Gordon Stretton

Gordon Stretton (5 June 1887 – 3 May 1983), born William Masters, was an English singer, dancer and musical director of mixed Irish and Jamaican descent. He became one of the first Liverpool-based musicians to gain international acclaim, and is credited with introducing jazz to Latin America.

Personal life His mother Sarah Ann Jane Masters (née Williams, 1862–1903) was from Ireland and moved with her parents to Liverpool as a child. was born in Jamaica around 1854 and worked as a seaman on SS Andean, owned by the Liverpool-based West India Pacific Steamship Company. His parents married in Liverpool on 23 June 1884. They had three sons, all of whom enlisted in the First World War. One was killed and the other two were injured, one by poison gas. His father died at sea in 1896 or 1897 and his mother in 1903. He is one of the shoeless boys sitting around the Steble Fountain in William Brown Street in Liverpool photographed in 1896 by Charles F. Inston. Their musical style prefigured jazz and the rapid tempo required faster and close movement by dancers. Edward, Prince of Wales (future King Edward VIII) visited Murray's and Stretton met him. probably include Stretton as a member. Lords of the Air and There'll always be an England Odeon 45766 God Bless America and You're darn tootin''' Odeon 45770 (recorded 8 July 1941) Peruana (recorded 4 September 1941) and Pronto Sera Odeon 45802 (recorded 18 March 1942) with profits to International Red Cross Siempre Voy Silbando Odeon number unknown (recorded 8 July 1941) Gracias, Senor Roosevelt Odeon number unknown (recorded 4 September 1941) Punto Punto Punto Raya Odeon number unknown (recorded 16 September 1941) Yasha, El Pasha Odeon number unknown (recorded 16 September 1941)

Songs