Frankie Vaughan

Frankie Vaughan, CBE (3 February, 1928 - 17 September, 1999) was a singer of traditional pop music in the United Kingdom, who issued more than 80 recordings in his lifetime. He was born Frank Abelson to a Jewish family in Liverpool, England. 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." 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. He started out at the club intending to be a boxer. Then at age 14 he received a scholarship to the Lancaster College of Art, where he sang in the dance band. 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. When he won a prize to design a furniture exhibition stand, he left for London, where he won second prize on a radio talent show. Frankie's career began in the late 1940s in the theatre doing variety song and dance acts. He was known as a fancy dresser, wearing top hat, bow tie, tails, and cane. 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 very popular in the UK. In 1955, he recorded what was to become his trademark song, "Give Me the Moonlight, Give Me the Girl." 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." From the 1950s through to the early 1960s, his recordings were popular in the UK. Though the rise of beat music eclipsed his chart career for two or three years, he returned to the Top 10 in 1967 with "There Must Be A Way". He came to the United States in 1960 to make a movie with Marilyn Monroe, "Let's Make Love," and was an actor in several other movies, but his recordings were never chart hits in the US (though one, "Judy," did make the charts briefly and at a very low spot; even that one never got much air play in the US). During the 1960's 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. He continued performing until 1985, when he starred in a stage version of "42nd Street" at Drury Lane in London. After a year, he suffered a near fatal bout of peritonitis and had to leave the cast. He was married to Stella from 1951 to 1999 and they had three children and several grandchildren. He was awarded an OBE in 1965, a CBE in 1996 and as a resident of High Wycombe had been a Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the County of Buckinghamshire since 1993. He died from heart failure in 1999, aged 71. Its also worth mentioning that Frankie Vaughan has been immortalised in cockney rhyming slang as the term "porn" - e.g. "Watching a Frankie tonight?" Australian Success Frankie Vaughn had success in Australia previous to 1956, but as the 2UE Top 40 Charts were established that year in Sydney, (Australia's first proper Chart system) Frankie's Australian success is more accurate after 1956.

His first charter in Australia was "Rock Candy Baby" and debuted at #15 on the second publication of the charts, and peaked at #12. In December of 1956, Hobart, Tasmania's 7HO Top 40 Charts were first published, and Frankie Vaughn had the honour of having the first ever Tasmanian Number One with "Honey Hair Sugar Lips Eyes Of Blue", which failed to chart anywhere else in Australia.
It's now 1957 and Australia has 7 Top 40 charts running - 2UE Top 40 in Sydney, 2SM Top 40 in Sydney, 3XY Top 40 in Melbourne, 3GO Top 50 in Adelaide, 2DR Top 40 in Brisbane and 7HO Top 40 in Hobart. In March of 1957, Frankie actually charted with "Garden Of Eden" on ALL of those charts, the highest position being #3 on the 2SM Top 40 in Sydney.
Frankie Vaughn made his first Australian tour in April of 1957, also on the bill were The Kaye Sisters, Patti Page, The Crew-Cuts and Australian singers Johnny O'Keefe, The Delltones, The Crescents and Ray Melton who appeard for 2 dates only at the Trocadero Theatre in Sydney. With The Kaye Sisters Frankie promoted his new single, "Gotta Have Something In The Bank Frank" which ended up being his first National #1. During the tour, his next single, "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" was released, which he also promoted. Strangely, the B Side "Rock-A-Chicka" charted, but the A Side didn't - but this didn't worry Frankie who was already very muched loved by the Australian record buying, radio listening, show watching public!
"Can't Get Along Without You" was his next charter, although only reaching #23, it still did better than in his home country where it didn't chart at all. The follow up "Kewpie Doll" failed to chart because Perry Como had the hit with it.
Frankie's only charting American single, "Judy" - was a Melbourne #1 and a Sydney Top 10 in 1958.

