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Billy Vaughn Orchestra music biography continued...

trio called the Hilltoppers to sign on to Dot Records as a music director. Vaughn was responsible for most of Dot's biggest hits of the '50s as he rearranged popular rock & roll and R&B songs for white, mainstream groups. His first success was with the Fontane Sisters, who sang with his orchestra on all their singles, including their 1954 breakthrough hit "Hearts of Stone." Vaughn's greatest success would come with Pat Boone, who had a series of hits with Vaughn's cleaned-up arrangements of rock and roll songs. At the same time Vaughn and his Orchestra were recording instrumental albums. Beginning with 1954's "Melody of Love," they had a string of easy listening U.S. hit singles that ran for over a decade, including "Blue Tango," "Michelle" and "Orange Blossom Special." He also recorded numerous hit albums, and saw 36 of his records enter the U.S. album charts between 1958 and 1970. Vaughn was unable to sustain his success into the 70s, but his legacy of making pop accessible to adult audiences still shines bright.