Rudy Vallée: The Sensation of 1929 (1920s Spotlight)

In 1929, the young singer Rudy Vallée became a massive teen sensation. But what made him so popular? Let's find out!

[@edwardgunyo3638]

I met him years ago, a nice person, very well spoken and he had his band then and I just loved listening to the band, he went out of style back in the 60's but never for me. He made a comeback in the late 60's and is still loved today. Regards.

[@therudyvalleearchives6831]

What year? I believe he disbanded the Connecticut Yankees in the late 40s. Very jealous you met him!

[@Ryan-on5on]

Funny you should say that. As I'm sure you know, your pleasant experience with Rudy was quite different from that had by many who had the misfortune of working with him through the years (esp. his long-suffering bandmates, whom, it was widely reported, he treated in a manner akin to that of an especially abusive and cruel sergeant major ). Regardless of his professional pleasantness or lack thereof, Valle's importance and talent as an early crooner can't be denied. In truth, I have long preferred his relaxed singing style to Bing's, which, to me, is essentially an imitation or copy of Black vocal stylings but absent the soul and emotion of the real article.

[@akrenwinkle]

@@Ryan-on5on Reminds me of a story about Johnnie Ray, which just might be apocryphal, but I believe. He chewed out a bandmate, ending with, "Just remember, I'm a big star!" Musician: "Twinkle, twinkle."

[@californiamoto579]

This is really nice to see. Thank you for putting it together. My grandfather was the bass player in the Connecticut Yankees, and can be seen in your video a few times. His name was Harry Patent.

[@The1920sChannel]

That's so cool! Do you have any kind of memorabilia from his career?

[@californiamoto579]

@@The1920sChannel I personally don’t have any career memorabilia, but I think my parents have vinyl records and some letters. I’m not sure what else they might from his career. Incidentally, my grandmother was Rudy Vallee’s secretary. That’s how my grandparents met. One of the other band members introduced them. Unfortunately, my grandfather passed away before I was born. My older brother is named Harry, named after my grandfather.

[@The1920sChannel]

@@californiamoto579 Well, even without a lot of material things about your grandparents' careers, it's still a cool thing to be able to tell people!

[@davemckay9144]

This makes me so happy, my grandma really loved his songs

[@wasnhas]

The best bio of Vallee I have seen. A truly historic figure in the entertainment field, pioneer of the variety radio show idea. Thanks

[@shuriwitwicky6646]

This bio only shined light on all the positive things about him tho

[@MisterTrashcan]

He's got such a distinct, soft, beautiful voice. Great video! :D

[@OldMovieRob]

This was a great look at the life of Rudy Vallee. I've been watching "The Admiral was a Lady" (1950) and he's in this film. I knew his name was familiar but wanted to learn more, so thanks for this background.

[@turbomundo1]

Thank you. My grandmother toured as part of his band, along with her sisters who were singing as the Happy Sisters. Rudy heard them singing jingles on the radio and invited them to tour. Those were different times. La La

[@shaggybreeks]

Very interesting! I'm 75, and always knew of him, and what he sounded like, and that he was an idol, but never knew he was the first electronic media star(?). FWIW, the style that Rudy pioneered was pushed back later by Bing Crosby's deep resonant voice. Hear the two in succession, and the difference is startling. Bing was a Bad Boy.

[@knitterscheidt]

I first saw Rudy Vallee on TV when I was a teenager in the 70s. He experienced a "comeback" due to a strong sentiment of nostalgia at that time. He performed with a megaphone. Perhaps "Winchester Cathedral" or "I'm Just a Vagabond Lover". I was fascinated by him. His demeanor was Yankee blue blood ivy league to the bone. I think "Deep Night" exemplifies his talent to evoke a soft romantic and definitely erotic aura women of the 20s found so thrilling.

[@steveperry1344]

ever since i was a kid i was fascinated with rudy valle and his sound. i like old timey music.

[@ohmeowzer1]

I love rudy and his beautiful voice

[@alandesouzacruz5124]

Great Singer with an unmistakable Voice

[@peris_arts_film9699]

My great grand mother had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Vallee when she was a young girl. Even personal letters of appreciation to my family. Just learned this all tonight

[@sandozkarika]

Thanks for creating this great channel ❤

[@7upjello119]

thank you for reconciling my love for Rudy

[@robertlindquist2959]

Good work. 100 years later. Somone who sounds young... appreciates something.

