Vaughn De Leath

about

Vaughn De Leath (September 26, 1894 – May 28, 1943) was an American female singer who gained popularity in the 1920s, earning the sobriquets "The Original Radio Girl" and "First Lady of Radio." Although popular in the 1920s, De Leath is little known today. De Leath was an early exponent of a style of vocalizing known as crooning. She was born as Leonore Vonderlieth in the town of Mount Pulaski, Illinois in 1894. Her parents were George and Catherine Vonderlieth. At age 12, Leonore relocated to Los Angeles with her mother and sister, where she finished high school and studied music. While at Mills College, she began writing songs, but dropped out to pursue a singing career. She then adopted the stage name "Vaughn De Leath." Her vocals ranged from soprano to deep contralto. De Leath adapted to the emerging, less restrictive jazz vocal style of the late 1910s and early 1920s. In January 1920, the inventor and radio pioneer Lee DeForest, brought her to his studio in New York City's World Tower, where De Leath sang "Swanee River" in a cramped room. Most radio listeners at the time were only equipped with crystal radio, which limited audio fidelity. This performance is sometimes cited as the first live singing broadcast (although this is disputed by some historians). According to some historical accounts of this incident, having been advised that high notes sung in her natural soprano might shatter the fragile vacuum tubes of her carbon microphone's amplifier, De Leath switched

top songs

albums

Dancing The Devil Away

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The Roaring 20's

Vaughn de Leath Original Recordings 1925-1929

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1920's Jazz Radio Vocals (Encore 1 Edison) [Recorded 1926-1927]

The Original Radio Girl, Vol. 4 (1920's Jazz Vocals) [Recorded 1927-1931]

Vaughn De Leath: The Radio Girl 1921-1929

The Original Radio Girl, Vol. 1 (1920's Jazz Vocals) [Recorded 1924-1927]

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The Naughty 1920s: Red Hot & Risque Songs of the Jazz Age, Vol. 2

Button Up Your Overcoat

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Odd Numbers Of The 1920's

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Wonderful Nonsense : Fun Songs of The Roaring Twenties

Vaughn De Leath

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