| Billy Vaughn | |
| Birth Date: | April 12, 1919 |
| Birth Place: | Glasgow, Kentucky, U.S. |
| Death Place: | Escondido, California, U.S. |
| Occupation: | Multi-instrumentalist, orchestra leader, record executive, singer |
| Module: | |
William Vaughn, popularly known as Billy Vaughn (born Richard Smith Vaughn, April 12, 1919 – September 26, 1991) was an American musician, singer, multi-instrumentalist, orchestra leader, and A&R man for Dot Records.
Vaughn was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, United States,[1] where his father, Alvis Radford Vaughn, was a barber who loved music and inspired Vaughn to teach himself to play the mandolin at the age of three, while suffering from measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments, including guitar and alto saxophone, his primary instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was in for the duration as a valued musician and composer at Camp Shelby, Mississippi. Major General Daniel I. Sultan decided that Vaughn was too valuable to the base's Thirty-Eighth Division big band, and kept him at Camp Shelby for the duration of the war. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and on the GI Bill, attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned to barber from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire, and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, the Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them.[1] He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, "Trying", which charted in 1952.[1]
In 1954, he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee, as music director.[1] He subsequently formed his own orchestra which had a hit single in that same year with "Melody of Love."[1] It sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[2] He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half and was the most commercially successful orchestra leader of the rock era.
Vaughn charted a total of 42 singles on the Billboard charts, often based on the sound of two alto saxophones and guitar as his 'trademark'. Vaughn was the bandleader, and he played the lead guitar on most of his songs. He also charted thirty six albums on the Billboard 200, beginning with 1958's Sail Along Silv'ry Moon and ending with 1970's Winter World of Love. He also had nineteen Top 40 hits in (Germany), beginning with the chart-topping "Sail Along, Silv'ry Moon", also a gold record, which was a cover of a 1937 Bing Crosby hit. He had two more number ones in Germany: "" and "Wheels" (all three were reportedly million sellers).[1] Vaughn's recording of "Wheels" was no. 1 for 14 weeks in Germany (Hit Bilanz) as well as no. 1 in India, New Zealand, and Italy.[3] Vaughn also charted in Australia, Latin America, and Japan. "Pearly Shells" was a major success in Japan. Vaughn's tours of that country began about the time "Pearly Shells" was a hit in 1965. Many songs which were not US hits or even singles releases there were major hits in other countries. These included "Lili Marlene", "Zwei Gitarren am Meer", "Blueberry Hill" (Germany), and "Greenfields". Also successful were "Song of Peace", "It's a Lonesome Old Town" (Japan), "Michelle" (no 1 in Argentina and Malaysia), "Mexico" (no. 1 in the Philippines), and "Bonanza" (a major success in Brazil and Italy[4]) plus "Theme from the Dark at the Top of the Stairs" (various Latin American countries). The album La Paloma was a success throughout Latin America. He also had a number one album in Germany in the early 1980s with Moonlight Melodies, which consisted of 20 of Billy's biggest hits (original Dot recordings, original LP notes and credits). In addition, Dot Records released a compilation recording of tangos, rumbas and easy listening music featuring both the Billy Vaughn Orchestra and the John Serry Orchestra in Japan. ("Ballroom in Dreamland", DOT 5006)[5] [6]
The Billy Vaughn Orchestra began touring in 1965 with numerous sell-out tours throughout Japan, Brazil, and South Korea.
