The Hilltoppers were an American popular music singing group.
The Hilltoppers | |
|---|---|
 c. 1954 | |
| Background information | |
| Origin | Bowling Green, Kentucky, United States |
| Genres | Traditional pop |
| Years active | 1952–1963[1] |
| Labels | Dot, London |
| Past members | Jimmy Sacca Donald McGuire Seymour Spiegelman Billy Vaughn |
| Website | The Hilltoppers Page |
Career
editOriginally the group was a trio formed at Western Kentucky State College (now Western Kentucky University), Bowling Green, Kentucky. The original members were three students; Jimmy Sacca (born July 26, 1929, Lockport, New York, died March 7, 2015, in Lexington, Kentucky); Donald McGuire (born October 7, 1931, Hazard, Kentucky, died September 7, 2018, in Lexington);[2] and Seymour Spiegelman (October 1, 1930 – February 13, 1987). Spiegelman was born in Seneca Falls, New York and died in New York City. They took their name from the nickname of the Western Kentucky athletic teams.[1]
They later added a pianist, Billy Vaughn (April 12, 1919 – September 26, 1991). Vaughn was born in Glasgow, Kentucky. Vaughn was eventually to become famous in his own right as an orchestra leader.
In 1952, they recorded a song, "Trying", written by Vaughn.[1] A local disc jockey sent a copy to Randy Wood at Dot, and he agreed to distribute the record.[1] It became a top 10 hit single.[1] They went on to record a number of additional hits until their break-up.[1] Their 1953 release, "P.S. I Love You," sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc.[3]
Spiegelman died in New York City. Vaughn died in Escondido, California. Both Sacca and McGuire died in Lexington.[2]
Hit records
edit| Year | Title | Chart positions | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US[4] | CB | UK[5] | ||
| 1952 | "Trying" | 7 | 5 | — |
| 1953 | "Must I Cry Again" | 15 | 22 | — |
| "I Keep Telling Myself" | 26 | 39 | — | |
| "If I Were King" | 22 | 26 | — | |
| "I'd Rather Die Young (Than Grow Old without You)" | 8 | 12 | — | |
| "P.S. I Love You" | 4 | 5 | — | |
| "Love Walked In" | 8 | 11 | — | |
| "To Be Alone" | 8 | 14 | — | |
| 1954 | "'Till Then" | 10 | 7 | — |
| "Alone" (Sacca, solo) | — | 28 | — | |
| "From the Vine Came the Grape" | 8 | 3 | — | |
| "Time Will Tell" | 27 | 38 | — | |
| "Poor Butterfly" | 12 | 14 | — | |
| "Wrapped Up In a Dream" | — | 37 | — | |
| "Sweetheart (Will You Remember" | 24 | 25 | — | |
| "If I Didn't Care" | 17 | 18 | — | |
| "Time Waits for No One" | 25 | 26 | — | |
| 1955 | "D-A-R-L-I-N'" | — | 16 | — |
| "The Door Is Still Open to My Heart" | — | 22 | — | |
| "The Kentuckian Song" | 20 | 22 | — | |
| "Only You (And You Alone)" | 8 | 3 | 3 | |
| "Searching" | 81 | 43 | — | |
| "My Treasure" | 31 | 37 | — | |
| 1956 | "Ka-Ding-Dong" | 38 | 17 | — |
| "Tryin'" | — | — | 30 | |
| 1957 | "Marianne" | 3 | 2 | 20 |
| "I Love My Girl" | 75 | 45 | — | |
| "I'm Serious" | 74 | — | — | |
| "A Fallen Star" | 58 | 24 | — | |
| "The Joker (That's What They Call Me)" | 22 | 20 | — | |
References
edit- ^ a b c d e f Colin Larkin, ed. (1992). The Guinness Encyclopedia of Popular Music (First ed.). Guinness Publishing. p. 1150. ISBN 0-85112-939-0.
- ^ a b Hensley, Steve (8 September 2018). "Hazard native Don McGuire, part of legendary singing group, dies". WYMT-TV. Retrieved 8 September 2018.
- ^ Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 65. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
- ^ Whitburn, Joel (1986). Pop Memories 1890 - 1954 (1st ed.). Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin: Record Research Inc. p. 213. ISBN 0-89820-083-0.
- ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 253. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
Further reading
edit- Jackson, Carlton (2007). P.S. I Love You: The Story of the Singing Hilltoppers. University Press of Kentucky. ISBN 978-0-81317-222-4. - Excerpt on Google Books
External links
edit- The Hilltoppers Page
- Remembering the Hilltoppers on the Western Kentucky University website
- The Interlude Era page on the Hilltoppers
- Department of Library Special Collections, Western Kentucky University