Vaughn Monroe facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Vaughn Monroe
Background information
Birth name	Vaughn Wilton Monroe
Born	(1911-10-07)October 7, 1911 Akron, Ohio, U.S.
Died	May 21, 1973(1973-05-21) (aged 61) Stuart, Florida, U.S.
Genres	Big band, traditional pop
Years active	1939–1965
Labels	RCA Victor, Dot Records

Vaughn Wilton Monroe (born October 7, 1911 – died May 21, 1973) was a famous American singer and trumpet player. He also led a popular big band in the 1940s and 1950s. People knew him for his deep, strong voice. He has two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his music and radio work.

Early Life and Education

Vaughn Monroe was born in Akron, Ohio. He finished high school in Jeannette, Pennsylvania, in 1929.

Music Career and Fame

Monroe started his first orchestra, which is a large band, in Boston in 1940. He was the main singer for his band. Soon after, he began recording music for RCA Victor's label, Bluebird. In the same year, Monroe opened his own restaurant and nightclub called The Meadows in Framingham, Massachusetts. He continued to run this club even after he stopped performing, until he passed away.

In 1942, Vaughn Monroe and his orchestra had a 13-week show on CBS radio. Later, starting in 1946, he hosted the Camel Caravan radio show from his club, The Meadows. He even appeared in commercials for Camel cigarettes. In 1952, Monroe's orchestra had a weekly show on NBC radio. These shows were broadcast live from different places where the band was touring. Each show often focused on a different college in the United States.

Vaughn Monroe was known for being tall and good-looking. This helped him become popular as a band leader and singer. People sometimes called him "the Baritone with Muscles" or "the Voice with Hair on its Chest" because of his powerful voice.

Monroe recorded many songs for RCA Victor until 1956. His most famous song was "Racing With the Moon," released in 1941. It sold over one million copies by 1952, earning him a gold disc. Some of his other popular songs included "Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow" (1946), "Ballerina" (1947), and "Riders in the Sky" (1949). Interestingly, he chose not to record the famous song "Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer".

His orchestra had many talented musicians, including the future jazz guitar player Bucky Pizzarelli. While they were famous for romantic songs, their live shows often featured exciting, swinging music. Monroe sometimes saved the last part of his concerts for this energetic style.

Acting and Television Appearances

Vaughn Monroe also appeared in movies, though he didn't focus much on acting. He was in films like Meet the People (1944) and Singing Guns (1950). He also helped write a children's book in 1949 called The Adventures of Mr. Putt Putt, which was about airplanes. Flying was one of his personal hobbies.

Vaughn Monroe as a guest star in a 1962 Bonanza episode

He hosted his own TV show, The Vaughn Monroe Show, on CBS Television in the early 1950s. He also appeared on many other popular TV shows. These included Bonanza, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. Monroe was also a big investor in RCA and appeared in their ads for TVs and music players.

After he stopped performing, Monroe continued to work for RCA for many years. He was a spokesperson, an executive, and even a talent scout. In this role, he helped new artists like Neil Sedaka get their start. He earned two stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for his contributions to music and radio.

Personal Life

Vaughn Monroe married Marian Baughman on April 2, 1940. They had met in high school in Jeannette, Pennsylvania. They didn't date in high school but reconnected years later in New York City. They went back to Jeannette for their wedding. They had two daughters, Candace and Christina. They stayed married until Vaughn's death in 1973.

Monroe loved trains and collected and built HO scale model trains. When he was on tour, he had a special workshop that folded up into a suitcase. It held many tiny tools he used to build miniature trains.

Death

Vaughn Monroe passed away on May 21, 1973, in Florida. He died shortly after having stomach surgery for a bleeding ulcer.

Popular Songs (Singles)

Here are some of Vaughn Monroe's most popular songs that made it onto the US music charts: