Frankie Vaughan
Encyclopedia
Frankie Vaughan, CBE
, DL
(3 February 1928 – 17 September 1999) was an English
singer of traditional pop music
, who issued more than 80 recordings
in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits
.
, England
. The name 'Vaughan' came from a grandmother whose first grandson he was, who used to call Frank 'my number one' grandson, in whose Russian
accent 'one' sounded like 'Vaughan'.
In his early life, he was a member of the Lancaster Lads Club, a member group of the National Association of Boys' Clubs in the UK
, and in his career he was a major contributor to the clubs, dedicating his monetary compensation from one song each year to them. He was an evacuee during World War II
. He started out at the club intending to be a boxer
. Then at age 14 he received a scholarship to the Lancaster College of Art, where he sang in the dance band. After a stint in the Royal Army Medical Corps
in World War II (where he spent most of his time boxing) he returned to art school, this time at the Leeds College of Art.
When he won a prize to design a furniture exhibition stand, he left for London
, where he won second prize on a radio
talent show.
Vaughan's career began in the late 1940s in the theatre doing variety
song and dance acts. He was known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat
, bow tie
, tails
, and carrying a cane. In the 1950s he worked for a few years with the Nat Temple band, and after that period he then began making records
, and was popular in the UK. In 1955, he recorded what was to become his trademark song, "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl".
He recorded a large number of songs that were cover
s of United States
hit songs, including Perry Como
's "Kewpie Doll
," Jimmie Rodgers'
"Kisses Sweeter than Wine
," Boyd Bennett
's "Seventeen" (also covered in the US
by the Fontane Sisters), Jim Lowe
's "The Green Door," and (with The Kaye Sisters
), The Fleetwoods
' "Come Softly to Me
". From the 1950s through to the early 1960s, his recordings were popular in the UK. In 1956, his cover of "The Green Door
" reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
. The same year he was voted 'Showbusiness Personality of the Year'. In early 1957, his version of "The Garden of Eden
", reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1961, Vaughan hit #1 in the UK again, with "Tower of Strength", but the rise of beat music
eclipsed his chart
career for two or three years, before he returned to the Top 10 in 1967 with "There Must Be A Way". Chart success eluded him after this although he did have two more Top 40 singles; "Nevertheless" and "So Tired".
Managed at this time by the former journalist and theatrical agent Paul Cave , he went to the United States
in 1960 to make a movie
with Marilyn Monroe
, Let's Make Love
, and was an actor in several other movies, but his recordings
were never chart hits in the US. In 1961, Vaughan was on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance
at the Prince of Wales Theatre
, Coventry Street
, London
.
During the 1960s, he became involved with youth social problems in Easterhouse
, a large housing estate in the outskirts of Glasgow
, and was influential in attracting new resources and inward investment to the area. A longtime member of the Grand Order of Water Rats
, Vaughan became King Rat
in 1968, a feat he followed up in 1998.
He sang the traditional hymn
, "Abide With Me
", at the 1973 FA Cup Final, won by Sunderland
.
He continued performing until 1985, when he starred in a stage version of 42nd Street
at Drury Lane
in London, opposite his old friend Shani Wallis
who appeared in their first film
together, Ramsbottom Rides Again
with Arthur Askey
. After a year, he suffered a near fatal bout of peritonitis
and had to leave the cast. According to the BBC
obituary, Vaughan was married to Stella from 1951 to 1999 and they had three children and several grandchildren. He was created an OBE in 1965, a CBE in 1996, and as a resident of High Wycombe
had been a Deputy Lieutenant
of the County
of Buckinghamshire
since 1993. He was an Honorary Fellow
of Liverpool John Moores University
.
He died from heart failure in Oxford
in 1999, aged 71. The Frankie Vaughan Archive, consisting of sheet music
, scores, orchestra
l and band parts, was donated to Liverpool John Moores University by his widow, Stella Vaughan, in the summer of 2000.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
, DL
Deputy Lieutenant
In the United Kingdom, a Deputy Lieutenant is one of several deputies to the Lord Lieutenant of a lieutenancy area; an English ceremonial county, Welsh preserved county, Scottish lieutenancy area, or Northern Irish county borough or county....
(3 February 1928 – 17 September 1999) was an English
English people
The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens...
singer of traditional pop music
Traditional pop music
Traditional pop or classic pop or standards music denotes, in general, Western popular music that either wholly predates the advent of rock and roll in the mid-1950s, or to any popular music which exists concurrently to rock and roll but originated in a time before the appearance of rock and roll,...
, who issued more than 80 recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
.
Life and career
He was born Frank Abelson to a Jewish family in Devon Street, LiverpoolLiverpool
Liverpool is a city and metropolitan borough of Merseyside, England, along the eastern side of the Mersey Estuary. It was founded as a borough in 1207 and was granted city status in 1880...
