Hutchinson, Ray

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Origin: Montréal, Québec → Peterborough, Ontario, 🇨🇦
Biography:

Ray Hutchinson (1940–2021)
A founding figure in early Canadian rock and roll, Ray Hutchinson was born in Montreal in 1940 and overcame childhood illness to launch a groundbreaking career. Diagnosed with tuberculosis of the hip at age four, he spent much of his youth at Shriners Hospital and attended the adjoining School for Crippled Children. It was there he met future bandmate Michel Robitaille. Together with Joey Fréchette and Gilles Tailleur, they formed The Del-Tones in 1958—laying the foundation for one of Canada’s first self-contained rock bands.

The Del-Tones released a debut single, “Moonlight Party” b/w “Rockin’ Blues,” in 1959 through Quality Records. But due to naming conflicts, the band rebranded as The Beau-Marks, taking inspiration from the BOMARC missile then in the headlines. With Hutchinson on lead guitar and vocals, the group wrote, performed, and recorded all their material in Canada—a rarity at the time—and quickly made history.

Their biggest hit, “Clap Your Hands” (1960), sold over half a million copies and topped charts in Canada and Australia. It cracked the U.S. Billboard Hot 100 at #45 and reached #40 on Cashbox. The song became a cultural landmark, earning the group appearances on American Bandstand and gigs at prestigious venues like New York’s Peppermint Lounge and Carnegie Hall, where they shared stages with Sammy Davis Jr. and Johnny Ray. They were invited to appear on The Ed Sullivan Show, but scheduling conflicts prevented it. The Beau-Marks released three albums before disbanding in 1963.

Hutchinson left the group the year prior and began a long solo career as a lounge singer. He recorded with Dave Nicholls & The Coins and issued two solo singles on Epic Records in 1966: “Rose Marie” (which peaked at #12 in Canada) and “Tina.” He continued touring across Ontario and Quebec throughout the 1970s, eventually relocating to Peterborough, Ontario.

In 1971, Hutchinson released “Every Bit As Wonderful” on the Celebration label, followed by the independently released Live at the Castlemore, recorded during a residency at one of Toronto’s busiest hotel venues. His versatile live sets spanned pop, soul, jazz, and country, often featuring covers of Stevie Wonder, Olivia Newton-John, and Tom Jones. He later issued self-written singles like “This Feeling,” “The Image of Love,” and “We’re On Our Way,” which he sold at live performances and on limited vinyl pressings.

Hutchinson’s career took a tragic turn in 1988 when, after arranging a series of Florida gigs, he was struck by a car in Miami and spent months in a coma. He returned to Peterborough to recover and gradually withdrew from performance in the early 1990s.

A trailblazer in stagecraft as well as music, Hutchinson was among the first Canadian performers to incorporate echo effects, wireless microphones, and visual slideshows into his live shows. His technical curiosity paralleled his musical innovation.

In recognition of his contributions, Hutchinson was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame, and the Peterborough and District Pathway of Fame.

Ray Hutchinson died on October 31, 2021, at the age of 81 due to complications from COPD. He left behind a legacy as a pioneering force in Canadian music—an artist who not only broke new ground at home but helped pave the way for future generations of Canadian rock performers on the international stage.
-Robert Williston