The 1928 German musical revue "Donner Tausend Frauen" introduced "Wenn Der Weisse Flieder Wieder Bluht" (Franz Dolle - Fritz Rotter). Soprano Ruth Jost Arden was first to place the song on vinyl.

Berlin born Helmut Zacharias and His Magic Violins had his initial American hit with "When The White Lilacs Bloom Again" in 1954. The single reached number twelve on Billboard.

Billy Vaughn brought the tune back to Billboard in 1956 when "When The White Lilacs Bloom Again" was released as a non-album single and peaked at number eighteen. Billy had the measles as a youngster and his father encouraged him to learn the mandolin as he convalesced. As he grew older he learned to sing as a member of The Hilltoppers and play the piano, saxophone and other instruments.