Turner Layton (July 2, 1894 – February 6, 1978), born John Turner Layton, Jr., was an American singer, songwriter and pianist. He frequently worked with Henry Creamer.

Life

Born in

Washington, D.C. Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly known as Washington or D.C., is the capital city and federal district of the United States. The city is on the Potomac River, across from Virginia, and shares land borders with ...

, United States, in 1894, he was the son of John Turner Layton, "a bass singer, music educator and hymn composer."Peterson, Bernard L. ''Profiles of African American Stage Performers and Theatre People, 1816-1890)'', Greenwood Press, 2000, p. 164 After receiving a musical education from his father, he attended the Howard University Dental School, later coming to

New York City New York, often called New York City (NYC), is the most populous city in the United States, located at the southern tip of New York State on one of the world's largest natural harbors. The city comprises five boroughs, each coextensive w ...

in the early 1900s, where he met future songwriting partner, lyricist Henry Creamer. Layton is best known for his many compositions with Creamer, the best known of which is the standard " After You've Gone", written in 1918 and first popularized by Sophie Tucker. Turner and Creamer had another hit with " Way Down Yonder in New Orleans" in 1922. It was recorded in 1927 by Frank Trumbauer (with Bix Beiderbecke), and was a rock and roll hit for

Freddy Cannon Frederick Anthony Picariello, Jr. (born December 4, 1936), better known by his stage name Freddy Cannon, is an American rock and roll singing, singer. His biggest international hits included "Tallahassee Lassie", "Way Down Yonder in New Orleans", ...

in 1959. Creamer and Layton contributed music and lyrics to many Broadway shows, including the ''

Ziegfeld Follies The ''Ziegfeld Follies'' were a series of elaborate theatrical revue productions on Broadway in New York City from 1907 to 1931, with renewals in 1934, 1936, 1943, and 1957. They became a radio program in 1932 and 1936 as '' The Ziegfeld Foll ...

'' of 1917, 1921 and 1922, ''Three Showers'' (1920), ''Some Party'' (1922) and Creamer's own ''Strut Miss Lizzie'' (1922). Beginning in 1924, Layton found major popular success in England with Clarence "Tandy" JohnstoneFriedwald, Will. ''A Biographical Guide to the Great Jazz and Pop Singers'' (New York : Pantheon Books, 2010), p. 582 as a member of the group Layton & Johnstone, quickly earning a reputation as a cabaret act, with the pair allegedly selling over 10 million records. Layton split with Johnstone in 1935 (after Johnstone had been named in Albert Sandler's divorce), with Johnstone returning to New York and continuing to perform with significantly less success. Layton continued to perform in England. An elegant song stylist, he held a regular, successful spot over the years at the Café de Paris, a

London London is the Capital city, capital and List of urban areas in the United Kingdom, largest city of both England and the United Kingdom, with a population of in . London metropolitan area, Its wider metropolitan area is the largest in Wester ...

club, until his retirement in 1946. He died in London in February 1978, at the age of 83.

Recordings

Two albums of Layton & Johnstone recordings have been issued on CD in the UK - on ASV Living Era (CD AJA 5426) and Flapper (PAST CD 9712). Two compilation albums of recordings by Layton have been released on CD.

Legacy

His daughter A'Lelia Shirley inherited his musical estate and left the copyright and royalties to her father's music to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children in London in her will on her death in January 2001.

Notable compositions

*" After You've Gone" *" Dear Old Southland" *" Goodbye Alexander, Goodbye Honey Boy" *"It Must Be Love" *"Strut, Miss Lizzie" *" 'Way down Yonder in New Orleans"

References

External links

Biography
at AllMusic
Turner Layton recordings
at the

Discography of American Historical Recordings The Discography of American Historical Recordings (DAHR) is a database catalog of master recordings made by American record companies during the 78rpm era. The 78rpm era was the time period in which any flat disc records were being played at ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:Layton, Turner 1894 births 1978 deaths Songwriters from Washington, D.C. American male songwriters 20th-century American musicians 20th-century American male musicians African-American songwriters 20th-century African-American musicians