Uploaded on Oct 9, 2008
Rudy Vallée (July 28, 1901 - July 3, 1986)
was
a popular American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer. Born
Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse
and Catherine Lynch Vallée. Both of his parents were born and raised in
Vermont, but their parents were immigrants; the Vallées being of French
Canadian origin, while the Lynches were from Ireland. Rudy grew up in
Westbrook, Maine.
Having played drums in his high school band,
Vallee played clarinet and saxophone in various bands around New England
in his youth. In 1917, he decided to enlist for World War I, but was
discharged when the Navy authorities found out that he was only 15. He
enlisted in Portland, Maine on March 29, 1917, under the false birthdate
of July 28, 1899. He was discharged at the Naval Training Station,
Newport, Rhode Island, on May 17, 1917 with 41 days of active service.
was
a popular American singer, actor, bandleader, and entertainer. Born
Hubert Prior Vallée in Island Pond, Vermont, the son of Charles Alphonse
and Catherine Lynch Vallée. Both of his parents were born and raised in
Vermont, but their parents were immigrants; the Vallées being of French
Canadian origin, while the Lynches were from Ireland. Rudy grew up in
Westbrook, Maine.
Having played drums in his high school band,
Vallee played clarinet and saxophone in various bands around New England
in his youth. In 1917, he decided to enlist for World War I, but was
discharged when the Navy authorities found out that he was only 15. He
enlisted in Portland, Maine on March 29, 1917, under the false birthdate
of July 28, 1899. He was discharged at the Naval Training Station,
Newport, Rhode Island, on May 17, 1917 with 41 days of active service.
From 1924 through 1925, he played with the "Savoy Havana Band" in
London. He then returned to the States to obtain a degree in Philosophy
from Yale and to form his own band, "Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut
Yankees." With this band, which featured two violins, two saxophones, a
piano, a banjo and drums, he started taking vocals (supposedly
reluctantly at first).
London. He then returned to the States to obtain a degree in Philosophy
from Yale and to form his own band, "Rudy Vallee and the Connecticut
Yankees." With this band, which featured two violins, two saxophones, a
piano, a banjo and drums, he started taking vocals (supposedly
reluctantly at first).
He had a rather thin, wavering tenor voice and
seemed more at home singing sweet ballads than attempting vocals on jazz
numbers. However, his singing, together with his suave manner and
handsome boyish looks, attracted great attention, especially from young
women[citation needed]. Vallee was given a recording contract and in
1928, he started performing on the radio.
Vallee's recording
career began in 1928 recording for Columbia Records' cheap labels
(Harmony, Velvet Tone, and Diva). He signed to Victor in February 1929
and remained through late 1931, leaving after a heated dispute with
company executives over title selections. He then recorded for the
short-lived, but extremely popular "Hit of the Week" label (which sold
records laminated onto cardboard).
seemed more at home singing sweet ballads than attempting vocals on jazz
numbers. However, his singing, together with his suave manner and
handsome boyish looks, attracted great attention, especially from young
women[citation needed]. Vallee was given a recording contract and in
1928, he started performing on the radio.
Vallee's recording
career began in 1928 recording for Columbia Records' cheap labels
(Harmony, Velvet Tone, and Diva). He signed to Victor in February 1929
and remained through late 1931, leaving after a heated dispute with
company executives over title selections. He then recorded for the
short-lived, but extremely popular "Hit of the Week" label (which sold
records laminated onto cardboard).
In August 1932, he signed with
Columbia and stayed with them through 1933; he returned to Victor in
June 1933. His records were issued on Victor's new budget label,
Bluebird, until November 1933 when he was moved up the full-priced
Victor label. He stayed with Victor until signing with ARC in 1936, who
released his records on their Perfect, Melotone, Conqueror and Romeo
labels until 1937 when he returned to Victor.
Rudy Vallee And His Connecticut Yankees - Brother can you spare a dime (1931)
Columbia and stayed with them through 1933; he returned to Victor in
June 1933. His records were issued on Victor's new budget label,
Bluebird, until November 1933 when he was moved up the full-priced
Victor label. He stayed with Victor until signing with ARC in 1936, who
released his records on their Perfect, Melotone, Conqueror and Romeo
labels until 1937 when he returned to Victor.
Rudy Vallee And His Connecticut Yankees - Brother can you spare a dime (1931)
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