[@jimdrake-writer]

“I never had screaming teenage fans like Sinatra did,” Vallee told interviewers (myself included) and also wrote in his second autobiography. Vallee used a megaphone only in his earliest appearances in speakeasies during Prohibition, which were not equipped with electrical-amplification equipment.

[@caroltenge5147]

His band the conneticut yankees were on top musicians. With the material they had, the unique arrangements and Vallees delivery, combined, they were a smash! Vallee flew into columbus ohio back in 1930 to do an appearance at Valley Dale Ballroom on Sunbury road. Here came Vallee down the hill in his snappy roadster, having just landed at columbus airport two miles away..... The crowd was eager, he was late, and the tickets were $5 bucks. A fortune then. Vellee arrived, sang a couple songs with his megaphone there at the outdoor pavilian out back, and then just left. All this for their $5 dollars? The croud of OSU students were furious. This related to me by Marcella Herman one who was actually there, many years ago.

[@jimdrake-writer]

He appeared at Valley Dale at least twice between 1930-1934, and two of my uncles went to them. They said that the crowd was so dense that no one could dance, and instead faced the bandstand and swayed as he sang and his band played. They said that unlike other stars who performed at Valley Dale, he left immediately after his last song and thereby avoided having to sign autographs.

[@kevinharrington2078]

Nice presentation

[@dennisrediske6338]

The Boy Next Door, The Boy Scout a Good Guy! Cool Story Telling!

[@January.]

Rudy had a very beautiful voice.

[@rayzerwrecker70]

Well done. I am an international Tattooist and I ended up in Westbrook Maine 2 years ago. A local historical museum turned me on to Rudy by chance and I fell hard for his sound as an oldies loving wierdo Metalhead. Since then, I came to sit at his grave and jam his tunes over a few rolled ones and cold ones in respect. I leave here for Florida soon but will take my newfound love for what he did by chance to heart. Thanks for a proper representation to his legacy. I am a far lesser know crooner too. When not in my metal armor on stage. kzbin.info/www/bejne/qnvCfZmJr85ga80

[@hansmiller664]

When Greatgrandma went CRAZY for Rudy Vallee . . . 😂😃😍😍😍

[@dabedwards]

He also proved to be an excellent comedy actor in Preston Sturges' "The Palm Beach Story"

[@emilymalden3310]

I have heard about him, nice bio.

[@matildadhumxoxo5801]

You guys should catch Rudy on the George Burns and Gracie Allen radio program…..I thought I would die laughing. 1949 Entitled: “Emily Vanderlips boyfriend” 28.32 LoL

[@gavinmillar7519]

Why not follow up with his later years? Or talk about his early band and radio programmes? This was really interesting

[@geraldking4080]

Do the impact of Egypt on the '20s styles & fashions after Tut was discovered.

[@Secularrymair]

I used to see a lot of Rudy Vallee references when I watched the Warner Bros Looney Tunes cartoons

[@danielthoman7324]

Rudy vallee was a tutti-frutti.🍊🧚🧚🧚🧚🧚🧚🧚

[@geraldking4080]

Do Chicago in the 1920s. It was THE CITY of the 1920s.

[@genacunningham1731]

I wouldn't necessarily classify Vallee as a blonde and also not particularly handsome

[@Emiliee]

I agree with the first half. But not the second 😨

[@jimdrake-writer]

From the late-1920s through the 1940s his hair was “reddish brown,” as he described it. Of his looks he wrote that at the start of his career, fans who came to dance halls would approach him and ask, “When will Mister Vallee be here?” He said that his looks didn’t fit the image they had created in their minds.

[@danielmartinez3889]

I bet he got more than his share of groupies and x- rated mail🎉

[@alexarobinson2850]

Rudy Vallee was NOT a family man 🤣

[@wilburbonzo]

"undeniably good looking"???

[@Chambelona59]

Thankfully Louis Armstrong put an end to this asinine style of singing.

[@StrangeScaryNewEngland]

What do you mean?

[@garrettjeffer4617]

what is your problem?

[@gavinmillar7519]

I think he just wanted to use the word he just learned.

[@flipindisticalpictures33]

He is entitled to his opinion. A lot of people don't appreciate the old styles hence why they have diminished to a mere memory but let us not forget this guy was a proper pop star so all you pop stars of today beware of the future it might not be so kind.

[@johngore7744]

@@flipindisticalpictures33 just like Bowie said in Changes ‘ lol out you Rock n Rollers , pretty soon yer gonna get older ch ch changes. Lol