Richard "Billy" Vaughn was a singer, multi-instrumentalist and orchestra le… Read Full Bio ↴Richard "Billy" Vaughn was a singer, multi-instrumentalist and orchestra leader.
He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
He was born in Glasgow, Kentucky, where his father was a barber who loved music and inspired Billy to teach himself to play the mandolin at age 3, while suffering a case of the measles. He went on to learn a number of other instruments.
In 1941, Vaughn joined the United States National Guard for what had been planned as a one-year assignment, but when World War II broke out, he was sent abroad till the war ended in 1945. He decided to make music a career when he was discharged from the army at the end of the war, and attended Western Kentucky State College, now known as Western Kentucky University, majoring in music composition. He had apparently learned barbering from his father, because he did some while studying at Western Kentucky to support himself financially, when he was not able to get jobs playing the piano at local night clubs and lounges. While he was a student there, three other students, Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, who had formed a vocal trio, The Hilltoppers, recruited Vaughn to play the piano with them. He soon added his voice to theirs, converting the trio to a quartet. As a member of the group, he also wrote their first hit song, Trying, which charted in 1952.
In 1954 he left the group to join Dot Records in Gallatin, Tennessee as music director. He subsequently formed his own orchestra, which had a big hit in that same year with Melody of Love. He went on to have many more hits over the next decade and a half, and based purely on chart successes, was the most successful orchestra leader of all time.
A Swingin' Safari
Billy Vaughn Lyrics
Instrumental
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James Allen
Well, "The Match Game" used this song and the rest is history! Always liked this bouncy tune!
Jeffrey Grossi
When I Hear these 50’s and early 60’s instrumentals, I Feel that my parents and grandma are close to me.....
Paul McKenna
The arrangements are very, very similar, but yes, this one is _slightly_more upbeat. If Bert had just said "Hey, guys, let's do it just one more time" in the studio they'd be identical!
Linda Easley
This was THE version . Better than Bert Kaempfert's
Mike Sosa
The memories. Thanks for posting.
Jeff H
Love this instrumental! 😊
Jim Hilliker
Same here, I remember the first version of The Match Game on NBC used this music. I like this version best.
WillyBoy
Apples and oranges: both fruits, both delicious --- it's just a matter of personal taste as to which is better.. And so it goes with Kaempfert and Vaughn: both upbeat, both wonderful --- it's just a matter of personal taste as to which is better. Me, I give the tiniest edge toward Vaugh, but no way am I gonna knock Kaempfert's version. (Sidebar note: I, too, have fond memories of "The match game.") In any case, thanks for posting this!
Chris Mulwee
Not only was this the original Match Game theme song, it also has some striking similarities to The Lion Sleeps Tonight.
Also this song (don't remember which version) was used in a Captain Kangaroo segment involving kaleidoscope or Etch-A Sketch-type designs. THAT'S how II, personally was introduced to this song.
Condy Love
This is awesome