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The name 'Vaughan' came from a grandmother whose first grandson he was, who used to call Frank 'my number one' grandson, in whose Russian
Russian language
Russian is a Slavic language used primarily in Russia, Belarus, Uzbekistan, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan and Kyrgyzstan. It is an unofficial but widely spoken language in Ukraine, Moldova, Latvia, Turkmenistan and Estonia and, to a lesser extent, the other countries that were once constituent republics...
accent 'one' sounded like 'Vaughan'.
In his early life, he was a member of the Lancaster Lads Club, a member group of the National Association of Boys' Clubs in the UK
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
, and in his career he was a major contributor to the clubs, dedicating his monetary compensation from one song each year to them. He was an evacuee during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. He started out at the club intending to be a boxer
Boxing
Boxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
. Then at age 14 he received a scholarship to the Lancaster College of Art, where he sang in the dance band. After a stint in the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
in World War II (where he spent most of his time boxing) he returned to art school, this time at the Leeds College of Art.
When he won a prize to design a furniture exhibition stand, he left for London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, where he won second prize on a radio
Radio
Radio is the transmission of signals through free space by modulation of electromagnetic waves with frequencies below those of visible light. Electromagnetic radiation travels by means of oscillating electromagnetic fields that pass through the air and the vacuum of space...
talent show.
Vaughan's career began in the late 1940s in the theatre doing variety
Variety show
A variety show, also known as variety arts or variety entertainment, is an entertainment made up of a variety of acts, especially musical performances and sketch comedy, and normally introduced by a compère or host. Other types of acts include magic, animal and circus acts, acrobatics, juggling...
song and dance acts. He was known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat
Top hat
A top hat, beaver hat, high hat silk hat, cylinder hat, chimney pot hat or stove pipe hat is a tall, flat-crowned, broad-brimmed hat, predominantly worn from the latter part of the 18th to the middle of the 20th century...
, bow tie
Bow tie
The bow tie is a type of men's necktie. It consists of a ribbon of fabric tied around the collar in a symmetrical manner such that the two opposite ends form loops. Ready-tied bow ties are available, in which the distinctive bow is sewn into shape and the band around the neck incorporates a clip....
, tails
Tailcoat
A tailcoat is a coat with the front of the skirt cut away, so as to leave only the rear section of the skirt, known as the tails. The historical reason coats were cut this way was to make it easier for the wearer to ride a horse, but over the years tailcoats of varying types have evolved into forms...
, and carrying a cane. In the 1950s he worked for a few years with the Nat Temple band, and after that period he then began making records
Gramophone record
A gramophone record, commonly known as a phonograph record , vinyl record , or colloquially, a record, is an analog sound storage medium consisting of a flat disc with an inscribed, modulated spiral groove...
, and was popular in the UK. In 1955, he recorded what was to become his trademark song, "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl".
He recorded a large number of songs that were cover
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
s of United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
hit songs, including Perry Como
Perry Como
Pierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
's "Kewpie Doll
Kewpie Doll (song)
"Kewpie Doll" is a popular song written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett.In the United States, the most popular version was a recording by Perry Como; in the United Kingdom, Como's version competed with a version recorded by Frankie Vaughan....
," Jimmie Rodgers'
Jimmie Rodgers (pop singer)
James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers is an American singer. He is not related to the country singer of the same name.-Career:...
"Kisses Sweeter than Wine
Kisses Sweeter than Wine (song)
"Kisses Sweeter than Wine" is a popular love song written by The Weavers in 1950, and a hit for Jimmie Rodgers in 1957 and Frankie Vaughan in 1958.-History:...
," Boyd Bennett
Boyd Bennett
Boyd Bennett was an American rockabilly songwriter and singer.His two biggest hit singles, both written and performed by him, were "Seventeen" with his band, the Rockets ; and "My Boy, Flat Top" . "Seventeen" reached No. 16 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1955...
's "Seventeen" (also covered in the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
by the Fontane Sisters), Jim Lowe
Jim Lowe
Jim Lowe is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1956 number-one hit record, "The Green Door". He also served as a disc jockey and radio host and personality, and has been considered an expert on the popular music of the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:Born in Springfield, Missouri, Lowe...
's "The Green Door," and (with The Kaye Sisters
The Kaye Sisters
The Kaye Sisters were a trio of British pop singers, who scored several hits on the UK Singles Chart in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:...
), The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods
The Fleetwoods were a singing trio from Olympia, Washington, United States; formed in the late 1950s. They were responsible for eleven hit songs, beginning with "Come Softly to Me"...
' "Come Softly to Me
Come Softly to Me
"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song written by Gretchen Christopher that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods, composed of Christopher, Gary Troxel, and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records label....
". From the 1950s through to the early 1960s, his recordings were popular in the UK. In 1956, his cover of "The Green Door
Green Door
" Green Door" is a 1956 popular song with music composed by Bob Davie and lyrics written by Marvin Moore. The lyrics describe a nondescript establishment, with a green door, behind which "a happy crowd" play piano, smoke and "laugh a lot", and inside which the singer is not allowed.-Possible...
