Malcolm Vaughan

2.1. Birth and Childhood

Malcolm Vaughan was born Malcolm James Thomas on March 22, 1929, in Abercynon, South Wales. He spent a significant portion of his childhood in the village of Troedyrhiw, located near Merthyr Tydfil, after his family relocated there. During his upbringing, he developed his vocal talents by singing with the local choir.

2.2. Early Career

Vaughan's professional career began in 1944 when he made his debut as a stage actor. His first notable role was in Emlyn Williams's comedy The Druid's Rest at the St. Martin's Theatre in London's West End. Following this, he appeared at the London Hippodrome in the musical comedy Jenny Jones, where his singing abilities were first recognized by critic James Agate, who commented that Vaughan was "allowed to talk too much and sing too little." He then participated in a variety show organized by bandleader and impresario Jack Hylton and took a part in the Thornton Wilder play The Skin of Our Teeth at the Piccadilly Theatre, which was directed by Laurence Olivier. Vaughan also appeared in the first stage production of the popular BBC Children's Hour program The Adventures of Larry the Lamb, playing Dennis the Dachshund. Additionally, he had a role as an errand boy in the film Bedelia, starring alongside Margaret Lockwood.

2.3. Military Service

In 1947, Malcolm Vaughan was called up for National Service. He served with the British Army in Egypt and Greece. After completing his military service, he returned to the performing arts.

2.4. Duo Activities and Name Change

Upon his return from military service, Vaughan resumed acting, appearing in ice shows such as Aladdin and Dick Whittington in Brighton. In 1952, he joined three other vocalists to form the "Welsh Street Singers." He also supported Old Mother Riley in a pantomime. In 1953, while appearing in the revue Going Gay in Eastbourne, he befriended comedian Kenneth Earle. The two decided to form a double act, initially considering "Earle and Thomas" but ultimately settling on "Earle and Vaughan" after trying out various names. In 1963, Malcolm Thomas legally changed his professional name to Malcolm Vaughan by deed poll. The duo, "Earle and Vaughan", continued as a comedy act in variety theatre throughout the 1960s before disbanding in 1972.

3.1. Discovery and Early Success

Vaughan's singing talent began to flourish during his time in variety theatre, where his strong voice was noted. His breakthrough came in 1955 when BBC disc jockey Jack Jackson saw Earle and Vaughan performing at the Chiswick Empire. Impressed by Vaughan's impersonation of Mario Lanza, Jackson arranged an audition with Wally Ridley, the head of His Master's Voice (HMV). Ridley encouraged Vaughan to record popular ballads, leading to his first hit, "Ev'ry Day of My Life", released in 1955. The song achieved considerable success, reaching No. 5 on the UK Singles Chart. This marked the beginning of a series of hits for Vaughan throughout the latter half of the 1950s.

3.2. Hit Songs and Chart Performance

Malcolm Vaughan achieved several notable chart successes on the His Master's Voice label.
His charting singles include:

• "Ev'ry Day of My Life" / "Mama" (1955) - UK No. 5
• "With Your Love" / "Small Talk" (1955) - UK No. 18
• "St. Therese of the Roses" / "Love Me as Though There Were No Tomorrow" (1956) - UK No. 3
• "The World is Mine" / "Now" (1957) - UK No. 26
• "Chapel of The Roses" / "Guardian Angel" (1957) - UK No. 13
• "My Special Angel" / "The Heart of a Child" (1957) - UK No. 3
• "To Be Loved" / "My Loving Arms" (1958) - UK No. 14
• "More Than Ever" ("Come prima") / "A Night to Remember" (1958) - UK No. 5
• "Wait for Me" (Ti dirò) / "Willingly" (1959) - UK No. 13

One of his most significant hits was "St. Therese of the Roses" in 1956. Its promotion was initially complicated when a scheduled appearance on BBC TV's Off The Record was cancelled. A BBC committee deemed the song unsuitable for broadcast, stating that "the lyric is contrary both to Roman Catholic doctrine and to Protestant sentiment." However, this controversy, coupled with extensive airplay on Radio Luxembourg, contributed to the record's success. It climbed to No. 3 on the UK Singles Chart, remained on the chart for five months, and ultimately sold half a million copies.

Another song that became widely associated with Vaughan, particularly in later years, was his revival of "The Wedding" in 1961. This song, originally an Italian piece by Tony Dallara (La Novia^Italian), gained popularity through an English version by Julie Rogers. Vaughan's rendition of "The Wedding" is often cited as one of his most well-known and enduring works.

3.3. Major Performances

Malcolm Vaughan made several notable public appearances during his music career. In October 1956, he was scheduled to appear on BBC TV's Off The Record to promote "St. Therese of the Roses", though this appearance was ultimately cancelled due to controversy surrounding the song's lyrics. In 1956, the double act Earle and Vaughan debuted at the London Palladium in The British Record Show. In January 1957, they also appeared on ITV's Sunday Night at the London Palladium. Later in 1957, Vaughan performed in that year's Royal Variety Show alongside other prominent 1950s stars, including Ronnie Hilton, Dickie Valentine, and David Whitfield. In 1960, he participated in the national preselection to represent the United Kingdom in the Eurovision Song Contest 1960, performing the song "Each Tomorrow." However, he was ultimately surpassed by Bryan Johnson, whose song "Looking High, High, High" went on to secure second place in the contest. In 1961, Vaughan was inducted into the Grand Order of Water Rats, an exclusive entertainment fraternity.

4.1. Early Acting Career

Malcolm Vaughan's acting career commenced in 1944 with his stage debut in Emlyn Williams's comedy The Druid's Rest at the St. Martin's Theatre in London's West End. He continued to secure roles in various theatrical productions, including the musical comedy Jenny Jones at the London Hippodrome, where his vocal talents were first publicly noted. He also performed in a variety show organized by Jack Hylton and appeared in Thornton Wilder's play The Skin of Our Teeth at the Piccadilly Theatre, directed by Laurence Olivier. His early acting work also extended to children's programming, as he played Dennis the Dachshund in the first stage production of the BBC Children's Hour program The Adventures of Larry the Lamb. Furthermore, he took on a role as an errand boy in the film Bedelia, starring alongside Margaret Lockwood. These early experiences established his foundation as a versatile performer in the mid-1940s and 1950s.

4.2. Later Theatre Activities

As the popularity of rock and roll brought about a significant shift in musical tastes, Malcolm Vaughan's mainstream music career declined in the 1960s. However, he continued to pursue acting, primarily focusing on theatre work. After the comedy double act "Earle and Vaughan" disbanded in 1972, Vaughan remained active on stage, touring in productions of The Good Old Days. He eventually retired from performing in 1982.

5.1. Family and Later Years

Malcolm Vaughan was married to Gay (née Hands). Together, they had two sons: Daryl Earle Haydn Samuel, born in 1957, and Damon Charles Michael, born in 1963. After his retirement from performing in 1982, Vaughan spent some of his later years working on the switchboard at the RAF Central Medical Establishment in London. In his later life, he was diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. In 2009, his wife published his autobiography, which served as a means to raise money for a local Alzheimer's charity, reflecting his commitment to supporting a cause related to his personal health challenges.