From butchers boy to music hall megastar, that was the amazing career of North Wingfield man Harry Hopkinson. Harry who?, you may well ask. I’ll tell you.

Harry Hopkinson was born at around the turn of the century in a house that has long since been demolished, one of the Little Morton cottages.

Coming from a mining family, his father and grandfather being colliers, his young days were hard. Times were tough and there was not a lot of money about and the young and growing Harry was keen to help out. He had some of his mothers thriftiness in him and so to earn some cash, he got a job as errand boy for George Austin, the butcher, who’s shop was situated on Wingfield Green. An ordinary life for an ordinary boy, but Harry was no ordinary boy for he had been blessed with an outstanding gift, a gift of a voice, a voice sweeter than any nightingales, a voice so pure that it had women reaching for their handkerchiefs. A voice that first manifested itself in the North Wingfield Church Choir of which the boy soprano became a star. His Sunday evening solos had the building packed to the seams.

Harry Hopkinson’s reputation grew and so did Harry, he blossomed into a strong powerful youth but his voice retained its childhood purity. Herbert Butterworth, the choirmaster, could not understand it. The voice just would not break. It was this unusual fact that was to make Harry his fame and fortune.

The singing butcher’s boy left school and found work as a pony driver at Homewood Colliery and later moving to the new Williamthorpe Colliery. He loved the ponies but was not keen on the pit work, and a slight accident he suffered convinced the lad that a miners life was not for him. Harry had set his heart on a show business career.

In his late teens he entered a local talent contest, a contest that lasted for a week. The Saturday night that the result was announced Harry was accompanied to the theatre by his immediate family and friends. They were ecstatic when their favourite was acclaimed the winner.

Harry Hopkinson was on his way to stardom, his amazing vocal talent had been recognised. Recognised not only by the public, but also by a show business entrepreneur who approached the lads’ family and asked if he could take him under his wing and make him a star.

Harry was drafted into a touring troupe of entertainers and his adventures and travel had begun. Travels that were to take him half way around the world and back.

Harry Hopkinson was no name for a budding music hall star and at his managers request was to be changed, but what to? That was the question. Harry toyed with several ideas, Harry Austin and Harry Layton were two of them, neither of them for one reason or another being acceptable and eventually the name Austin Layton was arrived at, one explanation for this name is that Austin came from the shop for which Harry used to run errands and Layton which Harry derived from his mothers death, she had died on the night of one of his concerts (Layton from "My Late One"). Another explanation is that Harry was often late for work and upon hearing that he was trying to choose a stage name, Mr Austin, his boss suggested Austins Late’un.

Austin Layton was not only an impressive title, Austin Layton was indeed an impressive person, an exceptionally well made man with boyish good looks appearing very elegant in his top hat and tails a complete showman a product of the 1920’s image makers.

As Austin Layton Harry Hopkinson’s career was to go from success to success, but even greater success and fame was to come a few short years later with a change of management and style. The yodelling part of Harry’s act was expanded and his name was changed to the more commercial and continental sounding "Torrani."

As "Torrani" the singer’s fame was to spread far and wide. The world was his theatre and he was idolised wherever his travels were to take him. Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, the U.S.A. And parts of Africa all welcomed his talents. After one appearance in the Middle East Harry alone out of the whole troupe of performers was invited to entertain at the Palace of the Empress, happy to oblige he was to be well rewarded for his performance. The Empress presented him with a huge ring encrusted with three precious stones, a gift he wore on the little finger of his right hand.

Travelling the world became the norm for Harry Torrani and of all the lands he visited Australia and New Zealand were his favourites. The one he disliked the most being Ireland. He was always glad to get away from there.

Wealth and fame brought the former butcher’s boy into contact with many famous names and celebrities. It is believed that in Berlin in 1935, Torrani sang before Hitler and his generals, and whilst in the U.S.A. Entertained the President and became acquainted with the famous boxers Jack Dempsey and Joe Louis among others.

Another of Harry’s friends was Mercedes Geitze, the first girl to swim the English Channel, a stretch of water that Torrani was quite familiar with. On one occasion it offered the chance of some good publicity. A ship he was aboard was adrift in thick fog and in danger of collision, the ships hooter wouldn’t work so Harry started to yodel his voice pierced the gloom and acted as a warning.

For all the fame that Harry Hopkinson achieved and all the glamour of the famous people he mixed with, his personality never altered. He had always been kind and generous to people, had always been very popular with his old friends and he remained so. Whenever he got the chance he would come back to North Wingfield and stay there with his father at his new address, what is now number 14 Williamthorpe Road.

This house stands just down the road and opposite the Miners Welfare, a place he would call into whenever he was back in the village. Harry liked to keep in contact with his friends and often he would buy them a drink. Harry was not flash with his money but just naturally generous, he could not walk into a place and see his mates without a drink, they could not afford them in the impoverished 30’s so he would buy some for them.

Friends were not the only ones to benefit from the stars good nature, just as pleased were the local children. Harry had a horse, which he kept in a field up Blacks Lane, and he would let the eager little ones have a ride.

