Vaughn Meader
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Born Name:
Abbott Vaughn Meader
Born Date: March 20, 1936
Born Place: Waterville, Maine
Died Date: October 29, 2004
Died Place: Auburn, Maine
Occupations: Comedian, impersonator, musician, actor
Brief Biography: Abbott Vaughn Meader was best known for his pitch-perfect impersonation of President John F. Kennedy on the 1962 comedy album The First Family. His sudden, stratospheric rise to fame and subsequent career collapse following the Kennedy assassination remain one of the most famous and tragic arcs in entertainment history.
Early Life & Career Beginnings:
Born in Waterville, Maine, Meader faced a difficult childhood. His father drowned when Meader was an infant, leading him to spend much of his youth in a children's home while his mother worked in Boston. After a difficult upbringing, he ran away to join the U.S. Army, where he played in a band and discovered his knack for comedy and impersonations while stationed in Germany. Following his military service, Meader relocated to New York City and became a regular on the Greenwich Village comedy and piano club scene, eventually dropping his first name to become Vaughn Meader.
The Stratospheric Success of The First Family:
In 1962, producers Bob Booker and Earle Doud were putting together a satirical comedy album poking fun at the Kennedy administration, and they cast Meader to play the President.
Record Breaking: Released in late 1962, The First Family sold millions of copies. It became the fastest-selling record in history at the time, shifting over 7 million copies.
Award Winning: The record won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Comedy Performance in 1963.
Pop Culture Impact: Meader became a household name, making frequent television appearances and even being cited as the "second most famous man in America".
The Tragic End of an Era:
Meader’s unprecedented success ground to a violent halt on November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Overnight, a satirical album about the living President became a painful reminder of the nation's trauma. Record stores pulled the album from shelves, gigs were canceled, and Meader's career evaporated instantly. Famous comedian Lenny Bruce famously noted the tragedy with the opening line of his post-assassination act: "Boy, is Vaughn Meader screwed."
Life After Fame & Later Years:
Unable to shed the shadow of JFK, Meader’s post-1963 career struggled to gain traction: He drifted to the West Coast, immersing himself in the 1970s counterculture and even giving away his Grammy award. In 1971, he released a new comedy album, The Second Coming, where he spoofed Jesus Christ Superstar, but it flopped and was considered sacrilegious by many radio stations. He dabbled in the country music scene, playing piano and forming bands in Kentucky and his native Maine under his birth name, Abbott Meader. He also made a few sporadic acting appearances, including a role in the 1976 film Linda Lovelace for President.
Born Date: March 20, 1936
Born Place: Waterville, Maine
Died Date: October 29, 2004
Died Place: Auburn, Maine
Occupations: Comedian, impersonator, musician, actor
Brief Biography: Abbott Vaughn Meader was best known for his pitch-perfect impersonation of President John F. Kennedy on the 1962 comedy album The First Family. His sudden, stratospheric rise to fame and subsequent career collapse following the Kennedy assassination remain one of the most famous and tragic arcs in entertainment history.
Early Life & Career Beginnings:
Born in Waterville, Maine, Meader faced a difficult childhood. His father drowned when Meader was an infant, leading him to spend much of his youth in a children's home while his mother worked in Boston. After a difficult upbringing, he ran away to join the U.S. Army, where he played in a band and discovered his knack for comedy and impersonations while stationed in Germany. Following his military service, Meader relocated to New York City and became a regular on the Greenwich Village comedy and piano club scene, eventually dropping his first name to become Vaughn Meader.
The Stratospheric Success of The First Family:
In 1962, producers Bob Booker and Earle Doud were putting together a satirical comedy album poking fun at the Kennedy administration, and they cast Meader to play the President.
Record Breaking: Released in late 1962, The First Family sold millions of copies. It became the fastest-selling record in history at the time, shifting over 7 million copies.
Award Winning: The record won the Grammy Award for Album of the Year and Best Comedy Performance in 1963.
Pop Culture Impact: Meader became a household name, making frequent television appearances and even being cited as the "second most famous man in America".
The Tragic End of an Era:
Meader’s unprecedented success ground to a violent halt on November 22, 1963, the day President Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas. Overnight, a satirical album about the living President became a painful reminder of the nation's trauma. Record stores pulled the album from shelves, gigs were canceled, and Meader's career evaporated instantly. Famous comedian Lenny Bruce famously noted the tragedy with the opening line of his post-assassination act: "Boy, is Vaughn Meader screwed."
Life After Fame & Later Years:
Unable to shed the shadow of JFK, Meader’s post-1963 career struggled to gain traction: He drifted to the West Coast, immersing himself in the 1970s counterculture and even giving away his Grammy award. In 1971, he released a new comedy album, The Second Coming, where he spoofed Jesus Christ Superstar, but it flopped and was considered sacrilegious by many radio stations. He dabbled in the country music scene, playing piano and forming bands in Kentucky and his native Maine under his birth name, Abbott Meader. He also made a few sporadic acting appearances, including a role in the 1976 film Linda Lovelace for President.