Orchestra Leader, Vocalist. Born Vaughn Wilton Monroe, the son Mabelle and Ira Monroe, a factory worker. At the age of 15, he was named Wisconsin State Trumpet Champion. He later joined Austin Wylie and His Golden Pheasant Orchestra, followed by a tenure with Larry Funk and His Band Of a Thousand Melodies. He studied voice at the New England Conservatory of Music, and in 1939 performed with the Jack Marshard Orchestra on both voice and trumpet. In 1940, he formed his own band in Boston, and was signed by Bluebird (RCA) Records. Their first recording, 'There I Go,' hit the top of the charts, and stayed for three weeks. Other hits followed including 'My Devotion,' 'When The Lights Go On Again,' 'Let's Get Lost,' and what would become his theme song, 'Racing With The Moon.' In 1942, he landed a 13-week engagement on CBS radio which broadened his audience considerably, and earned him such appellations as "the Baritone with Muscles," "Leather Lungs" and "the Voice with Hair on its Chest." His orchestra continued to tour and record, charting with such songs as 'There! I've Said It Again,' 'Ballerina,' 'Red Roses For A Blue Lady,' 'The Trolley Song,' 'Seems Like Old Times,' 'How Soon,' and 'Sound Off.' His rendition of 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!' a hit in its time, was revived forty years later for inclusion in the 'Die Hard' movie franchise. He branched out into feature films, appearing in 'Meet the People' (1944), and 'Carnegie Hall' (1947). After the Second World War, touring became more expensive, and many orchestras folded, Monroe, however, had his biggest hit in 1949 with 'Riders in the Sky.' The following year, he appeared in the western, 'Singing Guns,' followed by 'The Toughest Man in Arizona' (1952), his last feature. He disbanded the orchestra in 1953. He hosted 'The Vaughn Monroe Show' on television, acted as a spokesman for RCA televisions and radios for the next fifteen years, and was one of the pitchmen for the US Forest Service's Smokey the Bear campaign. He also continued as a solo act, charting in the top 40 with 'Black Denim and Motor Cycle Boots,' 'Don't Go To Strangers,' and 'In The Middle of the House.' For the last decade of his life, he performed at The Meadows, his own restaurant and nightclub in Massachusetts. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; one at 1600 Vine Street and one at 1755 Vine Street in Hollywood.
Orchestra Leader, Vocalist. Born Vaughn Wilton Monroe, the son Mabelle and Ira Monroe, a factory worker. At the age of 15, he was named Wisconsin State Trumpet Champion. He later joined Austin Wylie and His Golden Pheasant Orchestra, followed by a tenure with Larry Funk and His Band Of a Thousand Melodies. He studied voice at the New England Conservatory of Music, and in 1939 performed with the Jack Marshard Orchestra on both voice and trumpet. In 1940, he formed his own band in Boston, and was signed by Bluebird (RCA) Records. Their first recording, 'There I Go,' hit the top of the charts, and stayed for three weeks. Other hits followed including 'My Devotion,' 'When The Lights Go On Again,' 'Let's Get Lost,' and what would become his theme song, 'Racing With The Moon.' In 1942, he landed a 13-week engagement on CBS radio which broadened his audience considerably, and earned him such appellations as "the Baritone with Muscles," "Leather Lungs" and "the Voice with Hair on its Chest." His orchestra continued to tour and record, charting with such songs as 'There! I've Said It Again,' 'Ballerina,' 'Red Roses For A Blue Lady,' 'The Trolley Song,' 'Seems Like Old Times,' 'How Soon,' and 'Sound Off.' His rendition of 'Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow!' a hit in its time, was revived forty years later for inclusion in the 'Die Hard' movie franchise. He branched out into feature films, appearing in 'Meet the People' (1944), and 'Carnegie Hall' (1947). After the Second World War, touring became more expensive, and many orchestras folded, Monroe, however, had his biggest hit in 1949 with 'Riders in the Sky.' The following year, he appeared in the western, 'Singing Guns,' followed by 'The Toughest Man in Arizona' (1952), his last feature. He disbanded the orchestra in 1953. He hosted 'The Vaughn Monroe Show' on television, acted as a spokesman for RCA televisions and radios for the next fifteen years, and was one of the pitchmen for the US Forest Service's Smokey the Bear campaign. He also continued as a solo act, charting in the top 40 with 'Black Denim and Motor Cycle Boots,' 'Don't Go To Strangers,' and 'In The Middle of the House.' For the last decade of his life, he performed at The Meadows, his own restaurant and nightclub in Massachusetts. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; one at 1600 Vine Street and one at 1755 Vine Street in Hollywood.
Bio by: Iola
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