" reached #2 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
. The same year he was voted 'Showbusiness Personality of the Year'. In early 1957, his version of "The Garden of Eden
The Garden of Eden (1956 song)
"The Garden of Eden" is a song written and composed by Dennise Haas Norwood and first recorded by Joe Valino, who reached Number 12 on the Billboard charts in October 1956....
", reached #1 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1961, Vaughan hit #1 in the UK again, with "Tower of Strength", but the rise of beat music
Beat music
Beat music, British beat, or Merseybeat is a pop and rock music genre that developed in the United Kingdom in the early 1960s. Beat music is a fusion of rock and roll, doo wop, skiffle, R&B and soul...
eclipsed his chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
career for two or three years, before he returned to the Top 10 in 1967 with "There Must Be A Way". Chart success eluded him after this although he did have two more Top 40 singles; "Nevertheless" and "So Tired".
Managed at this time by the former journalist and theatrical agent Paul Cave , he went to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 1960 to make a movie
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
with Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe
Marilyn Monroe was an American actress, singer, model and showgirl who became a major sex symbol, starring in a number of commercially successful motion pictures during the 1950s....
, Let's Make Love
Let's Make Love
Let's Make Love is a 1960 musical comedy film made by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by George Cukor and produced by Jerry Wald from a screenplay by Norman Krasna, Hal Kanter and Arthur Miller...
, and was an actor in several other movies, but his recordings
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
were never chart hits in the US. In 1961, Vaughan was on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance
Royal Variety Performance
The Royal Variety Performance is a gala evening held annually in the United Kingdom, which is attended by senior members of the British Royal Family, usually the reigning monarch. In more recent years Queen Elizabeth II and The Prince of Wales have alternately attended the performance...
at the Prince of Wales Theatre
Prince of Wales Theatre
The Prince of Wales Theatre is a West End theatre on Coventry Street, near Leicester Square in the City of Westminster. It was established in 1884 and rebuilt in 1937, and extensively refurbished in 2004 by Sir Cameron Mackintosh, its current owner...
, Coventry Street
Coventry Street
Coventry Street is a short London street, within the City of Westminster, running from Piccadilly Circus to Leicester Square. The street is the main conduit between Piccadilly Circus and Leicester Square and at the weekend up to 150,000 people walk from one to another along the street...
, London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
.
During the 1960s, he became involved with youth social problems in Easterhouse
Easterhouse
Easterhouse is a suburb about east of Glasgow city centre, Scotland. It was partially built on land gained from the county of Lanarkshire as part of a boundary expansion of Glasgow before the Second World War. Building began in the mid-1950s by the then local authority, Glasgow Corporation...
, a large housing estate in the outskirts of Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
, and was influential in attracting new resources and inward investment to the area. A longtime member of the Grand Order of Water Rats
Grand Order of Water Rats
The Grand Order of Water Rats is an entertainment industry charity, and brotherhood, based in London. The Water Rats were founded in 1889 by comedian Joe Elvin. The first King Rat, as the head of the charity is termed, was music hall singer Harry Freeman. Comedian Dan Leno joined in 1890 and was...
, Vaughan became King Rat
King Rat
King Rat may mean:* Uromys rex, a species of rat* King Rat , by James Clavell set in World War II* King Rat , released in 1965, based on the James Clavell novel* King Rat , an urban fantasy novel by China Miéville...
in 1968, a feat he followed up in 1998.
He sang the traditional hymn
Hymn
A hymn is a type of song, usually religious, specifically written for the purpose of praise, adoration or prayer, and typically addressed to a deity or deities, or to a prominent figure or personification...
, "Abide With Me
Abide With Me
The hymn tune most often used with this hymn is "Eventide" composed by William Henry Monk in 1861.Alternate tunes include:* "Abide with Me," Henry Lyte, 1847* "Morecambe", Frederick C...
", at the 1973 FA Cup Final, won by Sunderland
Sunderland A.F.C.
Sunderland Association Football Club is an English association football club based in Sunderland, Tyne and Wear who currently play in the Premier League...
.
He continued performing until 1985, when he starred in a stage version of 42nd Street
42nd Street (musical)
42nd Street is a musical with a book by Michael Stewart and Mark Bramble, lyrics by Al Dubin, and music by Harry Warren. The 1980 Broadway production, directed by an ailing Gower Champion and orchestrated by Philip J. Lang, won the Tony Award for Best Musical and became a long-running hit...
at Drury Lane
Drury Lane
Drury Lane is a street on the eastern boundary of the Covent Garden area of London, running between Aldwych and High Holborn. The northern part is in the borough of Camden and the southern part in the City of Westminster....
in London, opposite his old friend Shani Wallis
Shani Wallis
Shani Wallis is an English actress and singer.Wallis was born in Tottenham, London. Making her first stage appearance at the age of four, she later studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art on a scholarship...
