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Frankie Vaughan

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Frankie Vaughan
Background information
Birth nameFrank Ableson
Born(1928-02-03)3 February 1928
Liverpool, Lancashire, England
Died17 September 1999(1999-09-17) (aged 71)
Oxford, Oxfordshire, England
GenresEasy listening
Traditional popular music
Occupation(s)Singer
Instrument(s)Vocals
Years active1940s–1985
LabelsHMV, Philips, Columbia, Pye

Frankie Vaughan, CBE, DL (3 February 1928 – 17 September 1999[1]) was an English singer of traditional pop music, who issued more than 80 singles in his lifetime. He was known as "Mr. Moonlight" after one of his early hits.[2]

Life and career

He was born Frank Ableson to a Jewish family in Devon Street, Liverpool, Lancashire.[1] 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'.[1]

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.[1] He was an evacuee during World War II.[2] He started out at the club intending to be a boxer.[1] He attended the Lancaster College of Art on a scholarship and was a vocalist in their dance band.[1] 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.[1]

When he won a prize in a design contest, he left for London, where he won second prize on a radio talent show.[1]

Vaughan's career began in the late 1940s performing song and dance routines.[1] He was known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat, bow tie, tails, and cane.[1] 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".[1]

He recorded a large number of songs that were covers 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".[1] From the 1950s through to the early 1960s, his recordings were popular in the UK.[1] In 1956, his cover of "The Green Door" reached No. 2 in the UK Singles Chart.[3] The same year he was voted 'Showbusiness Personality of the Year'.[2] In early 1957, his version of "The Garden of Eden", reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart. In 1961, Vaughan hit No. 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".[1] Chart success eluded him after this although he did have two more Top 40 singles; "Nevertheless" and "So Tired".[3]

In 1957 he was voted the eighth most popular star at the British box office.[4]

Managed at this time by the former journalist and theatrical agent Paul Cave,[5] he went to the United States in 1960 to make a film with Marilyn Monroe, Let's Make Love, and was an actor in several other films, but his recordings were never chart hits in the US.[2] 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.[1] A longtime member of the Grand Order of Water Rats, Vaughan became King Rat in 1968, a feat he followed up in 1998.

He was the subject of This Is Your Life on two occasions: in April 1970 when he was surprised by Eamonn Andrews, and in March 1994, when Michael Aspel surprised him during a photocall for Active Hearts at a London sports centre.

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,[1] opposite his old friend Shani Wallis who appeared in their first film together, Ramsbottom Rides Again with Arthur Askey. After a year, he nearly died of peritonitis and had to leave the cast.[1] Vaughan was married to the Leeds-born Stella Shock from 1951 until his death. They had three children, David, Susan and Andrew and several grandchildren.[2] He was created an OBE in 1965, a CBE in 1996,[1] 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.[6]

He died from heart failure in Oxford in 1999, aged 71.[1][2] His wife Stella donated archival materials, including scores and sheet music he had collected throughout his career to Liverpool John Moores University in 2000.[6]