In the late 1960s and early 1970s, Vaughn lived in Palm Springs, California.[7] He died of peritoneal mesothelioma at Palomar Hospital in Escondido, California, on September 26, 1991, aged 72. He and his wife Marion are buried at the Oak Hill Memorial Park in Escondido.[8]
The Billy Vaughn Orchestra, co-owned and managed by his son, Richard Smith Vaughn Jr., is still a touring big band. Produced by the Tate Corporation, Japan, it toured Japan in 2013, 2014, and again in 2018 to sell-out audiences.
| Year | Title | Chart positions | |
|---|---|---|---|
| US | |||
| 1952 | Melodies in Gold | — | |
| Billy Vaughn Plays the Million Sellers | — | ||
| La Paloma | — | ||
| 1959 | Golden Saxophones | — | |
| Billy Vaughn Plays | 20 | ||
| Blue Hawaii | 7 | ||
| Big 100 | — | ||
| Billy Vaughn Plays Stephen Foster | — | ||
| 1960 | Linger Awhile | — | |
| Billy Vaughn Plays The Million Sellers | 15 | ||
| Golden Saxophones | 36 | ||
| Look for a Star | 5 | ||
| Sail Along, Silv'ry Moon | 5 | ||
| Theme from A Summer Place | 1 | ||
| 1961 | Golden Waltzes | 17 | |
| Orange Blossom Special and Wheels | 11 | ||
| Theme from The Sundowners | 5 | ||
| 1962 | A Swingin' Safari | 10 | |
| The Shifting Whispering Sands | — | ||
| Berlin Melody | 20 | ||
| Chapel by the Sea | 14 | ||
| Christmas Carols | 145 | ||
| Greatest String Band Hits | 18 | ||
| 1963 | 1962's Greatest Hits | 17 | |
| Number 1 Hits, Vol. #1 | 94 | ||
| Sukiyaki and 11 Hawaiian Hits | 15 | ||
| 1964 | Another Hit Album! | 141 | |
| Blue Velvet & 1963's Great Hits | 51 | ||
| Forever | 144 | ||
| 1965 | Mexican Pearls | 45 | |
| Moon Over Naples | 31 | ||
| Pearly Shells | 18 | ||
| 1965 | Great Country Hits | 149 | |
| Michelle | 56 | ||
| 1967 | Body & Soul | — | |
| Alfie | 44 | ||
| Golden Hits/The Best Of Billy Vaughn | 159 | ||
| I Love You | 161 | ||
| Josephine | 147 | ||
| Ode To Billy Joe | 200 | ||
| Sweet Maria | 114 | ||
| That's Life & Pineapple Market | 130 | ||
| 1968 | Alone With Today | — | |
| Have Yourself A Merry, Merry Christmas | — | ||
| A Current Set Of Standards | 198 | ||
| 1969 | The Windmills Of Your Mind | 95 | |
| 1970 | Winter World Of Love | 188 | |
| 1991 | Plays the Music You Remember | — |
| Year | Titles (A-side, B-side) Both sides from same album except where indicated | Chart positions | Album | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| US | CB | US AC | UK | |||
| 1954 | "Melody of Love" b/w "Joy Ride" | 2 | 1 | — | — | Sweet Music and Memories |
| 1955 | "Silver Moon" b/w "Baby O'Mine" | — | 24 | — | — | |
| "The Waltz You Saved for Me" b/w "Billy Vaughn's Boogie" | — | 50 | — | — | ||
| "The Shifting, Whispering Sands" (Part 1) b/w "The Shifting Whispering Sands" (Part 2) | 5 | 5 | — | 20 | The Shifting Whispering Sands | |
| "I'd Give a Million Tomorrows (For Just One Yesterday" b/w "Calico Cathy | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1956 | "Moritat (Mack the Knife)" /[9] | 37 | — | — | — | Theme From "A Summer Place" |
| "Little Boy Blue" | 76 | — | — | — | Non-album track | |
| "Theme from the Threepenny Opera" b/w "I'd Give a Million Tomorrows (For Just One Yesterday)" (non-album track) | — | — | — | 12 | Theme From "A Summer Place" | |
| "Sleep" b/w "Till I Waltz Again with You" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Autumn Concerto" b/w "Angel, Angel" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "The Left Bank (C'est à Hambourg)" b/w "The Sweeetheart Polka" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "When the White Lilacs Bloom Again" b/w "Spanish Diary" | 18 | 16 | — | — | ||
