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rat pack They had it all. Fame. Gorgeous women. A fabulous playground of a city and all the money in the world.

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My wife says that Perry Como and Sammy Davis Jr. had an unusual timbre to their voic e... as if they drank a large glass of milk too quickly before singing. If that's true, then Vaughn Monroe must have drank gallons vaughn monroeof the stuff before he sang. He likely had just about the most unusual voice of the whole big band era (and beyond) but that didn't stop him from becoming one of the most successful singers of his day.

Vaughn Monroe was born in Akron, Ohio on October 7, 1911. In May, 1953, the music world was startled to hear that this established bandleader was dissolving his famous musical organization in order to become a single performer. At the time of this review, Vaughn lived in the suburbs of Boston with his wife and two daughters, Candace and Christina. His hobbies included building model trains, photography, pipe collecting, flying and motorcycling. He was also a licensed pilot who owned his own plane.

Tips on Tables - Robert W. Dana - June 14, 1955

Vaughn Monroe Booming at the Astor Roof

The management of the Sheraton-Astor Roof decided to change Its entertainment policy this year, substituting a name personality for the name bands that have held sway, there for years. The choice for the first four weeks, of the season was handsome, virile baritone, Vaughn Monroe.

For years Vaughn had gained a solid reputation as one of the foremost band leaders in the country, one who always put on a good show. Since giving up the band to go out as a single two years ago, he has continued the same pace as an outstanding showman and performer.

On the roof he is booming forth with a variety of songs to everyone's delight. He opens by walking in with a hand mike, singing Rodgers and Hammerstein's familiar "Getting to Know You," shakes hands with customers and offers a personal greeting. Several other times during the show he makes effective use of the hand mike to stroll around the floor, literally singing to everyone in the room.

Perhaps the biggest surprise is the fact that Vaughn's repertoire doesn't include one popular tune of the day. To me the highlight of the program is a medley including "There, I've Said It Again," "You Were Meant for Me," "The Very Thought of You" "Moon Over Miami," "You're My Everything" and "Racing With the Moon."

Judging from audience response, rhythm and blues and rock and roll run a poor second in public choice at the Sheraton-Astor Roof. Larry Green provides slick piano accompaniment while Neal Hefti and his band offer excellent backing for the show and smooth dance tempos afterward.

THE REVIEWS
Andrews Sisters - Latin Quarter 1957
Desi Arnaz - w/Diosa Costello 1948
Count Basie - Lincoln 1943
Tony Bennett - Copacabana 1958
Milton Berle - Latin Quarter 1948
Joey Bishop - w/Andy Williams 1959
Ray Bolger - Wizard of Oz Scarecrow, Empire Room 1956
Cab Calloway - Greenwich Inn 1949
Diahann Carroll - Persian Room 1961
Betty Clooney - Waldorf Astoria 1954
Nat King Cole - Copacabana 1958
Perry Como - Versailles 1944
Copacabana - famous night club restaurant is reviewed 1953
Crosby Brothers - Latin Quarter 1961
Xavier Cugat - Waldorf Astoria 1951
Vic Damone - Riviera 1953
Billy Daniels - Copacabana 1952
Sammy Davis Jr. - Copacabana 1959
Phyllis Diller - w/Bobby Short 1958
Nancy Donovan - Copacabana 1952
Jimmy Durante - Copacabana 1951
Billy Eckstine - Copacabana 1951
Duke Ellington - Basin St. East 1961
Eddie Fisher - Empire Room 1959
Judy Garland -Town & Country 1958
Jackie Gleason - La Vie en Rose 1953
Benny Goodman - Empire Room 1956
Dolores Gray - Waldorf Astoria 1954
Buddy Hackett - Copacabana 1956
Connie Haines - Terrace Room 1951
Dick Haymes - Versailles 1956
Horace Heidt - 30th Anniversary 1954
Florence Henderson w/Bill Hayes 1958
Hildegarde - Pierre 1953
Celeste Holm - Plaza 1958
Eddy Howard - Roosevelt 1955
Burl Ives w/Wally Cox - Persian Room
Lisa Kirk - Persion Room 1958
Frankie Laine - Latin Quarter 1955
Julius La Rosa - Romanian 1958
Peggy Lee - Copacabana 1958
Jerry Lewis - Town & Country 1957
Joe E. Lewis - Copacabana 1945
Ted Lewis - Latin Quarter 1953
Liberace - Persian Room 1947
Guy Lombardo - Roosevelt 1957
Vincent Lopez - Grill Room 1954
Tony Martin - Riviera 1953
Martin and Lewis - Copacabana 1950
Ray McKinley - Glenn Miller Band 1957
Mills Brothers - Latin Quarter 1956
Vaughn Monroe - Astor 1955
Constance Moore - St. Regis 1958
Johnnie Ray - Copacabana 1953
Rowan & Martin - Latin Quarter 1961
Della Reese - Copacabana 1961
Sugar Ray Robinson - French Casino
Dorothy Shay - St. Regis 1961
Frank Sinatra - Wedgewood 1943
Danny Thomas - Copacabana 1949
Sophie Tucker - Latin Quarter 1950
Mae West - Latin Quarter 1956
Julie Wilson - Persian Room 1954
EDITORIALS
Dean Martin - thoughts on Mr. Sauve
Peter Lawford - retrospective
Rise & Fall of the big bands
INTERVIEWS
K Baggelaar- Copacabana author
Don Dellair - cabaret performer
Denny Farrell - big band disc jockey
Hal Turner - Performer/Conductor
B Zickafoose - played in WWII Europe
ASSORTED
Bernie Bierman bio
Sammy Kaye - Roosevelt 1957
Dinah Shore - press release and autograph from the 50's
A Letter about a WWII song
Harbers & Dale - Dance Team
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