Discography

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 Words" / "No Help Wanted"
  • 1953 - "Look at That Girl" (cover of Guy Mitchell) / "Send My Baby Back To Me"
  • 1953 - "Bye Bye Baby" / "False Hearted Lover"
  • 1953 - "Hey Joe" (cover of Frankie Laine) / "So Nice In Your Arms"
  • 1953 - "Istanbul (Not Constantinople)" (cover of The Four Lads) / "Cloud Lucky Seven" (cover of Guy Mitchell) - UK #11
  • 1954 - "The Cuff of My Shirt" (cover of Guy Mitchell) / "Heartless"
  • 1954 - "From The Grape Came The Wine" / "She Took"
  • 1954 - "Jilted" / "Do, Do, Do, Do, Do, Do It Again" (duets with Alma Cogan)
  • 1954 - "Out In The Middle of The Night" / "Crazy About You"
  • 1954 - "My Son, My Son" (cover of Eddie Calvert) / "Cinnamon Sinner" (cover of Tony Bennett)
  • 1954 - "Happy Days and Lonely Nights" (cover of The Fontane Sisters) / "Danger Signs " - UK #12
  • 1955 - "Too Many Heartaches" / "Unsuspecting Heart" (cover of Sunny Gale)
  • 1955 - "Tweedle Dee" (cover of LaVern Baker) / "Give Me The Moonlight Give Me The Girl" - UK #17
  • 1955 - "Wildfire" / "That's How A Love Song Was Born"
  • 1955 - "Something's Gotta Give" / "Why Did The Chicken Cross The Road"
  • 1955 - "Seventeen" (cover of Boyd Bennett) / "Meet Me On The Corner" (cover of Max Bygraves) - UK #18
  • 1956 - "My Boy Flat Top" (cover of Dorothy Collins, also recorded by Boyd Bennett) / "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-Cuts)
  • 1956 - "Lucky Thirteen" / "Let's Go Steady"
  • 1956 - "The Green Door" (cover of Jim Lowe) / "Pity The Poor Man " - UK #2
  • 1957 - "The Garden of Eden" / "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 Sisters) - UK #8
  • 1957 - "Kisses Sweeter than Wine" (cover of Jimmie Rodgers) / "Rock-A-Chicka" - UK #8
  • 1958 - "Can't Get Along Without You" / "We're Not Alone" - UK #11
  • 1958 - "Kewpie Doll" (cover of Perry Como) / "So Many Women" - UK 10
  • 1958 - "Wonderful Things" / "Judy" - UK #22 ("Judy" also reached #22 in the U.S. Billboard Hot 100)
  • 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 Square"
  • 1959 - "Give Me The Moonlight Give Me The Girl" / "Happy Go Lucky" (re-issue)
  • 1959 - "Come Softly to Me" (cover of The Fleetwoods) / "Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart" (duets with The Kaye Sisters) - 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 - "Milord" (cover of Édith Piaf) / "Do You Still Love Me" - UK #34
  • 1961 - "Tower of Strength" (cover of Gene McDaniels) / "Rachel" (cover of Al Martino) - UK #1
  • 1961 - "Don't Stop - Twist!" / "Red Red Roses" - UK #22
  • 1962 - "I'm Gonna Clip Your Wings" / "Travelin' Man" (cover of Ricky Nelson)
  • 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 Bennett) - UK #5
  • 1964 - "Alley Alley Oh" / "Gonna Be a Good Boy Now"
  • 1964 - "Hello Dolly" / "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 You" (cover of Dean Martin) - 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 Alone"
  • 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 Melody" / "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" / "Feelings"
  • 1976 - "I'll Never Smile Again" / "Ragtime Cowboy Joe"
  • 1976 - "One" / "Love Is Here To Stay"
  • 1977 - "Red Sails in the Sunset" / "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"

[3]

Albums

Philips

  • 1957 - Happy Go lucky
  • 1958 - Frankie Vaughan Showcase
  • 1959 - Frankie Vaughan at the London Palladium - UK #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
  • 1973 - Frankie Vaughan Sings

Pye

  • 1973 - Sincerely Yours
  • 1974 - Someone Who Cares
  • 1975 - Seasons for Lovers
  • 1977 - Golden Hour Presents Frankie Vaughan

Ronco

  • 1977 - 100 Golden Greats - UK #24
  • 1985 - Love Hits and High Kicks

Big V records

  • 1979 - Moonlight and Love Songs

[3]

Filmography

TV Acting

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q r s "Biography by Sharon Mawer". Allmusic.com. Retrieved 21 June 2009.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Obituaries | Glasgow 'peacemaker' Frankie Vaughan dies". BBC News. 1999-09-17. Retrieved 2014-01-26.
  3. ^ a b c d Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 583. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  4. ^ Most Popular Film Of The Year. The Times (London, England), Thursday, 12 December 1957; pg. 3; Issue 54022
  5. ^ "Former journalist and theatrical agent, Paul Cave, dies at 93 (From Daily Echo)". Dailyecho.co.uk. Retrieved 2011-12-30.
  6. ^ a b Anna Jackson (2013-07-01). "Frankie Vaughan Archive". Ljmu.ac.uk. Retrieved 2014-01-26.

External links

Preceded by UK Christmas Number One single

"Tower of Strength"

1961

Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

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