Frank Sinatra with June Hutton

June Hutton (August 11, 1920 – May 2, 1973) was an American popular singer. Born June Cowan in Chicago she and her older sister, Ina Ray Hutton, a band leader in the 1930s and 40s, passed as white throughout their musical careers. United States Census records identified her family as “negro,” and “mulatto,” when the Bureau used that term. Though their family occasionally appeared in the society pages of a black newspaper, both sisters had light complexions and by the late 1930s, dyed their hair blonde. Ina Ray Hutton changed her last name to "Hutton" (inspired by heiress Barbara Hutton), and in 1941, her younger sister June joined the band of her older sister, first singing under the name of Elaine Merritt, eventually changing her last name to "Hutton' as well. June Hutton joined Charlie Spivak's band as a member of a vocal group, The Stardusters (along with Glenn Calyon, Curt Purnell and Dick Wylder). The Spivak orchestra and the Stardusters appeared in a Betty Grable film, Pin-Up Girl (1943). She had two hits as a member of The Stardusters, "This Is No Laughing Matter" and "Brother Bill", and also made a solo hit recording, "Dreamsville, Ohio".

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