The Hilltoppers - Essential Classics, Vol. 1124: The Hilltoppers (2025)

American popular music singing group from the 1950's.
Formed in the early 1950's by Jimmy Sacca (lead), Donald McGuire (bass) and Seymour Spiegelman (tenor), three students at Western State College (later known as Western Kentucky University) in Bowling Green, KY, joined later by pianist & 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, which hit #8 U.S. and #3 U.K.

Original trio members were; 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, Seneca Falls, New York – February 13, 1987). The group later added a pianist, Billy Vaughn (April 12, 1919, Glasgow, Kentucky – September 26, 1991). Vaughn eventually became 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 (#7). They went on to record a number of additional hits until their break-up. Their 1953 release, "P.S. I Love You," #4 in the U.S., sold over one million copies, and was awarded a gold disc. Overall, they had twenty-one charted songs in the U.S. and three in the U.K. (two that did both) between 1952-57. "Marianne" in 1957 hit #3 U.S. and #20 U.K. The group continued to tour until 1960 and then packed it in.

Spiegelman died in New York City. Vaughn died in Palomar, California. McGuire and Sacca both died in Lexington, Kentucky.