Frankie Vaughan,real name Frank Fruim Ableson, (1928–1999), popular singer, was born on 3 February 1928 at Liverpool Maternity Hospital, the son of Isaac Ableson, an upholsterer and owned an upholsterer's shop on Lodge Lane and his wife, Leah, née Cossack, was a seamstress. He was the grandson of Russian Jewish immigrants and was later inspired to take the stage name Frankie Vaughan from his maternal grandmother, who referred to him as her ‘number ‘vawn’ grandson. At fourteen he won a scholarship to study at the Lancaster College of Art, and he held a place at Leeds University before being called up to the army towards the end of the Second World War. During his enlistment he sang in a number of camp concerts. Demobbed in 1949, he enrolled at Leeds College of Art as a student teacher. Every year the students presented their own revue at the Empire Theatre, and Frankie, remembering how he had enjoyed his odd spot of singing whilst in the Army, volunteered to take part. So impressed was the manager that it was suggested that he should seek the agent Billy Marsh, who handled newcomers to show business. He sought out Marsh, who was impressed by his voice and booked him for the circuit of northern variety theatres. Vaughan had arrived, and after his first year of touring was earning £150 per week.

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