Rudy Vallee (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 Weidoeft.
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 the Great War, but was discharged when the Navy authorities found out that he was only 15. In 1924-5, he played with the "Savoy Havana Band" in London, England. 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. Vallee was given a recording contract, and in 1928 started performing on the radio.
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Rudy Vallee - Official site with biography, photographs, newsletter, and merchandise, including a biography by his wife Eleanor Vallee.
Meta Description: [ Rudy Vallee the famous megaphone crooner of the 1930s recorded "As Time Goes By" and "Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries". Rudys "The Fleischmann Hour" on radio shared the airways with Bing Crosby and Frank Sinatra during the Golden Age of Hollywood. Eleanor Vallee was his wife and author of the ... ]
AMG: Rudy Vallee - Biography and discography.
Classic Films: Romancing Rudy - Interview with the wife of the late movie crooner Rudy Vallee. Includes a list of his films.
Meta Description: [ Everything you want to know about classic movies and your favorite actors. Fine out about the latest releases in film and on DVD, biographies and Top Ten lists in classic films. ]
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IMDb: Rudy Vallee - Filmography and television appearances.
Meta Description: [ Rudy Vallee - Filmography, Awards, Biography, Agent, Discussions, Photos, News Articles, Fan Sites ]
Introduction to Swing That Music - Text written by Valle for the 1936 book by Louis Armstrong.
Lyrics World: Rudy Vallee - Lyrics to several of his more popular songs.
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My Dinner with Rudy - Personal account of an evening spent with the singer in his declining years.
Meta Description: [ an evening with Rudy Vallee in his declining years. ]
U.S. Coast Guard: Rudy Vallee - Profile and photographs of the 11th district Coast Guard band.
Meta Description: [ U.S. Coast Guard History. ]
| "You're Driving Me Crazy" (Rudy Vallee, 1930) | |
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