Band, *1952 US
Pop
The Hilltoppers were an American popular music singing group. Formed in the early 1950's by Jimmy Sacca, Donald McGuire and Seymour Spiegelman, three students at Western State College (later Western Kentucky University) in Bowling Green, KY., joined later by pianist and songwriter Billy Vaughn. The group's name comes from the school's athletic teams' nickname, which comes from the fact that the university is situated on a big hill. Their biggest hit was "Only You (And You Alone)" in 1955. Originally 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, Kentucky); and Seymour Spiegelman (October 1, 1930 – February 13, 1987). Spiegelman was born in Seneca Falls, New York. They took their name from the nickname of the Western Kentucky athletic teams. 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. A local disc jockey sent a copy to Randy Wood at Dot, and he agreed to distribute the record. It became a Top 10 hit single. They went on to record a number of additional hits until their break-up. Their 1953 release, "P.S. I Love You," sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Spiegelman died in New York City. Vaughn died in Palomar, California. McGuire died in Lexington, Kentucky.
Billy Vaughn sax 1919-1991 US | |
Jimmy Sacca voc 1929-2015 US | |
Donald McGuire 1931-2018 | |
Seymour Spiegelman | |
Eddie Crowe |
Track list and 30sec audio provided by
Title | Artist | Year | Type |
---|---|---|---|
The Hilltoppers | The Hilltoppers | 2017 | Compil. |
Singles Collection 1952-58 | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 2017 | Compil. |
Trying | The Hilltoppers | 2007 | Compil. |
30 Greatest Hits | The Hilltoppers | 2003 | Compil. |
P.S. I Love You - The Best Of The Hilltoppers | The Hilltoppers | 1994 | Compil. |
Sunshine And Love/Jamaica Farewell | Jimmy Sacca And The Hilltoppers | 1973 | Single |
Little Things You Do | Jimmy Sacca And The Hilltoppers | 1973 | Single |
The Hurt | The Hilltoppers | 1967 | Single |
Only You (And You Alone) / Till Then | The Hilltoppers | 1960 | Single |
Marianne / To Be Alone | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca With Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra | 1960 | Single |
From The Vine Came The Grape / Love Walked In | The Hilltoppers | 1960 | Single |
To Be Alone / P.S. I Love You | The Hilltoppers | 1960 | Single |
Lizzie Darlin' / Lots Of Luck | The Hilltoppers | 1959 | Single |
The Prisoner's Song / Alone | The Hilltoppers | 1959 | Single |
Trying / P.S. I Love You | The Hilltoppers | 1959 | Single |
I'd Rather Die Young / Welcome To My Heart | The Hilltoppers | 1959 | Single |
You Sure Look Good To Me / Starry Eyes | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1958 | Single |
Love In Bloom | The Hilltoppers | 1958 | Album |
Trying / You're Nobody Til Somebody Loves You | The Hilltoppers | 1958 | Single |
The Joker (That's What They Call Me) | The Hilltoppers | 1957 | Single |
The Hilltoppers - Volume 3 | The Hilltoppers | 1957 | Single |
London Hit Parade No.1 | Tab Hunter / The Hilltoppers / Pat Boone / The Fontane Sisters | 1957 | Compil. |
A Fallen Star / Footsteps | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1957 | Single |
Calypso | The Fontane Sisters / The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca With Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra / Anna Valentino | 1957 | Single |
I'm Serious | The Hilltoppers | 1957 | Single |
The Towering Hilltoppers | The Hilltoppers Featuring The Voice Of Jimmy Sacca | 1957 | Album |
Marianne / You're Wasting Your Time | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca With Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra | 1957 | Single |
Marianne | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca With Billy Vaughn And His Orchestra | 1957 | Single |
Dedicated To You / My Cabin Of Dreams | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1957 | Single |
Eyes Of Fire, Lips Of Wine / I'm Walking Through Heaven | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1956 | Single |
So Tired / Faded Rose | The Hilltoppers | 1956 | Single |
Ka-Ding-Dong / Into Each Life Some Rain Must Fall | The Hilltoppers | 1956 | Single |
Do The Bop | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1956 | Single |
No Regrets / Until You're Mine | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1956 | Single |
Only You (And You Alone) | The Hilltoppers | 1955 | Single |
All I Need Is You / Searching | The Hilltoppers | 1955 | Album |
The Last Word In Love | The Hilltoppers | 1955 | Single |
Darlin' / Frivolette | The Hilltoppers | 1955 | Album |
The Door Is Still Open / Tear Drops From My Eyes | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1955 | Single |
The Kentuckian Song | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1955 | Single |
If I Didn't Care / Bettina | The Hilltoppers | 1954 | Single |
Poor Butterfly | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1954 | Album |
You Try Somebody Else | The Hilltoppers | 1954 | Single |
I Found Your Letter / Till Then | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1954 | Album |
Sweetheart (Will You Remember) / The Old Cabaret | The Hilltoppers | 1954 | Album |
Love Walked In / To Be Alone | The Hilltoppers | 1953 | Single |
For Keeps | The Hilltoppers | 1953 | Single |
You Made Up My Mind | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1953 | Single |
I'd Rather Die Young (Than Grow Old Without You) / P.S. I Love You | The Hilltoppers | 1953 | Album |
Time Will Tell / From The Vine Came The Grape | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1953 | Single |
If I Were King / I Can't Lie To Myself | The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca | 1953 | Single |
Sing | The Hilltoppers | 1953 | Single |
Trying / You Made Up My Mind | The Hilltoppers | 1952 | Single |
She Taught Me How To Yodel / Honey Darlin' | The Hilltoppers | 1952 | Album |
I Keep Telling Myself / Must I Cry Again | The Hilltoppers | 1952 | Single |
Tops In Pops | The Hilltoppers | Album | |
All These Things / The World Outside | The Hilltoppers | Single | |
Sweetheart / Bettina | The Hilltoppers | Album | |
Trying / Darlin' | The Hilltoppers | Single | |
Banana Boat Song / Marianne | The Fontane Sisters / The Hilltoppers | Single | |
The Hilltoppers Sing Their Million Sellers | The Hilltoppers featuring Jimmy Sacca | Compil. | |
The Hilltoppers Sing | The Hilltoppers | Single | |
The Hilltoppers Sing | The Hilltoppers | Single | |
P. S. I Love You / Stranger In Paradise | The Hilltoppers / The Four Aces | Single | |
Time Will Tell | The Hilltoppers | Single | |
Till Then / Time Will Tell | The Hilltoppers, Jimmy Sacca | Album |
The Hilltoppers Featuring Jimmy Sacca Band |