Vaughn Monroe on AllMovie

A major recording star of the 1940s, known as "Old Leather Tonsils," band leader Vaughn Monroe gave the world such standards as "Racing with the Moon," "When the Lights Go on Again (All Over the World)," and "My Devotion." In 1949, he recorded "Riders in the Sky" and someone at Republic Pictures felt he might be Western star material. Monroe had already appeared with his band in 1944's Meet the People and Carnegie Hall (1947) but Singing Guns was crafted as a star vehicle with the rather stolid Monroe as a sort of Wild West Robin Hood. His 1948 hit "Mule Train" was heard on the soundtrack and Republic lavished not only color on the production but also awarded the novice actor such able supporting players as Walter Brennan, Ward Bond and, as his leading lady, the beautiful Ella Raines. This was clearly no B-Western, and neither was The Toughest Man in Arizona (1952), which had Joan Leslie, Victor Jory, Jean Parker, and a youngish Harry Morgan in support. Although a better singer than actor, Monroe nevertheless handled himself well and both films were well directed by R.G. Springsteen, whose no-nonsense approach saved many a humdrum Western. But it was perhaps a little late in the day for the veteran performer to switch careers, and neither film did the expected business. Venturing into the new field of television, Monroe later became a pitchman for RCA Victor.