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| After WWI, Hubert Prior taught himself saxophone by listening to recordings of Rudy Wiedoelft. After college, he took the name of his idol and dubbed himself RUDY VALLEE (b. Island Pond, VT July 28, 1901; d. Hollywood, CA July 3, 1986). He became a band leader in New York City, and began his crooning career on a weekly radio show. After his 1929 hit he became known as "The Vagabond Lover," and started making screen and stage appearances. At a time when a microphone was not standard equipment, Vallee was known for singing through a megaphone to be heard over his hysterical audiences, a relatively new phenomenon at the time. Bing Crosby's crooning displaced Vallee's, forcing Vallee into more screen work, which he did before and after enrolling in the Coast Guard and leading their band through WWII. He continued with stage and TV appearances through the 80's, where he served as a blast from the past for many viewers. |