who appeared in their first film
Film
A film, also called a movie or motion picture, is a series of still or moving images. It is produced by recording photographic images with cameras, or by creating images using animation techniques or visual effects...
together, Ramsbottom Rides Again
Ramsbottom Rides Again
Ramsbottom Rides Again is a 1955 British western comedy film starring Arthur Askey as the title hero Bill Ramsbottom, with Sid James, pop singer Frankie Vaughan and Campbell Singer in supporting roles....
with Arthur Askey
Arthur Askey
Arthur Bowden Askey CBE was a prominent English comedian.- Life and career :Askey was born at 29 Moses Street, Liverpool, the eldest child and only son of Samuel Askey , secretary of the firm Sugar Products of Liverpool, and his wife, Betsy Bowden , of Knutsford, Cheshire...
. After a year, he suffered a near fatal bout of peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
and had to leave the cast. According to the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
obituary, Vaughan was married to Stella from 1951 to 1999 and they had three children and several grandchildren. He was created an OBE in 1965, a CBE in 1996, and as a resident of High Wycombe
High Wycombe
High Wycombe , commonly known as Wycombe and formally called Chepping Wycombe or Chipping Wycombe until 1946,is a large town in Buckinghamshire, England. It is west-north-west of Charing Cross in London; this figure is engraved on the Corn Market building in the centre of the town...
had been a Deputy Lieutenant
Lieutenant
A lieutenant is a junior commissioned officer in many nations' armed forces. Typically, the rank of lieutenant in naval usage, while still a junior officer rank, is senior to the army rank...
of the County
County
A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain modern nations. Historically in mainland Europe, the original French term, comté, and its equivalents in other languages denoted a jurisdiction under the sovereignty of a count A county is a jurisdiction of local government in certain...
of Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire
Buckinghamshire is a ceremonial and non-metropolitan home county in South East England. The county town is Aylesbury, the largest town in the ceremonial county is Milton Keynes and largest town in the non-metropolitan county is High Wycombe....
since 1993. He was an Honorary Fellow
Honorary title (academic)
Honorary titles in academia may be conferred on persons in recognition of contributions by a non-employee or by an employee beyond regular duties...
of Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University
Liverpool John Moores University is a British 'modern' university located in the city of Liverpool, England. The university is named after John Moores and was previously called Liverpool Mechanics' School of Arts and later Liverpool Polytechnic before gaining university status in 1992, thus...
.
He died from heart failure in Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
in 1999, aged 71. The Frankie Vaughan Archive, consisting of sheet music
Sheet music
Sheet music is a hand-written or printed form of music notation that uses modern musical symbols; like its analogs—books, pamphlets, etc.—the medium of sheet music typically is paper , although the access to musical notation in recent years includes also presentation on computer screens...
, scores, orchestra
Orchestra
An orchestra is a sizable instrumental ensemble that contains sections of string, brass, woodwind, and percussion instruments. The term orchestra derives from the Greek ορχήστρα, the name for the area in front of an ancient Greek stage reserved for the Greek chorus...
l and band parts, was donated to Liverpool John Moores University by his widow, Stella Vaughan, in the summer of 2000.
Singles
- 1950 - "The Old Piano Roll Blues" / "Daddy's Little Girl"
- 1950 - "Stay With The Happy People" / "Give Me You"
- 1953 - "My Sweetie Went Away" / "Strange"
- 1953 - "Too Marvelous for WordsToo Marvelous for Words"Too Marvelous for Words" is a popular song written in 1937. Johnny Mercer wrote the lyrics for music composed by Richard Whiting. It was featured in the 1937 Warner Brothers film Ready, Willing and Able, as well as a production number in a musical revue on Broadway...
" / "No Help Wanted" - 1953 - "Look at That GirlLook at That Girl"Look at That Girl" is a 1953 popular song. It was written by Bob Merrill and produced by Mitch Miller. The song was recorded by Guy Mitchell and it gave him his second #1 hit on the UK Singles Chart where it spent six weeks at the top....
" (coverCover versionIn popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Guy MitchellGuy MitchellGuy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia...
) / "Send My Baby Back To Me" - 1953 - "Bye Bye Baby" / "False Hearted Lover"
- 1953 - "Hey JoeHey Joe (1953 song)"Hey Joe" is a 1953 popular song written by Boudleaux Bryant. It was recorded by Carl Smith for Columbia Records on 19 May 1953 and spent eight weeks at #1 on the U.S. country music chart...
" (cover of Frankie LaineFrankie LaineFrankie Laine, born Francesco Paolo LoVecchio , was a successful American singer, songwriter, and actor whose career spanned 75 years, from his first concerts in 1930 with a marathon dance company to his final performance of "That's My Desire" in 2005...
