Dick Bagni on his father's tenure with the band . . .

As I recall, the band started from the nucleus of the Jack Marshard Orchestra in Boston, in 1939, when I was 6 years old. Dad started as the lead Alto saxophonist with Vaughn then. The band went on, (with a few sidemen changes, except for Ziggy and my father until the end of 1955), when Vaughn decided that he wanted to "tone down" his life, so he broke up the big band and went to a much smaller combination until his early death. I was 28 years old when Vaughn passed away.

On his current musical career . . .

The band I work with is the Dick Meldonian NJ Swing Band, and I play Baritone and some Alto with the group. We've been together for 10 years and still attend a weekly (Wednesday) luncheon where a lot of stories are shared and we laugh until our stomachs hurt . . .

On the photograph below . . .

Dad and Vaughn asked me to "sit in" for a couple of numbers. I was on leave from the Navy. Dad's on my right. (Can't identify the tenor man on his right). Not shown on my left would be Ziggy Talent. Behind me (slightly left) is Joe Connie (lead trombone), to his left is Bill Mustard, to his right is Sam Hyster.  Vaughn is standing in the upper left playing Trombone.

Richard Bagni
June 2003

Vaughn Monroe Orchestra at Steel Pier in

Atlantic City, 1952

photo courtesy of Dick Bagni

Ed's daughter remembers the band . . .

My father played with Vaughn, but I personally only met him once that I can clearly remember. That was at the McCormick Place in Chicago sometime in the early sixties. I was quite young at the time. My father passed away 12 years ago, but my mother still has pretty good memories....What I remember my dad saying of those days was that Vaughn was one of the nicest bandleaders with whom he worked. They also had flying in common, as my dad was a pilot, too.

Suzanne Shedosky-Apgar
November 2002

Bill Shedosky on his father's tenure with the band . . .

My father, Ed (Smitty) Shedosky played trumpet with the orchestra before and after WWII. (He was drafted into the Army Air Corps and spent most of the war in Colorado Springs, Colorado.) He rejoined the band after the war and remained into the 1950's. I was 5 years old before I realized "Uncle Vaughn" was not really my uncle! (I was born in 1949.)

Best wishes,

Bill

October 21, 2003

Bill passed away only a few weeks later after suffering a brain hemorrhage while performing in Minnesota.

Ed Shedosky next to orchestra tour bus

Photo courtesy of Tom Shedosky

Benny West, 1941

Benny West, 1963

Photos courtesy of Benny West