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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZHILLTOPPERSVocal group formed by lead singer Jimmy Sacca at Western Kentucky College with Seymour Spiegelman, tenor (d '87); Don McGuire, bass; Billy Vaughn, baritone. Recorded 'Trying'; local disc jockey sent it to newly-formed Dot label in Gallatin TN who released mid-'52: it made no. 7 in the national chart. College sweaters and beanies worn on Ed Sullivan TV show became their trademark; they were a big act on the fledgling label, with 18 hits '52--7, eight in the top 15 '52--4. Biggest was 'P.S. I Love You', a song from 1934 by Gordon Jenkins and Johnny Mercer. Vaughn (b Richard Vaughn, 12 April '19, Glasgow KY; d 26 Sep. '91, Escondido CA) left '55 to become mus. dir. at Dot; he had 28 hit singles '54--66 as an arranger/orchestra conductor, especially the first, 'Melody Of Love', reviving a tune from 1903, plus many albums, as well as backing Dot artists in the studio. Eventually they all worked for Dot, Sacca as a distributor in NYC; he re-formed a new Hilltoppers '67 to sing old hits in clubs. |