Swing. While the band's playing could be called routine, a few of the 'sidemen' did manage to stand
out, including Mardell Owen on trumpet, Betty Sattley on tenor sax; Alyse Wells, a
multi-instrumentalist, and Betty Roudebush on piano.
From 1936, the band's repertoire was in the capable hands of Eddie Durham. During this time, Ina led
the band in some Hollywood films, and also did some recording. In personal correspondence, Ms
Maredell "Owen" Winstead, lead trumpet with the orchestra during 1936-'38, has recalled the band
members:
Arrangers: Will Hudson, Eddie Durham and possibly Bill Holman
Pianists: Ruth Lowe, Gladys Moser and Betty Roudebush
Sax: Betty Sattley, Nadine Friedman and Marjorie Tisdale
Trumpets: Mardell Owen, Kay Walsh, Estelle Slavin
Trombone: Fy Hesser, Jesse Bailey, Alyse Wells
Bass: Marge Rivers Guitar: Marion Gange
Drums: Lillian Singer and Virginia Myers
Linda Dahl, in her book Stormy Weather: The music and lives of a century of Jazz Women (New York:
Pantheon Books, c1984, p.51) quoted a 1940 interview, in which Ina Ray looked back on her career as
leader of the Melodears:
"I wanted to lead a band. It looked simple. Just waving a baton and waving.....You know. The boys
liked it. We played the provinces. I guess I saw all the men in America out front. Some of them tried to
get backstage-some sent mash notes. But I kept the sex in the saxophones. There were a lot of laughs,
and some tough breaks, too. One night in Flint we had a long haul to the next job. So we piled in the
bus and started driving. It was wet out-both rain and drunks. A car hit us and the bus turned over. It
was a mess. I had to crawl out a broken window. Then a woman asked me, 'Are you Miss Hutton? I'd
like your autograph.' Everything happened on one job in Nebraska. My wristwatch and bankroll were
stolen. The girls lost their instruments. And a firecracker blew off a couple of my fingernails."
In 1939, Ina severed her connection (or vice-versa) with band agent Irving Mills, got rid of the girls,
and commenced weaving in front of an all male big band, shown here as they appeared in the film
'Ever Since Venus'. Joe Servello was the first trombonist. George Paxton was the saxist/arranger for
this all male band. Others in the band were guitarist Jack Purcell, trumpeter Randy Brooks and Stuart
Foster on vocals. Later, the band added Hal Schaefer, a jazz pianist, and, in 1943, the Kim Loo vocal
trio.
In 1944, when Television called, Ina returned to an All Girl format. She was also in another film.
Incidentally, Ina's pianist, Ruth Lowe, later went on to write two great Frank Sinatra hits - "I'll Never
Smile Again" and "Put Your Dreams Away".
Hutton's 'Melodears' were one fine band, and the young ladies were all excellent musicians.
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