) / "So Nice In Your Arms" - 1953 - "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)Istanbul (Not Constantinople)"Istanbul " is a swing-style song, with lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy and music by Nat Simon. The tune is reminiscent of "Puttin' on the Ritz," written by Irving Berlin in 1929, but the song is said to be a response to "C-O-N-S-T-A-N-T-I-N-O-P-L-E," recorded in 1928 by Paul Whiteman and His...
" (cover of The Four LadsThe Four LadsThe Four Lads is a popular Canadian male singing quartet. In the 1950s, 1960s, and 1970s, the group earned many gold singles and albums. Its million-selling signature tunes include "Moments to Remember," "Standin' on the Corner," "No, Not Much," "Who Needs You," and "Istanbul."The Four Lads makes...
) / "Cloud Lucky Seven" (cover of Guy MitchellGuy MitchellGuy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia...
) - UKUK Singles ChartThe UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
#11 - 1954 - "The Cuff of My Shirt" (cover of Guy MitchellGuy MitchellGuy Mitchell, born Albert George Cernik, was an American pop singer, successful in his homeland, the U.K. and Australia...
) / "Heartless" - 1954 - "From The Grape Came The Wine" / "She Took"
- 1954 - "JiltedJilted (song)"Jilted" is a popular song with music by Dick Manning and lyrics by Robert Colby, published in 1954.Teresa Brewer recorded the biggest-selling version on December 29, 1953. This recording was released by Coral Records as catalog number 61152. It first reached the U.S. Billboard chart on April 14,...
" / "Do, Do, Do, Do, Do, Do It Again" (duets with Alma CoganAlma CoganAlma Cogan was an English singer of traditional pop music in the 1950s and early 1960s. Dubbed "The Girl With the Laugh/Giggle/Chuckle In Her Voice", she was the highest paid British female entertainer of her era...
) - 1954 - "Out In The Middle of The Night" / "Crazy About You"
- 1954 - "My Son, My SonMy Son, My Son"My Son, My Son" is a traditional popular music song written by Bob Howard, Melville Farley and Eddie Calvert in 1954.The best known recording of the song, by Vera Lynn, climbed to the number one spot in the UK Singles Chart in November that year....
" (cover of Eddie CalvertEddie CalvertEddie Calvert was an English trumpeter, who enjoyed his greatest successes in the 1950s. Calvert had his first United Kingdom, number one instrumental single in 1954, with "Oh Mein Papa".-Biography:...
) / "Cinnamon Sinner" (cover of Tony BennettTony BennettTony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
) - 1954 - "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" (cover of The Fontane SistersThe Fontane SistersThe Fontane Sisters were a trio from New Milford, New Jersey.-Early years:Their mother, Louise Rosse, was both a soloist and the leader of the St. Joseph's Church choir in New Milford. Bea and Marge started out singing for local functions, doing so well, they were urged to audition in New York City...
) / "Danger Signs " - UK #12 - 1955 - "Too Many Heartaches" / "Unsuspecting Heart" (cover of Sunny Gale)
- 1955 - "Tweedle DeeTweedle Dee"Tweedlee Dee" is a rhythm and blues novelty song with a Latin-influenced riff written by Winfield Scott for LaVern Baker and recorded by her at Atlantic Records' studio in New York City in 1954. It was her first hit, reaching #4 on Billboard's R&B chart and #14 on its Pop chart...
" (cover of LaVern BakerLaVern BakerLaVern Baker was an American rhythm and blues singer, who had several hit records on the pop chart in the 1950s and early 1960s. Her most successful records were "Tweedlee Dee" , "Jim Dandy" , and "I Cried a Tear" .-Early life:She was born Delores LaVern Baker in Chicago, Illinois...
) / "Give Me The Moonlight Give Me The Girl" - UK #17 - 1955 - "Wildfire" / "That's How A Love Song Was Born"
- 1955 - "Something's Gotta GiveSomething's Gotta Give (song)"Something's Gotta Give" is a popular song with words and music by Johnny Mercer in 1954. It was published in 1955. It was written for and first performed by Fred Astaire in the 1955 musical film Daddy Long Legs....
" / "Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road" - 1955 - "Seventeen" (cover of Boyd BennettBoyd BennettBoyd Bennett was an American rockabilly songwriter and singer.His two biggest hit singles, both written and performed by him, were "Seventeen" with his band, the Rockets ; and "My Boy, Flat Top" . "Seventeen" reached No. 16 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1955...
) / "Meet Me On The Corner" (cover of Max BygravesMax BygravesMax Bygraves OBE is an English comedian, singer, actor and variety performer. He appeared on his own television shows, sometimes performing comedy sketches between songs...
) - UK #18 - 1956 - "My Boy Flat Top" (cover of Dorothy CollinsDorothy CollinsDorothy Collins was a Canadian/American singer, actress, and recording artist. She was born Marjorie Chandler in Windsor, Ontario, Canada, and adopted her stage name in her mid-teens.-Radio and TV:...