Riding the horse of a famous personality may have been a treat for the kids but an even bigger thrill was the rides that Harry would treat them to in his Armstrong Siddley motor car.

The kind and generous star was a big favourite of the villagers and fans alike, those that did not know him personally would know him through his music, not only did Torrani tour the theatres and clubs far and wide but this voice could also be heard on radio and on records. It is believed that he was one of the first yodellers to make a disc.

Recording on the Regal label was a boost to his career, not only did he sing and yodel on the records, but accompanyed himself with a few simple chords on his mother of pearl inlaid guitar, he also wrote his own songs, words and music.

His music was very popular not only with the public but also with other artistes, performers from all over the country that clamoured to get permission to use his material in their acts. Songs such as "Yodel All Day" and "Yodellers Dream Girl" were always well received. Connoisseurs of Torrani music and the man himself all agreed though that his best recorded songs were "Mammy’s Yodel!" and "Mississippi Yodel!", pieces of music that fully extended his vocal range.

By anybody’s standards Harry had a remarkable recording career, spanning the years 1932 to 1942 and twenty-five records. Fifty sides of crooning and yodelling.

Records and radio satisfied some peoples desire for the magic music, others would flock to the theatres and halls that were so popular at the time. For his stage appearances Harry was billed as the "Singing Puzzle" or as the "Yodelling Cowboy from Chesterfield." The latter title speaks for itself, the former is explained thus.

Harry Torrani often opened his stage act concealed behind a curtain or newspaper. His unamplified voice would resound around the theatre, the audience astounded by the high pitched clarity would comment on what a lovely voice "She" had, or "She sings like a lark doesn’t she." Many mystified listeners were left guessing as to the gender of the amazing vocalist. Guessing that is until Harry revealed himself from his concealment and threw his wig across the stage to rapturous applause.

Torrani may have sung in a high pitched voice but make no mistake about him, he was all man, a super-strong keep fit fanatic, years before fitness became a fashion.

Harry was a great lover of sport, horse racing, boxing, open air swimming and tennis being his favourites. Whenever he returned to his native village for his holidays he would take the opportunity to hop into his car and drive to Wingerworth to take a daily dip in the Smithy pond. Every morning whatever the weather he would have a swim, and almost every afternoon he would have a few games of tennis on the local miner’s welfare courts.

The music hall star was very proud of his strength and quite often would demonstrate just how much he possessed, snapping chains was his forte. The Irish police were amongst many that witnessed him doing it, he showed them once whilst on tour. Proud as he was of his ability it was a show he rarely gave in public, but he was known to entertain his friends with it. Billy Wilson’s slaughterhouse on North Wingfield Green was where this event too place, his bulging biceps soon parted the links, to resounding cheers from the onlookers.

Butcher Wilson and Harry were big friends and many a time they would go rabbit shooting together at Upper Oldhams Farm, Arbor Low. Whatever the weather was like, sunshine, hail, or snow the rabbit shooting vocalist would always have his shirt undone down to the waist, a striking feature that really impressed the ferret boy who had heard him say that is was "a sure way of keeping fit and healthy."

Harry "Torrani" Hopkinson the kind and generous super strong yodelling cowboy and member of the racing fraternity, retired from show business during the late 1940’s.

Harry took up residence at the Tattenham Corner House Hotel. Soon to be joined by his father who had retired from the mines suffering from nystagmus. The "Singing Puzzle" may have given up the boards and retired but his music never did, his records, now collectors items, can quite frequently be heard on radio, Harry’s voice yodelling out over the airwaves to reach his admiring fans.

Frank Ifield, Slim Whitman, Gene Autrey, forget them, "Torrani" was the finest yodeller. Just ask any of his devoted followers.

Queensland’s own Johnny Greenwood hunted down and met Harry Torrani in the mid 1960’s when he went to England. Johnny will tell you it was the highlight of his life to be able to meet and speak to Harry before he passed on.

Harry was born on the 8th June, 1902 and has been credited as one of the world’s greatest yodellers, and his influence has shown on many Australian Country Performers, like Joan Ridgway, Frank Ifiueld, Mary Schneider, George Payne, and Rex Dallas.

Harry recorded his first yodelling song on August 27th, 1931 for the Regal Zonophone label, "Honeymoon Yodel" coupled with "Happy and Free." There after being dedicated to his wife, Harry said it was an old song which he re wrote to suit his yodelling style. Several years later Elton Britt did the same and re titled it "Chime Bells." Harry’s version sold 160,000 copies in his home country in two months in 1932.

Harry dedicated one of his songs to Australia, "The Australian Yodel", and it has been said that Harry visited Australia, but there seems to be no proof of this and has been stated that he did not.

Harry and his wife Joy had a daughter Dawn. He recorded 51 tracks which includes a second version "The Rambling Yodeller" all of which were available on a 3 CD set, but are no longer available. In his retirement Harry worked as a watch repairer, after suffering a stroke he entered a Nursing Home where he remained until his death on 4th March, 1979 at the age of 77.

Ó July, 2001 by Ian Hands.