The Billy Vaughn fan page (original) (raw)

Billy Vaughn is most famous for his "Twin Saxes" sound, most commonly heard on his best known song "Sail Along Silv'ry Moon." Vaughn is most often heard, though, as the orchestra backing Pat Boone, Gale Storm, and a host of other Dot artists of the 50's and 60's. This page will focus on his solo work.

Billy Vaughn with Gale Storm

Richard (his given name) started the Hilltoppers at Western Kentucky College in 1952. He was leading his own orchestra by 1954, making #2 on the pop charts with "Melody of Love." By 1956 he had become Dot record's musical director. Billy had numerous pop singles and albums chart in mid 50's to early 60's. He actively recorded until about 1972. He had more charting records than any other orchestra during the rock era.

Billy went through four stages during his recording career. In the first, 1954-1957, his sound is virtually indistinguishable from the hundreds of other pop orchestras of the period. Heavy on the strings, this period produced few recordings of note. (Sorry dad, I just don't like "Shifting, Whispering Sands" much.) One song worth checking out is "When the White Lilacs Bloom Again," featuring the harmonica heard on many of Billy's recordings.

The second stage, 1957-1963, is the definitive Billy Vaughn. Here Billy uses his trademark "twin sax" sound almost exclusively. He features an alto sax for the melody, with a second alto sax a third away. Supporting instruments always included four tenor saxes for the body, with a rhythm section, usually containing one or two guitars, a piano, drums, and bass. Sometimes other instuments were used, such as strings, but the "twin sax" sound always is prominent. To me, even though most of the recordings are covers of other's songs, Billy's arraingements sound fresh. As long as he just tried to be himself, the recordings never sound trite or boring. In the third stage, Billy thought he would lead yet another Glenn Miller revival. He adopted a brass and woodwinds section, and his trademark sound is rarely heard. This lasted from about 1964 to 1966. Mostly, others arrainged the music. In fact, I often doubt that Vaughn had anything to do with these albums, being too busy working for Dot. Probably someone else is even directing the band, but Dot wanted to use the popular Vaughn name to sell albums. These albums are rarely horrible, but lack life.

The last stage, 1967-? is what I would call "sax renaissance." Vaughn returned to the twin sax sound, but with a fuller orchestra. He continued to record for Paramount when the management and name of Dot records changed. These recordings are not as good as Vaughn in his prime, but are still enjoyable. During this period, Billy tried some vocal group records, ala Ray Conniff. I think these are an assault to mankind. Avoid these at all costs.

Additionally, there are two names that should not be neglected. Justin Gordon is the "Twin Sax" player. Billy Vaughn came up with the Twin Sax sound, but it is Mr. Gordon who brought it to life with is unequaled sax work. Additionally, Milt Rogers wrote many of the better arraingements during the twin sax heyday. So who do I give credit? To Billy for creating the sound, and for writing arraingements, and for creating a loose atmosphere that allowed the creation of some of the best pop music ever recorded. To Justin Gordon for the distintive sax sound: Not syrupy, not harsh, but clean and sharp. To Milt Rogers for working (often anonymously) on arraingements in the Vaugn Style.

Very Incomplete Billy Vaughn discography.

Ratings (in parenthesis)
(1) Run for your life. Bad, Bad, Bad
(2) Avoid. Tarnish on the Vaughn Name
(3) Not good. Perhaps a good track.
(4) Uneven at best.
(5) Mediocre
(6) Consistent, perhaps uninspired, but very listenable
(7) Nice
(8) Much to recommend
(9) Excellent Album. Definitive Vaughn.
(10)Makes my top 25 albums list.

Albums

This listing makes no attempt to list records issued by Hamilton or Pickwick, as those records were solely re-issues of previously released material.
Note on Numbering. Dot Mono albums have a 3 prefix. Dot Stereo albums have a 25 prefix. The "Big 100" album must be a special set.

Click Here for an alternate view on Billy Vaughn.

A list of Vaughn's records that hit the Hot 100. Nothing good to say about Vaughn, though.

The Vaughn Audio Sample

Sorry this took so long. Here is the maestro preforming his best-selling composition, Trying. I'm not sure this was ever released on an album, so this might be your best opprotunity to hear it.

I claim to be no expert on Billy Vaughn. I just noticed there were not any pages devoted to this great artist and decided to make one. This page probably contains many mistakes. If you have any more or have corrected information about Billy I would love to hear from you. Or just drop me a line to talk about the music! Or, get lucky and catch me by ICQ. My number is 16123200.

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!!!NEWS FLASH!!! (latest on Billy Vaughn I can find)

Activities Honor Billy Vaughn

the Billy Vaughn Memorial Committee, along with the South Central Kentucky Cultural Center (Museum of the Barrens), the Glasgow Musicale and the office of Glasgow Mayor, are planning a full week of activities to honor the memory of native son, Billy Vaughn.
A special exhibit of Billy Vaughn memorabilia entitled "Billy Vaughn - The King of Melody" will open to the public at the Museum of the Barrens at 231 West Main St., Glasgow from Monday, April 6 through Saturday, April 11, 1998. The Museum's hours are 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, and 112 noon to 4 p.m. on Saturday.
On Saturday, April 11, the Glasgow Musicale will focus on Billy Vaughn's music at their annual Easter Breakfast. The program will be provided by local musicians, H.B. Steen, Jr. and Lisa Woodward. The breakfast is open to Musical members and their invited guests only. Members of Billy Vaughn's immediate family from California, as well as his local relatives, will attend the breakfast as guests of the Musicale.
Following the breakfast, the Musicale members and their guests will join the public at the Beula C. Nunn Park on the Glasgow Square for the 11:45 a.m. unveiling of the Billy Vaughn Memorial. Mayor Charles Honeycutt, Memorial Committee members, former Governor Louie B. Nunn and Gary Bewley, along with Ricky Vaughn, Billy Vaughn's son, will participate in the unveiling ceremony.
The Musicale and Memorial Committee will then host a reception at the Museum of the Barrens to celebrate both Vaughn's birthday (April 12) and the achievement of the fist of the committee's two objectives. The reception is open to the public. All individuals who made donations to the Memorial Fund are especially urged to attend to receive expressions of gratitude from the Memorial Committee and the Musicale.
The Memorial Committee had a two-phase plan to honor Vaughn's memory. The first was to place an appropriate monument in Beula C. Nunn Park and the second was to establish a Billy Vaughn Scholarship Fund. The first fundraiser, a benefit ball at the Barren River State Park Lodge in January, provided sufficient funds to cover the cost of the monument and leave a small balance for the scholarship fund. The Committee hopes to establish a large endowment for the fund, the proceeds of which will be used to award scholarships to help develop the talents of aspiring young musicians in the area. The scholarships will be administered by the Glasgow Musicale. Donations to the Scholarship Fund are tax exempt. They should be made payable to the Glasgow Musicale, P.O. Box 817, Glasgow, KY 42142-0817.

Extra! Extra! Read all about it!

News Flash: Bear Family Records released a 6 CD compilation of Billy Vaughn material on September 10, 1997. Collector's Choice Music has it available for 109.95. Don't try to search by artist, it's not there yet. Go to the new releases section and click on "V". Kudos to David N. Arizmendi for bringing this to my attention. He would like to discuss Dot records with interested parties.