, also recordedSound recording and reproductionSound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
by Boyd BennettBoyd BennettBoyd Bennett was an American rockabilly songwriter and singer.His two biggest hit singles, both written and performed by him, were "Seventeen" with his band, the Rockets ; and "My Boy, Flat Top" . "Seventeen" reached No. 16 in the UK Singles Chart in December 1955...
) / "Stealin'" - UK #20 - 1956 - "This is The Night" / "Rock Candy Baby"
- 1956 - "Escape in The Sun" / "Honey Hair Sugar Lips Eyes of Blue" (cover of The Crew-CutsThe Crew-CutsThe Crew-Cuts were a Canadian vocal quartet, that made a number of popular records that charted in the United States and worldwide. They named themselves after the then popular crew cut haircut, one of the first connections made between pop music and hairstyle...
) - 1956 - "Lucky Thirteen" / "Let's Go Steady"
- 1956 - "The Green DoorGreen Door" Green Door" is a 1956 popular song with music composed by Bob Davie and lyrics written by Marvin Moore. The lyrics describe a nondescript establishment, with a green door, behind which "a happy crowd" play piano, smoke and "laugh a lot", and inside which the singer is not allowed.-Possible...
" (cover of Jim LoweJim LoweJim Lowe is an American singer-songwriter, best known for his 1956 number-one hit record, "The Green Door". He also served as a disc jockey and radio host and personality, and has been considered an expert on the popular music of the 1940s and 1950s.-Biography:Born in Springfield, Missouri, Lowe...
) / "Pity The Poor Man " - UK #2 - 1957 - "The Garden of EdenThe Garden of Eden (1956 song)"The Garden of Eden" is a song written and composed by Dennise Haas Norwood and first recorded by Joe Valino, who reached Number 12 on the Billboard charts in October 1956....
" / "Priscilla" - UK #1 - 1957 - "These Dangerous Years" / "Isn't This a Lovely Evening"
- 1957 - "What's Behind that Strange Door" / "Cold Cold Shower"
- 1957 - "Man On Fire" / "Wanderin' Eyes" - UK #6
- 1957 - "Gotta Have Something in The Bank Frank" / "Single" (duets with The Kaye SistersThe Kaye SistersThe Kaye Sisters were a trio of British pop singers, who scored several hits on the UK Singles Chart in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:...
) - UK #8 - 1957 - "Kisses Sweeter than WineKisses Sweeter than Wine (song)"Kisses Sweeter than Wine" is a popular love song written by The Weavers in 1950, and a hit for Jimmie Rodgers in 1957 and Frankie Vaughan in 1958.-History:...
" (cover of Jimmie RodgersJimmie Rodgers (pop singer)James Frederick "Jimmie" Rodgers is an American singer. He is not related to the country singer of the same name.-Career:...
) / "Rock-A-Chicka" - UK #8 - 1958 - "Can't Get Along Without You" / "We're Not Alone" - UK #11
- 1958 - "Kewpie DollKewpie Doll (song)"Kewpie Doll" is a popular song written by Sid Tepper and Roy C. Bennett.In the United States, the most popular version was a recording by Perry Como; in the United Kingdom, Como's version competed with a version recorded by Frankie Vaughan....
" (cover of Perry ComoPerry ComoPierino Ronald "Perry" Como was an American singer and television personality. During a career spanning more than half a century he recorded exclusively for the RCA Victor label after signing with them in 1943. "Mr...
) / "So Many Women" - UK 10 - 1958 - "Wonderful Things" / "Judy" - UK #22 ("Judy" also reached #22 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100Billboard Hot 100The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
) - 1958 - "Am I Wasting my Time On You" / "So Happy in Love" - UK 25
- 1959 - "That's My Doll" / "Love Is the Sweetest Thing" - UK #28
- 1959 - "Honey Bunny Baby" / "The Lady Is a SquareThe Lady Is a SquareThe Lady Is a Square is a 1959 British comedy musical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and featuring Anna Neagle, Frankie Vaughan and Janette Scott. An aspiring singer goes to work as a butler in the house of a classical music patron...
" - 1959 - "Give Me The Moonlight Give Me The Girl" / "Happy Go Lucky" (re-issue)
- 1959 - "Come Softly to MeCome Softly to Me"Come Softly to Me" is a popular song written by Gretchen Christopher that was published in 1959 and was performed by The Fleetwoods, composed of Christopher, Gary Troxel, and Barbara Ellis. It was the first release for the new Dolphin Records label....
" (cover of The FleetwoodsThe FleetwoodsThe Fleetwoods were a singing trio from Olympia, Washington, United States; formed in the late 1950s. They were responsible for eleven hit songs, beginning with "Come Softly to Me"...
) / "Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart" (duets with The Kaye SistersThe Kaye SistersThe Kaye Sisters were a trio of British pop singers, who scored several hits on the UK Singles Chart in the late 1950s and early 1960s.-Career:...
