Edmund James Arthur Hockridge was a Canadian baritone and actor born on August 9, 1919, in Vancouver. Encouraged at age 17 by opera star John Charles Thomas, he pursued a professional music career and served with the Royal Canadian Air Force during World War II. During his service, he was loaned to the BBC to provide entertainment for troops, working alongside the Glenn Miller Orchestra. Hockridge achieved significant fame in the United Kingdom starting in 1950 with his role as Billy Bigelow in the musical Carousel at Drury Lane. He became a staple of the West End, starring in Guys and Dolls, Can-Can, and The Pajama Game. His rendition of “Hey There” from the latter production became a signature hit. In 1956, he reached number 10 on the British charts with “Young and Foolish”. His career included film roles in King's Rhapsody and late-career stage work in Annie Get Your Gun. Later in life, he performed with his family as the Hockridge Family Singers. Hockridge died on March 15, 2009, in Peterborough.
