Ina Ray Hutton

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Ina Ray Hutton (March 13, 1916–February 19, 1984) was an American female leader during the Big band era, and half-sister to June Hutton. She was the only prominent female Big band leader during that era. She gained notoriety during the 1940s for both her music and her seductive stage persona, earning her the nickname Blonde Bombshell of Rhythm.

Ira was born as Odessa Cowan in Chicago, Illinois. She began dancing and singing in stage revues at the age of eight. It was in the 30's that she appeared on Broadway in George White's "Melody" and also in the Ziegfeld Follies.

In 1934 she was asked to lead an all-girl orchestra, the Melodears, which achieved decent popularity, although primarily as a novelty act,^[1] before it was disbanded in 1939. In 1940 she led an all-male orchestra. She disbanded her orchestra in December of 1946 but later formed a new all-girl orchestra which appeared on a regional television program - The Ina Ray Hutton Show - from 1951 to 1956, with a brief network run in 1956.^[1]

Hutton was known primarily for her singing and her seductive swaying and dancing on stage.

She retired from music in 1968 and died in 1984 of complications from diabetes.