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Frankie Vaughan was born Frank Abelson on the 3rd of February 1928 in Liverpool. The son of Jewish immigrants, he took the stage name Vaughan from his grandmother whose Russian accent pronouncing the endearment "my little one" sounded like Vaughan. As a child, he was a member of the National Association of Boys' Clubs which he continued to patronise later in life, donating money throughout his life. At the age of 14 he won a scholarship to the Lancaster College of Art and began singing with a dance band although he originally thought of becoming a boxer, indeed much of his army life during World War II was spent boxing in the Royal Army Medical Corps. After the war, he returned to the Leeds College of Art where he won a prize to design a furniture exhibition stand. Travelling down to London, he entered a radio talent show which was the start of his long career in entertainment. Beginning in theatres in variety song and dance acts, always dressing immaculately in a top hat, tails and c...