) - UK #9 - 1959 - "The Heart of A Man" / "Sometime Somewhere" - UK #5
- 1959 - "Walkin' Tall" / "I Ain't Gonna Lead This Life" - UK #28
- 1960 - "What More Do You Want" / "The Very Very Young" - UK #25
- 1960 - "Love Me Now" / "I Was a Fool"
- 1960 - "Kookie Little Paradise" / "Mary Lou" - UK #31
- 1960 - "MilordMilord (song)"Milord" or "Ombre de la Rue" is a 1959 song , famously sung by Édith Piaf. It is a chanson that recounts the feelings of a lower-class "girl of the port" who develops a crush on an elegantly attired apparent upper-class British traveller , whom she has seen walking the streets of the...
" (cover of Édith PiafÉdith PiafÉdith Piaf , born Édith Giovanna Gassion, was a French singer and cultural icon who became widely regarded as France's greatest popular singer. Her singing reflected her life, with her specialty being ballads...
) / "Do You Still Love Me" - UK #34 - 1961 - "Tower of Strength" (cover of Gene McDanielsGene McDanielsGene McDaniels was an American singer and songwriter, who had his greatest recording success in the early 1960s.-Biography:...
) / "Rachel" (cover of Al MartinoAl MartinoAl Martino was an American singer and actor. He had his greatest success as a singer between the early 1950s and mid 1970s, being described as "one of the great Italian American pop crooners", and also became well known as an actor, particularly for his role as singer Johnny Fontane in The...
) - UK #1 - 1961 - "Don't Stop - Twist!" / "Red Red Roses" - UK #22
- 1962 - "I'm Gonna Clip Your Wings" / "Travelin' ManTravelin' Man"Travelin' Man" is a single by Ricky Nelson, an American singer. It was written by songwriter Jerry Fuller. The song reached number one on the Billboard Hot 100; its b-side, "Hello Mary Lou", reached number nine on the same chart.-Plot:...
" (cover of Ricky NelsonRicky NelsonEric Hilliard Nelson , better known as Ricky Nelson or Rick Nelson, was an American singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and actor...
) - 1962 - "Hercules" / "Madeleine" - UK #42
- 1963 - "Hey Mama" / "Brand New Motor" - UK #21
- 1963 - "You're The One for Me" / "I Told You So"
- 1963 - "Loop De Loop" / "There'll Be No Teardrops Tonight" (cover of Tony BennettTony BennettTony Bennett is an American singer of popular music, standards, show tunes, and jazz....
) - UK #5 - 1964 - "Alley Alley Oh" / "Gonna Be a Good Boy Now"
- 1964 - "Hello DollyHello, Dolly! (song)"Hello, Dolly!" is the title song of the popular 1964 musical of the same name. Louis Armstrong's version was inducted in the Grammy Hall of Fame in 2001....
" / "Long Time No See" - UK #18 - 1964 - "Susie Q" / "I'll Always Be in Love With You"
- 1964 - "Someone Must Have Hurt You A Lot" / "Easter Time" - UK #46
- 1965 - "The Happy Train" / "You Darlin' You"
- 1965 - "Wait" / "There Goes The Forgotten Man"
- 1966 - "Cabaret" / "Gotta Have You"
- 1967 - "There Must Be A Way" / "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves YouYou're Nobody till Somebody Loves You"You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You" is a popular song written by Russ Morgan, Larry Stock, and James Cavanaugh and published in 1944.The song was first recorded by Morgan and has been covered by numerous artists...
" (cover of Dean MartinDean MartinDean Martin was an American singer, film actor, television star and comedian. Martin's hit singles included "Memories Are Made of This", "That's Amore", "Everybody Loves Somebody", "You're Nobody till Somebody Loves You", "Sway", "Volare" and "Ain't That a Kick in the Head?"...
) - UK #7 - 1967 - "So Tired" / "If I Didn't Care" - UK #21
- 1968 - "Nevertheless" / "Girl Talk" - UK #29
- 1968 - "Mame" / "If I Had My Way"
- 1968 - "Souvenirs" / "Getting Used to Having You Around"
- 1969 - "The Same Old Way" / "You Can't Stop Me Dancing"
- 1969 - "Hideaway" / "Hold Me Close to You"
- 1970 - "Peace Brother Peace" / "You'll Never Walk AloneYou'll Never Walk Alone (song)"You'll Never Walk Alone" is a show tune from the 1945 Rodgers and Hammerstein musical Carousel.In the musical, in the second act, Nettie Fowler, the cousin of the female protagonist Julie Jordan, sings "You'll Never Walk Alone" to comfort and encourage Julie when her husband, Billy Bigelow, the...
" - 1970 - "With These Hands" / "I'll Give You Three Guesses"
- 1971 - "Find Another Love" / "Lorelei"
- 1971 - "What Am I to do With You" / "Make The Circus Come to Town"
- 1972 - "Paradise" / "Same Old Love"
- 1972 - "Good Old Bad Old Days" / "The Good Things in Life"
- 1974 - "Unchained MelodyUnchained Melody"Unchained Melody" is a 1955 song with music by Alex North and lyrics by Hy Zaret. It has become one of the most recorded songs of the 20th century, by some counts having spawned over 500 versions in hundreds of different languages....
