For those who are younger, Rudy Vallee (1901-1986) was one of the most popular singers of his day. He is remembered as the first crooner, before Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Elvis Presley. A radio star in the 30s, film comedian in the 40s and 50s, Rudy turned to Broadway for success during the 60s.
He was the first radio talk show host. "The Rudy Vallee Show" was one of radio's great sensations, and introduced new talent to its audience. After attending Yale, he put his own band together, the Connecticut Yankees, which featured him on saxophone. One of the band's first gigs was at New York's Heigh-Ho club, where Rudy's trademark salutation, "Heigh-Ho, everybody!" was born.
Patriotism led him to enlist during the First World War, but he was released after just a few months when he was found to be too young to serve in the military. During World War II, he joined the Coast Guard, where he was conductor of their band.
The point of all this introduction was to introduce you to another 'cousin'. Rudy was a direct descendant of Jean de Rainville from St-Thomas De Touques, Diocese Of Lisieux, France. So are we. My grandmother was Eliza Renville (Mom's mother), which is one of the Americanized ways to spell the family name. Rudy's ancestors, the Vallees and the De Rainvilles came from France to Quebec and it was there that a marriage between Michel Vallee and Marie Anne Louise Rainville occurred on October 29, 1731.
Mom probably never knew she was related to Rudy Vallee. If she did, I don't remember her ever mentioning it although she was well aware of what a star he was.
His official website is at: http://www.rudyvallee.com/bio.html
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