I met Vaughn in 1950 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. I had
been a devoted fan since the mid 40's as a child. My mother's cousin, John
McMahon, was a politician there. I spent summers staying with John's mother.
John had me come to his house one evening for supper. While we were waiting
for the meal up drives Vaughn on a motorcycle. John had told him about me
and asked him to supper. I thought I'd died and gone to heaven. The time
flew and Vaughn had to leave, but first he invited me to the show that
evening on Steel Pier, free ticket and all.
I didn't have a suit with me or even a sport coat so I wore
my best shirt and pants, and John lent me a tie. The band was already
playing when I arrived and I thought I would just sit around and listen.
There wasn't much of a crowd as I recall, probably under 50 persons, most of
them dancing. Well, he spots me and asks me up on the stage. I guess John
had told him that I did a pretty good imitation so he embarrassed me into
singing with the band. I did "Did You Ever See A Dream Walking" and I don't
know if I did it right or not, I was so nervous. The audience applauded
though! I stayed around the rest of the evening but no more vocals. We did
have a good conversation during the break though. Vaughn was a private pilot
and I was interested in flying too. I got my own license in 1955.
I kept buying his records but didn't see him again until
1956 or 1957 while I was working at a television station in Elmira, New
York. That was our last meeting.
Submitted by: Lou Kohnen
