Vaughn Meader

Abbott Vaughn Meader March 20 1936 October 29 2004 was an American comedian impersonator musician and film actor Meader began his career as a musician but later found fame in the early 1960s after the release of the 1962 comedy record The First Family written and produced by Bob Booker and Earle Doud The album spoofed President John F Kennedy who was played by Meader and became the fastest selling preBeatles album in history and went on to win the Grammy Award for Album of the Year in 1963 At the peak of his popularity he performed his Kennedy impersonation on television variety shows and in nightclubs around the country and was profiled in several magazines and newspapers Meaders career success came to an abrupt end after President Kennedys assassination on November 22 1963 Meaders TV and nightclub bookings were all canceled Producer Bob Booker quickly pulled The First Family records from stores so as not to appear to be profiting from the deceased President Meader attempted to take his career in a different direction by performing nonKennedyrelated comedy and released a new comedy album Have Some Nuts in early 1964 However sales for the album were low as public interest in Meader had waned His career never rebounded as he was too closely associated with President Kennedy Meader eventually returned to his native Maine where he resumed performing music and managed a pub