Vaughn Monroe(1911-1973)
- Actor
- Writer
- Soundtrack
Vaughn Wilton Monroe was born October 7, 1911 in Akron, Ohio, and his
family moved to Wisconsin shortly thereafter. Monroe showed an early
talent for the trumpet and focused most of his early efforts on that.
Monroe wanted to be an opera singer, but the Depression made pursuing
such a career impractical. Instead, he sang as a vocalist with several
bands, among them Austin Wylie (who later worked for
Artie Shaw), Larry Funk (for which he made
his recording debut), and Jack Marshard. It was Marshard who realized
Monroe's talent, brought him out from the brass section, and turned him
into a conductor. At the urging of Marshard and many others, Monroe
started his own orchestra in 1940. RCA Victor immediately signed him to
a contract. From 1940 until 1954, he had over 70 chart hits. One of
these is the one he's best known for today: "Let it Snow! Let it Snow!
Let it Snow!", the 1946 version of which is heard at the end of the
first two Bruce Willis "Die Hard" films.
The tall, handsome Monroe, whose signature tune was "Racing With the Moon", was very popular in the 1940s and early 1950s. His band was heard every Sunday on the radio in America (under contract to Camel cigarettes) and played to full ballrooms everywhere they went. Some of the musicians who regularly toured with Monroe included guitarist 'Bucky Pizzarelli', saxophonist Adny Bagni, Bobby Nichols, singer Mary Jo Grogan, Trumpeter Bobby Nichols, trombonist Ray Conniff, and well-known jazz pianist Arnold Ross.
The big band business started losing steam in the early 1950s, and Monroe gave up his band in 1953. For the next 20 years, he worked as a single and on the nightclub circuit, while maintaining his contract with RCA Victor as their spokesman.
Monroe died May 21, 1973, shortly after undergoing stomach surgery.
The tall, handsome Monroe, whose signature tune was "Racing With the Moon", was very popular in the 1940s and early 1950s. His band was heard every Sunday on the radio in America (under contract to Camel cigarettes) and played to full ballrooms everywhere they went. Some of the musicians who regularly toured with Monroe included guitarist 'Bucky Pizzarelli', saxophonist Adny Bagni, Bobby Nichols, singer Mary Jo Grogan, Trumpeter Bobby Nichols, trombonist Ray Conniff, and well-known jazz pianist Arnold Ross.
The big band business started losing steam in the early 1950s, and Monroe gave up his band in 1953. For the next 20 years, he worked as a single and on the nightclub circuit, while maintaining his contract with RCA Victor as their spokesman.
Monroe died May 21, 1973, shortly after undergoing stomach surgery.