" / "I'll Never See Julie Again" - 1975 - "It's Too Late Now" / "Somewhere in this World"
- 1975 - "Close Your Eyes" / "Our World of Love"
- 1975 - "After Loving You" / "FeelingsFeelings (song)"Feelings" is a song based on a melody composed by Loulou Gasté and made famous by Morris Albert, who recorded it as a single released in 1974 that later appeared as the title track of his 1975 debut album. The song's lyrics, recognizable by their "whoa whoa whoa" chorus, concern the singer's...
" - 1976 - "I'll Never Smile AgainI'll Never Smile Again"I'll Never Smile Again" is a 1939 song written by Ruth Lowe.The most successful and best known version of the song was recorded by Tommy Dorsey and His Orchestra, with vocals provided by Frank Sinatra and The Pied Pipers. This recording was released as a Victor 78, 26628A, in 1940...
" / "Ragtime Cowboy JoeRagtime Cowboy Joe"Ragtime Cowboy Joe" is a popular song lyrics by Grant Clarke, music by Lewis F. Muir and Maurice Abrahams. © 1912, F.A. Mills, 122 W. 36th St, New York....
" - 1976 - "One" / "Love Is Here To Stay"
- 1977 - "Red Sails in the SunsetRed Sails in the Sunset (song)"Red Sails in the Sunset" is a popular song.Published in 1935, its music was written by Hugh Williams with lyrics by prolific songwriter Jimmy Kennedy...
" / "Seasons for Lovers" - 1977 - "Take Me" / "Lemon Drops, Lollipops and Sunbeams"
- 1978 - "Think Beautiful Things" / "I Am Lucky"
- 1979 - "Think Beautiful Things" / "Simple Kiss"
- 1983 - "Stockport" / "Showmanship"
- 1984 - "Dreamers" / "Two Different Worlds"
- 1987 - "When Your Old Wedding Ring Was New" / "Lucky"
Philips
- 1957 - Happy Go lucky
- 1958 - Frankie Vaughan Showcase
- 1959 - Frankie Vaughan at the London Palladium - UKUK Albums ChartThe UK Albums Chart is a list of albums ranked by physical and digital sales in the United Kingdom. It is compiled every week by The Official Charts Company and broadcast on a Sunday on BBC Radio 1 , and published in Music Week magazine and on the OCC website .To qualify for the UK albums chart...
#6 - 1961 - Let Me Sing - I'm Happy
- 1961 - Warm Feeling
- 1962 - Live at the Talk of the Town
- 1963 - All Over Town
- 1965 - My Kind of Song
- 1966 - Return Date at the Talk of the Town
- 1967 - Frankie Vaughan Songbook - UK #40
- 1971 - This is Frankie Vaughan
Columbia
- 1967 - There Must Be a Way - UK #22
- 1968 - The Second Time Around
- 1970 - Mr Moonlight
- 1971 - Double Exposure
- 1972 - Frankie
- 1972 - Frankie Vaughan Sing-a-Long
Pye
- 1973 - Sincerely Yours
- 1974 - Someone Who Cares
- 1975 - Seasons for Lovers
- 1977 - Golden Hour Presents Frankie Vaughan
Filmography
- Ramsbottom Rides AgainRamsbottom Rides AgainRamsbottom Rides Again is a 1955 British western comedy film starring Arthur Askey as the title hero Bill Ramsbottom, with Sid James, pop singer Frankie Vaughan and Campbell Singer in supporting roles....
(1956) - These Dangerous YearsThese Dangerous YearsThese Dangerous Years is a 1957 British comedy musical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring George Baker, Frankie Vaughan, Carole Lesley, Thora Hird, Kenneth Cope, David Lodge and John Le Mesurier....
(1957) - The Heart of a ManThe Heart of a ManThe Heart of a Man is a 1959 British drama film directed by Herbert Wilcox and starring Frankie Vaughan, Anne Heywood and Tony Britton. A millionaire in disguise gives a young man money to help him pursue his singing career.-Cast:...
(1959) - The Lady Is a SquareThe Lady Is a SquareThe Lady Is a Square is a 1959 British comedy musical film directed by Herbert Wilcox and featuring Anna Neagle, Frankie Vaughan and Janette Scott. An aspiring singer goes to work as a butler in the house of a classical music patron...
(1959) - Let's Make LoveLet's Make LoveLet's Make Love is a 1960 musical comedy film made by 20th Century Fox. It was directed by George Cukor and produced by Jerry Wald from a screenplay by Norman Krasna, Hal Kanter and Arthur Miller...
(1960)
See also
- List of British Jewish entertainers
- List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
- List of performers on Top of the Pops
- List of Columbia Records artists
- List of 1950s one-hit wonders in the United States
- List of people from Merseyside