Born in Glasgow, Kentucky, in 1919, as Richard Smith Vaughn, Billy Vaughn is credited with being one of the top most popular orchestra leaders and pop music arrangers of the 1950s and early 60s.
In 1952, he organized the musical group, the Hilltoppers, with Jimmy Sacca, Don McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman. Their song, Trying, became a hit record, and the group enjoyed almost a decade of success. Billy would leave the group to become the musical director for Dot Records, in Gallatin, Tennessee. Billy formed an orchestra, and became Dot Records top moneymaker with hits like Melody of Love and Sail Along Silvery Moon, which sold over 3 million copies, and which also featured what would be his trademark twin sax sound. Billy Vaughn became the first American artist to be awarded a gold record in Europe and the first musician to receive a platinum record for achieving sales well over 3 million.