| "Petticoats of Portugal" b/w "La La Colette" | 83 | — | — | — | ||
| "Sweet Leilani" b/w "Creole Love Call" | — | — | — | — | Blue Hawaii | |
| "Sugar Blues" b/w "Pennsylvania Waltz" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1957 | "Ship That Never Sailed" b/w "Song of the Nairobi Trio" | 95 | 41 | — | — | |
| "Tell My Love" b/w "Ve'Borriquito" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Johnny Tremain" b/w "Naughty Annetta" (from Sweet Memories and Music) | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Raunchy" / | 10 | 25 | — | — | Sail Along Silv'ry Moon | |
| "Sail Along, Silv'ry Moon" | 5 | 4 | — | — | ||
| 1958 | "Tumbling Tumbleweeds" / | 30 | 30 | — | — | |
| "Trying" | 77 | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Singing Hills" b/w "Chimes of Arcady" | 56 | 60 | — | — | ||
| "" b/w "Here Is My Love" (non-album track) | 20 | 27 | — | — | La Paloma | |
| "Cimarron" b/w "You're My Baby Doll" (non-album track) | 44 | 36 | — | — | Billy Vaughn Plays | |
| "Blue Hawaii" b/w "Tico Tico" (non-album track) | 37 | 33 | — | — | Blue Hawaii | |
| 1959 | "Hawaiian War Chant" / | 89 | 51 | — | — | |
| "Trade Winds" | — | 52 | — | — | ||
| "Your Cheatin' Heart" / | 82 | 74 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Lights Out" | — | 100 | — | — | ||
| "Blues Stay Away From Me" / | — | 82 | — | — | ||
| "All Nite Long" | 102 | 94 | — | — | ||
| "Wabash Blues" b/w "Carnival in Paris" (non-album track) | — | — | — | — | Golden Saxophones | |
| "(It's No) Sin" / | 105 | 96 | — | — | A Swingin' Safari | |
| "After Hours" | — | tag | — | — | Great Golden Hits | |
| 1960 | "Beg Your Pardon" / | — | 98 | — | — | Linger Awhile |
| "Skaters' Waltz" | — | tag | — | — | Non-album track | |
| "You're the Only Star (In My Blue Heaven)" / | 110 | 118 | — | — | Linger Awhile | |
| "Chopsticks" | 103 | tag | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Dutchman's Gold" b/w "Back to the Farm" (Both tracks with Walter Brennan) | 30 | — | — | — | ||
| "Look for a Star" b/w "He'll Have to Go" | 19 | 13 | — | — | Look for a Star | |
| "Old Cape Cod" / | 111 | 102 | — | — | The Sundowners | |
| "Theme from The Sundowners" | 51 | 38 | — | — | ||
| 1961 | "Wheels" / | 28 | 111 | — | — | Orange Blossom Special and Wheels |
| "Orange Blossom Special" | 63 | 100 | — | — | ||
| "Blue Tomorrow" / | 84 | 60 | — | — | Berlin Melody | |
| "Red Wing" | — | 112 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Down Yonder" b/w "Born To Be With You" (from A Swingin's Safari) | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Berlin Melody" / | 61 | 55 | 16 | — | Berlin Melody | |
| "Theme from Come September" | 73 | 55 | 18 | — | ||
| "Everybody's Twisting Down in Mexico" b/w "Melody in the Night" | 119 | 124 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1962 | "Chapel by the Sea" / | 69 | 107 | 13 | — | Chapel by the Sea |
| "One Love, One Heartache" | — | 112 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Continental Melody" b/w "Born to Be with You" (from A Swingin' Safari) | — | — | — | — | ||
| "A Swingin' Safari" b/w "Indian Love Call" (from Billy Vaughn Plays) | 13 | 11 | 5 | — | A Swingin' Safari | |
| "Blue Flame" / | 107 | 123 | — | — | ||
