Music Hub
Register
Advertisement

Vaughn Monroe (Akron7 October 1911 - Stuart21 may 1973) was an American singer. He was with his big band on the weekly radio. More than fifty of singles ended up in the Billboard lists, of which nine and twenty-five in the top ten at number 1. His best known songs Let it snow! and Riders in the sky. He also acted in a few movies and series and hosted his own tv show.

Biography[Edit][]

Monroe was born in Ohio and moved to Wisconsinas a child. His musical attention went to play trumpet and it was a cherished dream to ever to become an opera singer.The great depression of the 1930s left financially however no room to pursue a career as an opera singer. Though he managed to join as singer in territory bands, first of all in a band led by Austin Wylie, then at Larry Funk where Monroe knew his record debut and then at Jack Mars hand in Boston.

Here, he formed his first own Orchestra. There I go the single was his first hit in 1940 and, despite that the sound even for that time quite mak was, his Orchestra the same year named the Top college band of the year.

In the following years he released more than 50 singles, including Racing with the moon in 1941, which, although it was a minor hit but for years was his theme song.Nine singles which appeared on number 1 and twenty-five in the top ten. He experienced his most successful years between 1945 and 1950; in 1944 alone he sold five million records. His biggest hits were Ballerina and Riders in the sky .

[1]Monroe with Susie Scott and Dan Blocker in Bonanza, 1962

He was with his big band every Sunday to hear on the radio. His baritone-voice got nicknames like (translated) the voice with hair on the chest and old leather almonds. He was awarded two tiles on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, with a star for his recordings and a star for his radio broadcasts. To his version of the Riders in the sky was in 1958 the skiffle band The Skyriders Dutch named.

In the early 1950s he tried to get a foothold in Hollywood in the genre of singing cowboy. Beyond a single role in a B-movie, however, he came not, as in Singing Guns (1950) and Toughest Man in Arizona (1952). In 1962 he played a role in an episode of the popular TV series Bonanza. In the meantime he had more success in the 1950s as host of his own television program The Vaughn Monroe Show.

Monroe had two daughters (1941 and 1944). He died shortly after stomach surgery In 1973 at the age of 61.

Singles[Edit][]

Below are singles from Monroe who knew a Billboard-listing. However, he brought much more work than is shown in this list. Examples of songs that have an entry on Wikipedia, are Blue Moon (1945) and Red sails in the sunset (1957).


Title Billboard-listing[1] Release Number of weeks
There I go 1 1940 12
Is it love or is it conscription? 26 1940 1
Racing with the moon 25 1941 2
G'bye now 12 1941 2
High on a windy hill 13 1941 3
Yours 16 1941 2
You're the one 16 1941 4
The worm who loved the little tater bug 22 1941 1
If it's you 23 1941 1
There'll be some changes made 24 1941 1
My devotion 1 1942 14
Tangerine 11 1942 1
Hip hop hooray 20 1942 1
The shrine of Saint Cecilia 21 1942 3
Let's get lost 1 1943 14
Three little sisters 13 1942, may 2
When the lights go on again (all over the world) 1 1942, October 15
The trolley song 4 1944, december 7
The very thought of you 19 1944, december 1
There! I've said it again 1 1945, March 29
Rum & Coca-cola 8 1945, March 1
Something sentimental 12 1945, november 2
Just a blue serge suit 17 1945, november 1
Let it snow! Let it snow! Let it snow! 1 1945, december 14
Fishin' for the moon 17 1945, december 1
Are these really mine? 12 1946, January 1
Seems like old times 7 1946, March 5
Who told you that lie? 15 1946, July 3
It's my lazy day 16 1946, July 2
The things we did last summer 13 1946, november 4
You can't see the sun when you're crying 21 1947, February 5
Dreams are a dime a dozen 22 1947, June 4
I wish I didn't love you so 2 1947, september 15
Kokomo, Indiana 10 1947, October 1
Ballerina 1 1947, november 22
How soon? (will I be seeing you) 3 1947, november 13
You do 5 1947, november 8
In a little book shop 21 1947, december 4
Matinee 20 1948, January 4
Ev'ry day I love you (just a little bit more) 22 1948, January 1
Passing fancy 24 1948, February 2
Completely yours 22 1948, March 1
It's the sentimental thing to do 21 1948, may 1
Melody time 22 1948, may 2
What do I have to do (to make you love me) 23 1948, may 1
Blue shadows on the trail 26 1948, may 1
The maharajah or Mogador 19 1948, June 9
Cool water 9 1948, July 14
In my dreams 20 1948, november 2
Red roses for a blue lady 3 1949, January 22
Riders in the sky (A cowboy legend) 1 1949, april 22
Someday (you'll want me to want you) 1 1949, August 18
That lucky old sun (just rolls around heaven all day) 6 1949, september 17
Mule train 10 1949, november 9
Vieni su (say you love me too) 29 1949, november 1
Bamboo 4 1950, January 7
Thanks, mister florist 20 1950, July 1
On top of old smokey 8 1951, april 16
Sound off (the duckworth chant) 3 1951, april 17
Old soldiers never die 7 1951, may 8
Meanderin' 28 1951, October 2
Charmaine 27 1952, January 1
Mountain Laurel 22 1952, March 1
Lady love 18 1952, april 5
Idaho state fair 20 1952, may 6
Ruby 27 1953, may 1
They were doin ' the mambo 7 1954, August 16
Black denim trousers & motorcycle boots 38 1955, november 4
Don't go to strangers 38 1956, January 7
In the middle of the house 11 1956, september 13
Battle of New Orleans 87 1959, may 2
Advertisement