Vaughn Monroe

Vaughn Wilton Monroe (October 7, 1911 – May 21, 1973)

The summer of 1942 brought a 13-week engagement on radio, as Monroe and his orchestra had a summer replacement program for Blondie on CBS.

Monroe hosted the Camel Caravan radio program from The Meadows, starting in 1946 and, during this time, was featured in a Camel cigarettes commercial. In 1952, Monroe and his orchestra had a weekly program on Saturday nights on NBC radio. Those programs originated on location from wherever the band happened to be touring. Each program featured a focus on a college in the United States.

Monroe was often described as "tall and handsome", a trait that reportedly boosted his career both in music and Hollywood. His appearance and distinctive baritone voice earned him the nicknames "the Baritone with Muscles", "the Voice with Hair on its Chest", and "Ol' Leather Tonsils".

Monroe recorded extensively for RCA Victor until 1956, and his signature tune was "Racing With the Moon" (1941). It sold more than one million copies by 1952, becoming Monroe's first million-seller, and was awarded a gold disc by the RIAA. Among his other hits were "In the Still of the Night" (1939), "There I Go" (1941), "There I've Said It Again" (1945), "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" (1946), "Ballerina" (1947), "Melody Time" (1948), "Riders in the Sky" (1949), "Someday (You'll Want Me To Want You)" (1949), "Sound Off" (1951), and "In the Middle of the House" (1956). He also turned down the chance to record "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

Monroe's orchestra had a number of notable musicians, including Bucky Pizzarelli, who later became famous for his career in jazz guitar. While the orchestra's focus was largely on romantic ballads, they would also play swung jazz tunes at the end of the night. These performances were not recorded as frequently as their standard music, though they were enjoyed by patrons.

Monroe had some success in acting, and over his career appeared in Meet the People (1944), Carnegie Hall (1947), Singing Guns (1950), and Toughest Man in Arizona (1952). However, acting was not his main focus, so he “did not pursue a movie and television career with vigor.” He was awarded two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, one for recording at 1600 Vine Street and one for radio at 1755 Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Television Monroe hosted several musical television shows in the 1950s. In 1950 for one season he hosted the half-hour The Vaughn Monroe Show on CBS. He had two runs on NBC during the summers of 1954 and 1955 with the twice-weekly 15-minute The Vaughn Monroe Show. thumb

He appeared on Bonanza, The Mike Douglas Show, The Ed Sullivan Show, Texaco Star Theatre, The Jackie Gleason Show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, and American Bandstand.

Death Monroe died on May 21, 1973, at Martin County Memorial Hospital in Florida, shortly after having stomach surgery for a bleeding ulcer.

Monroe Orchestra personnel

Moonmaids, a female vocal quartet (1946 to 1952) Frank L. Ryerson, arranger & trumpeter (1944) Ziggy Talent George Robinson, trombone (1944–1945) Andrew (Andy) Bagni, lead saxophone (1939–1958) Bucky Pizzarelli, guitar Joe Connie, lead trombone Johnny Watson, arranger, baritone saxophone Wedo Marasco, alto saxophone Red Nichols, jazz trumpet Mike Shelby, piano Maree Lee, vocalist (Moonmaids) Tinker Cunningham, vocalist (Moonmaids) Babe Feldman, tenor saxophone Jack Fay, string bass Gerry Bruno, string bass Mary Jo Grogan, vocalist (Moonmaids) Art Dedrick, trombone, arranger Ray Conniff, trombone Eddie Julian, drums Benny West, trumpet June Hiett, vocalist (Moonmaids) Arnold Ross, piano Don Costa, arranger Marilyn Duke, vocalist Betty Norton, vocalist (Moonmaids) Arlene Truax, vocalist (Moonmaids) Katie Myatt, vocalist (Moonmaids) Jerry Bruno, bassist Dino DiGiano, trumpet (1941–1945) Bobby Rickey, drums

Discography Selected albums

Compilation albums YearAlbumPeak positionsUS BB 1967The Best of Vaughn Monroe

Singles Year Title Chart positionsUS BB Whitburn's Top 30 US BB Hot 100US BB Bubbling Under 1940 "There I Go" 5 1"Is It Love or Is It Conscription?" 26 1941 "So You're the One" 18 16 "High on a Windy Hill" 15 13 "There'll Be Some Changes Made" 20 24"Racing with the Moon"25 "G'bye Now" 14 12"The Worm Who Loved the Little Tater Bug"22 "Yours (Quiereme Mucho)" 18 16"If It's You" 23 1942 "The Shrine of Saint Cecilia" 20 21 "Tangerine" 16 11 "Three Little Sisters" 18 13 "My Devotion" 5 1"Hip, Hip, Hooray"20 "When the Lights Go On Again" 2 1 1943 "Let's Get Lost" 8 1 1944 "The Trolley Song" 4 4 "Take It, Jackson" 20 "The Very Thought of You" 14 19 1945 "Rum and Coca-Cola" 8 8 "There! I've Said It Again" 1 1 "Just a Blue Serge Suit" 17 17 "Something Sentimental" 12 12 "Fishin' for the Moon" 11 17 "Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!" 1 1 1946 "Are These Really Mine?" 12 12 "Seems like Old Times" 7 7 "Who Told You That Lie?" 15 15 "It's My Lazy Day" 16 16 "The Things We Did Last Summer" 13 131947"You Can't See the Sun When You're Cryin'" 21"Dreams Are a Dime a Dozen" 22 "I Wish I Didn't Love You So" 2 2 "Kokomo, Indiana" 10 10 "You Do" 5 5 "Ballerina" 1 1 "How Soon (Will I Be Seeing You?)" 3 3"In a Little Book Shop" 211948"Passing Fancy" 24"Matinee" 20"Completely Yours" 22"It's the Sentimental Thing to Do" 21"Melody Time" 22"Blue Shadows on the Trail" 26"What Do I Have to Do?" 23 "Cool Water" 9 9 "The Maharajah of Magador" 19 19 "Ev'rday I Love You (Just a Little Bit More)" 22 22 "In My Dreams" 20 20 1949 "Red Roses for a Blue Lady" 3 3 "Riders in the Sky: A Cowboy Legend" 1 1 "Someday" 1 1 "That Lucky Old Sun" 6 6 "Vieni Su (Say You Love Me Too)" 29 29 "Mule Train" 10 10 1950 "Bamboo" 4 4 "Thanks, Mister Florist" 20 20 1951 "On Top of Old Smoky" 8 8 "Sound Off (The Duckworth Chant)" 3 3 "Old Soldiers Never Die" 7 7 "Meanderin'" 28 28 1952 "Charmaine" 27 27 "Mountain Laurel" 22 22 "Lady Love" 18 18 "Idaho State Fair" 20 201953"Ruby" 27 1954 "They Were Doin' the Mambo" 7 7 1955 "Black Denim Trousers and Motorcycle Boots" 38 1956 "Don't Go To Strangers" 38 "In the Middle of the House" 11 1959 "The Battle of New Orleans" 87 1965 "Queen of the Senior Prom" 132