After a few flop releases, he scored big with "Honey Bunny Baby" in 1959 which was also covered by the Australian duo The De Kroo Brothers whose version didn't chart. In 1959 Frankie came out to Australia again with The Kaye Sisters to perform their newest smash, "Say Something Sweet To Your Sweetheart" which became his 2nd #1. "Walkin' Tall" peaked at #10 in 1959, "Love Me Now" reached #21 in 1960 - and his version of "Kookie Little Paradise" failed to chart because Jo Ann Campbell's version was better received by DJ's and the public. After a 6 month dry spell along with a few dud releases, he scored big again with his 1961 single, "Don't Stop Twist" which arrived in a time when Australia was 'twist' mad! "Don't Stop Twist" peaked in Melbourne at #2, and in Sydney at #29. Frankie's last hit of the 1960's in Australia was 1963's "Hey Mama" / "Brand New Motor" which was a double sided charter both sides peaking at #12 in Melbourne only. His last ever Australian hit was 1970's "Peace Brother Peace" which charted in Sydney at #33. There is no doubt that Frankie Vaughn had a rather delicious hit status in Australia - though it's interesting to mention that his only 2 Australian #1's both featured The Kaye Sisters. With 4 Frankie Vaughn Fan Groups, novelty Frankie Vaughn matches, Vaughn Winter Jumpers and Frankie Vaughn lyric songbooks - it's correct to say that Frankie Vaughn was an early teenage idol, and was very much loved by Australians

Recordings

• 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 Marvellous 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)"
• 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 "
• 1955 - "Too Many Heartaches" / "Unsuspecting Heart (cover of Sunny Gale)
• 1955 - "Give Me The Moonlight Give Me The Girl" / "Tweedle Dee" (cover of LaVern Baker)
• 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)
• 1956 - "My Boy Flat Top" (cover of Dorothy Collins, also done by Boyd Bennett)/ "Stealin'"
• 1956 - "This Is The Night" / "Rock Candy Baby"
• 1956 - "Escape In The Sun" / "Honey Hair Sugar Lips Eyes Of Blue" (cover of Crew Cuts)
• 1956 - "Lucky Thirteen" / "Let's Go Steady"
• 1956 - "The Green Door" (cover of Jim Lowe) / "Pity The Poor Man "
• 1957 - "The Garden Of Eden" / "Priscilla"
• 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 "
• 1957 - "Gotta Have Something In The Bank Frank" / "Single" Duets with the Kaye Sisters
• 1957 - "Kisses Sweeter Than Wine" (cover of Jimmie Rodgers) / "Rock-A-Chicka"
• 1958 - "We're Not Alone" / "Can't Get Along Without You "
• 1958 - "Kewpie Doll" (cover of Perry Como) / "So Many Women "
• 1958 - "Wonderful Things" / "Judy "
• 1958 - "Am I Wasting My Time On You" / "So Happy In Love"
• 1959 - "That's My Doll" / "Love Is The Sweetest Thing/"
• 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
• 1959 - "The Heart Of A Man" / "Sometime Somewhere"
• 1959 - "Walkin' Tall" / "I Ain't Gonna Lead This Life"
• 1960 - "What More Do You Want" / "The Very Very Young"
• 1960 - "Love Me Now" / "I Was A Fool"
• 1960 - "Kookie Little Paradise" / "Mary Lou"
• 1960 - "Milord" (cover of Édith Piaf) / "Do You Still Love Me"
• 1961 - "Tower Of Strength" (cover of Gene McDaniels) / "Rachel" (cover of Al Martino)
• 1961 - "Don't Stop Twist" / "Red Red Roses"
• 1962 - "I'm Gonna Clip Your Wings" / "Travellin' Man (cover of Ricky Nelson)"
• 1962 - "Hercules" / "Madeleine"
• 1963 - "Hey Mama" / "Brand New Motor"
• 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)
• 1964 - "Alley Alley Oh" / "Gonna Be A Good Boy Now "
• 1964 - "Hello Dolly" / "Long Time No See"
• 1964 - "Susie Q" / "I'll Always Be In Love With You"
• 1964 - "Someone Must Have Hurt You A Lot" / "Easter Time"
• 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)
• 1967 - "So Tired" / "If I Didn't Care"
• 1968 - "Nevertheless" / "Girl Talk"
• 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"

External links

• Heritage Foundation page on Frankie Vaughan
• Discography on UK Artists site
• BBC obituary page on Frankie Vaughan
• The Frankie Vaughan Archive at Liverpool John Moores University