Jack Hutton & Friends Friday, June 20, 2025 at 7:30 PM EDT

One more time! Jack Hutton and Friends is returning on Friday, June 20th for what is expected to be the group’s final performance at the Gravenhurst Opera House. It has sold out at least three times since its first performance in July, 2003, set an attendance record that was not matched for years. The program will focus upon the life and compositions by Irving Berlin who George Gershwin called "the greatest song composer who ever lived." Jack made contact with Berlin’s family in the mid-1990's and will share many of the little-known facts about their famous father that the three daughters shared with him. All of the group members from the near sell-out in 2024 will be returning in June. That includes Ross Wooldridge, Canada’s top jazz clarinet player, Will Wilson on banjo and guitar, Ralph Johnson who plays an 1850 string bass and Bob Muir on trombone. Darryl Hollingsworth, who has played and recorded with Jack over more than 25 years, will be a guest artist on June 20th, singing Walt Disney’s theme song, "When You Wish Upon A Star” for the animated film, “Pinocchio”. Jack’s 17-year-old grandson. Kai Hutton Wakely, who has been callekd Toronto’s best piano player in his age group, will be playing a solo before both the first and second halves of the concert.