Frankie Vaughan

Frankie Vaughan (born Frank Fruim Abelson; 3 February 1928 – 17 September 1999) was an English singer and actor who became popular in the 1950s and 60s, recording more than 80 easy listening and traditional pop singles in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after his signature song "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl". When he won a prize in a design contest, he left for London, where he won second prize on a radio talent show. This led to further bookings on the variety circuit, and he appeared with the veteran male impersonator Hetty King on several occasions. Her guidance helped change Vaughan's style for the rest of his career. He became known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat, bow tie, tails, and cane.

He made his first records in 1950 for Decca, but there was a gap of over two years before he resumed his recording career with His Master's Voice. In August 1952, he joined the dance band of Nat Temple for around a year, but the popularity of further recordings he made in 1953 encouraged him to return to the variety stage. He switched to the Philips label and in 1955, he recorded what was to become his trademark song, "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl". The same year he was voted 'Showbusiness Personality of the Year'. He made several films with Herbert Wilcox and Anna Neagle.

Managed at this time by former journalist and theatrical agent Paul Cave, Vaughan stayed in the United States for a time to make a film with Marilyn Monroe, Let's Make Love (1960), and was an actor in several other films, but his recordings did not achieve success in the US, with the exception of "Judy", which reached No. 100 on the Billboard Hot 100 in August 1958.

In 1961, Vaughan was on the bill at the Royal Variety Performance at the Prince of Wales Theatre, Coventry Street, London. That December, Vaughan hit No. 1 in the UK again, with "Tower of Strength", written by Burt Bacharach and Bob Hilliard. The rise of beat music eclipsed Vaughan's chart career, before he returned to the Top 10 in 1967 with "There Must Be a Way" when he signed Columbia.

In 1985, Vaughan starred in a stage version of 42nd Street at Drury Lane in London, He also received the Variety Club of Great Britain Award for "Showbusiness Personality of the Year" in 1957.

Discography

Filmography Ramsbottom Rides Again (1956) as Elmer These Dangerous Years (1957) as Dave Wyman Wonderful Things! (1958) as Carmello The Lady Is a Square (1959) as Johnny Burns The Heart of a Man (1959) as Frankie Martin Let's Make Love (1960) as Tony Danton The Right Approach (1961) as Leo Mack (final acting role) It's All Over Town (1964) as himself Full Dress Affair (1966, Broadcast 23 May 1966 : penultimate episode of the television show Mrs Thursday, starring Kathleen Harrison)