Monday 28 July 2014

Rudy Vallee born 28 July 1901


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, he grew up in Westbrook, Maine. In high school, he took up the saxophone and acquired the nickname "Rudy" after then famous saxophonist Rudy Wiedoeft. 

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 felt that Uncle Sam needed one more brave young man in World War I, but was discharged when the Navy authorities found out that he was only 15. 

 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." 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. Vallee was given a recording contract and in 1928, he started performing on the radio. 

Vallee also became what was perhaps the first complete example of the 20th century mass media pop star. Flappers (the predecessors of "bobby soxers"), mobbed him wherever he went. His live appearances were usually sold out, and even if his singing could hardly be heard in those venues not yet equipped with the new electronic microphones, his screaming female fans went home happy if they had caught sight of his lips through the opening of the trademark megaphone he sang through. 

In 1929, Vallee did his first film, The Vagabond Lover. His first films were made to cash in on his singing popularity, but Hollywood found Vallee could act as well. Also in 1929, Vallee began hosting The Fleischmann's Yeast Hour. Performers first introduced to the American public on that program included Jack Benny, Eddie Cantor and Kate Smith. 

Vallee continued hosting popular radio variety shows through the 1930s and 1940s. The Royal Gelatin Hour featured various film performers of the era, such as Fay Wray and Richard Cromwell in dramatic skits. 
 
 

                     

Along with his group, The Connecticut Yankees, Vallee's best known popular recordings included: "The Stein Song" (aka University of Maine fighting song) in the early part of the decade and "Vieni, Vieni" in the latter '30s. Remarkably for an American, 
Vallee sang fluently in three Mediterranean languages. 

His reputation in Hollywood was that of a tightwad, but he wasn't the only one. He also had a reputation for being one of the most difficult people in show business to work for.. On several occasions, Vallee was known to have rushed into his audience in order to punch audience members who booed.  

He was married briefly to the much-younger and sexy actress Jane Greer, but that ended in divorce in 1944. His previous marriage to Leonie Cuachois was annulled and the one to Fay Webb ended in divorce. After divorcing Jane Greer, he married Eleanor Norris in 1946, who wrote a memoir, My Vagabond Lover. 

In 1955, Vallée was featured in Gentlemen Marry Brunettes, co-starring Jane Russell, Alan Young, and Jeanne Crain. The production was filmed on location in Paris. The film was based on the Anita Loos novel that was a sequel to her acclaimed Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Gentlemen Marry Brunettes was popular throughout Europe at the time and was released in France as A Paris Pour les Quatre ("Paris for the Four"), and in Belgium as Tevieren Te Parijs. 

He performed on Broadway as J.B. Biggley in the musical How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and reprised the role in the film version of the show. He appeared in the campy 1960s Batman television show as the character "Lord Marmaduke Ffogg". He toured with a one-man theater show into the 1980s. He occasionally opened for The Village People.

 In 1971 he made a television appearance as a vindictive surgeon in the Night Gallery episode "Marmalade Wine."

In the twilight of his years, Vallee’s Yankee work ethic kept spurring him on. He kept a wide correspondence with celebrities and fans; he entertained lavishly at Silver Tip, his home in California; and he played benefit concerts for many veterans’ hospitals and charitable causes. Vallee died of  cancer July 3, 1986, with his fourth wife Eleanor at his side. As they watched the Independence Day celebrations on television, Vallee’s last words were, “Wouldn’t it be fun to be there? You know how I love a party"... 

 
He is interred in St. Hyacinth's Cemetery in Westbrook, Maine. (info edited mainly from Wikipedia)

Here's a clip of Rudy Vallee performing a medley "Vieni,Vieni" "The Thrill is Gone," "Supposin'" "I Can Dream, Can't I?" & "Kitty from Kansas City" from 1950.

4 comments:

boppinbob said...

There are some great mp3’s on the Internet Archive. Go here for starters .

https://archive.org/details/RudyValleeCollection1925-1934PartOne-StandardLabels

Also type Rudy Vallee in the search box for loads more.

D said...

Hi BB, Would love to have some Rudy Vallee songs. I notice that you didn't have a dl link here on the site. I did try to go to that other site but I don't see an easy way there. May I trouble you to check if you have a Best/Essential/Greatest on Rudy in good quality?
Hope you do.
Thanks mate,
Denis

boppinbob said...

Hello Denis, I didn’t have any compilations of Rudy Vallee but I did find this digital download. So for “The Very Best Of Rudy Vallee” go here:

https://workupload.com/file/gzGT4ju37Ty

1. The Drunkard Song (There Is A Tavern In The Town) 2:57
2. Heigh-Ho, Everybody, Heigh-Ho 2:43
3. Baby, Oh Where Can You Be? 3:32
4. As Time Goes By 3:31
5. Weary River 3:11
6. Life Is Just A Bowl Of Cherries 3:20
7. Let's Put Out The Lights And Go To Sleep 3:42
8. The Whiffenpoof Song 3:10
9. Just An Echo In The Valley 3:41
10. The Stein Song (University Of Maine) 3:19
11. When Yuba Plays The Rhumba On The Tuba 3:25
12. Marie 2:42
13. I Guess I'll Have To Change My Plan (The Blue Pajama Song) 3:18
14. Lonely Troubadour 3:17
15. My Time Is Your Time 3:07
16. Vieni, Vieni 3:14
17. Brother, Can You Spare A Dime? 3:40
18. You're Driving Me Crazy 3:19
19. Deep Night 3:23
20. Lover, Come Back To Me 3:05
21. Outside 2:49
22. I'm Just A Vagabond Lover 3:17
23. Let's Do It 3:03
24. St. Louis Blues 3:36
25. Miss You 3:32
26. The One In The World 2:59
27. Honey 3:26
28. The One That I Love Loves Me 3:07
29. If I Had A Girl Like You 3:11
30. If You Were The Only Girl In The World 2:53
31. S'posin' 3:11
32. I'm Still Caring 3:08
33. Stein Song 3:18
34. Reminiscing 3:28
35. The Song Without A Name 3:09
36. On The Alamo 3:20
37. Me Queres? 3:21
38. A Little Kiss Each Morning 2:42
39. Kitty From Kansas City 3:11
40. I'll Be Reminded Of You 3:28

Brownbeats Records (2009)

D said...

BB, that, my man, is perfect! Thanks for getting that for me.
Cheers, Denis