| "Someone" | 115 | tag | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Down Yonder" b/w "I'm Waitin'" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1963 | "Meditation" b/w "Release Me" (non-album track) | — | — | — | — | Forever |
| "Happy Cowboy" b/w "Broken Doll" | 131 | 131 | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Theme From A Summer Place" b/w "Sukiyaki" (from Sukiyaki and 11 Hawaiian Hits) | — | — | — | — | Theme From "A Summer Place" | |
| "Rag Mop" b/w "I'm Sorry" | — | — | — | — | Number 1 Hits, Volume 1 | |
| "Cumberland County Feud" b/w "Chow Chow Amore" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1964 | "Blue Tango" b/w "Boss" (non-album track) | — | — | — | — | The Golden Instrumentals |
| "Lucky Duck" b/w "The One Rose (That's Left in My Heart)" | — | — | — | — | Forever | |
| "Chianti Song" b/w "A Guitar Serenade" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "People" b/w "The World I Used to Know" | — | — | — | — | Another Hit Album | |
| "Pearly Shells (Popo O Ewa)" b/w "Maybe" | 120 | — | — | — | Pearly Shells | |
| "Song of Peace" b/w "Billy's Theme" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| 1965 | "There's a Star Spangled Banner Waving Somewhere" b/w "In the Ocean of Time" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Mexican Pearls" b/w "Woodpecker" (non-album track) | 94 | 79 | 23 | — | Mexican Pearls | |
| "Making Other Plans" b/w "Our Dream of Love" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "Moon Over Naples" b/w "Tonight" | — | — | — | — | Moon Over Naples | |
| "Anniversary Song" b/w "Please" | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1966 | "Michelle" b/w "Elaine" | 77 | 61 | 17 | — | Michelle |
| "The Mexican Shuffle" b/w "Organ Grinder's Swing" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Things Go Better" b/w "James (Steady Does It)" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks | |
| "It's Over" b/w "Did You Ever Have to Make Up Your Mind" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "Because They're Young" b/w "Buckaroo" (non-album track) | — | — | — | — | Look for a Star | |
| "Alfie" b/w "Somewhere My Love" | — | — | — | — | Alfie | |
| "Tiny Bubbles" b/w "Too Many Hot Tacos" (non-album track) | 131 | — | — | — | That's Life | |
| 1967 | "Sweet Maria" b/w "There Goes My Everything" | 105 | 82 | 6 | — | Sweet Maria |
| "Pineapple Market" b/w "That's Life" | — | — | 30 | — | That's Life | |
| "I Love You (and You Love Me)" b/w "Yellow Roses Mean Goodbye" | — | — | 4 | — | I Love You | |
| 1968 | "Lolly" b/w "Moonlight Brings Memories" | — | — | — | — | As Requested |
| "Soulitude" b/w "St. James Infirmary" | — | — | — | — | Quietly Wild | |
| 1969 | "You Win Again" b/w "No One Will Ever Know" | — | — | — | — | Nashville Saxophones |
| "A Mansion on the Hill" b/w "I've Got You on My Mind Again" | — | — | — | — | ||
| "The Windmills of Your Mind" b/w "The Way That I Live" | — | — | — | — | The Windmills Of Your Mind | |
| "True Grit" b/w "Odds and Ends (Of A Beautiful Love Affair)" | — | — | — | — | True Grit | |
| 1970 | "Color It Cool" b/w "On Days Like These" | — | — | — | — | |
| "Coco" b/w "Always Mademoiselle" | — | — | — | — | Winter World of Love | |
| "Come Saturday Morning" b/w "True Grit" (from True Grit) | — | — | — | — | ||
| 1971 | "Look What They've Done to My Song Ma" b/w "Roof Tops of Tokyo" | — | — | — | — | Non-album tracks |
| 1972 | "Butterfly" b/w "To the End of This Day" (from I Don't Know How to Love Him) | — | — | — | — | An Old Fashioned Love Song |