According to Billboard magazine, he had 38 American Hot 100 chart hits, 10 of which hit the Top 20.
Vee was born in Fargo, North Dakota, to Sydney Ronald Velline and Saima Cecilia Tapanila. His first single, "Suzie Baby," was written by Vee with a nod to Buddy Holly's "Peggy Sue" and recorded for the Minneapolis-based Soma Records in 1959; it drew enough attention and chart action to be purchased by Liberty Records, who signed him later that year. His followup single, a cover of Adam Faith's UK number-one "What Do You Want?", charted in the lower reaches of the Billboard pop chart in early 1960. His fourth release, a revival of the Clovers' doo-wop ballad "Devil or Angel", brought him into the big time with U.S. buyers. His next single, "Rubber Ball", made him an international star.
Vee's 1961 summer release "Take Good Care of My Baby" went to number one on the Billboard U.S. listings and number three in the UK Singles Chart. Known primarily as a performer of Brill Building pop material, he went on to record a string of international hits in the 1960s, including "Devil or Angel" (U.S. number six), "Rubber Ball" (1961, U.S. number six, Australia number one), "More Than I Can Say" (1961, U.K. number four), "Run to Him" (1961, U.S. number two), "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" (1963, U.S. number three), and "Come Back When You Grow Up" (U.S. number three). When Vee recorded "Come Back When You Grow Up" in 1967, he was joined by a band called the Strangers. He also recorded, in 1961, a version of the song "Lollipop", originally by Ronald & Ruby, which also became a success.
Vee was also a pioneer in the music video genre, appearing in several musical films, as well as in the Scopitone series of early film-and-music jukebox recordings.
He received the North Dakota Roughrider Award in 1999.
He is mentioned in the film No Direction Home regarding his brief musical association with Bob Dylan and Dylan's suggestion that he was "Bobby Vee" after Vee's regional hit.
The Very Best of Bobby Vee, released by EMI/UK on May 12, 2008, charted in the UK top five. On January 17, 2011, EMI/UK released Rarities, a double-CD package with 61 tracks, many of which were previously unreleased. Others included were alternate takes and first-time stereo releases as well as tracks from the album Bobby Vee Live on Tour minus the "canned" audience.
On March 28, 2011, he became the 235th inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 2014 he was inducted into the Scandinavian-American Hall of Fame.
Vee's career began amid tragedy. On February 3, 1959, "The Day the Music Died", three of the four headline acts in the lineup of the traveling Winter Dance Party—Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper—were killed, along with the 21-year-old pilot, Roger Peterson, in the crash of a V-tailed 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza airplane (Dion, the second headliner, opted not to travel on the plane). It crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa, en route to the next show on the tour itinerary in Moorhead, Minnesota. Velline, then aged 15, and a hastily assembled band of Fargo schoolboys calling themselves the Shadows volunteered for and were given the unenviable job of filling in for Holly and his band at the Moorhead engagement. Their performance there was a success, setting in motion a chain of events that led to Vee's career as a popular singer.
In 1963, Vee released a tribute album on Liberty Records called I Remember Buddy Holly. In the liner notes, Vee recalled Holly's influence on him and the events surrounding Holly's death:
Like so many other people, I became a Buddy Holly fan the very first time I heard him sing. I've been a fan ever since and I guess I always will be. I remember a few years ago when Buddy was scheduled to appear at a dance in my home town of Fargo, North Dakota. It was going to be a big event for the whole town, but even more so for me. I was anxiously looking forward to seeing Buddy in action.
The day he was to arrive disaster struck, taking Buddy's life, along with the lives of two other fine singers, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. The shocking news spread through Fargo very quickly. The local radio station broadcast a plea for local talent to entertain at the scheduled dance. About a week before this, I had just organized a vocal and instrumental group of five guys. Our style was modelled after Buddy's approach and we had been rehearsing with Buddy's hits in mind. When we heard the radio plea for talent, we went in and volunteered. We hadn't even named the group up to that time, so we gave ourselves a name on the spot, calling ourselves The Shadows. We appeared at the dance and were grateful to be enthusiastically accepted. Soon afterwards, I made my first record. It was called "Suzie Baby" and I was pretty lucky with it; it was a fair-sized hit.
For some time now, I have wanted to make an album in tribute to Buddy, but I wasn't sure it was the proper thing to do. However, during the past year, I have received many requests to do such an album. These requests came not only from my fans and from DJs, but also from Buddy's loyal following---still a large group of devoted fans. It.... gave me the confidence to do the album. From "Suzie Baby" to this present album, I have made many records, but I have never forgotten Buddy Holly and his influence on my singing style and my career.
Vee went on to become a bona fide star and regularly performed at the Winter Dance Party memorial concerts in Clear Lake. His sons are all musicians and have performed with him there.
Early in Vee's career, a musician named Elston Gunnn [sic] briefly toured with the band. "Gunnn", whose birth name was Robert Allen Zimmerman, later went on to fame as Bob Dylan.
Dylan's autobiography, Chronicles, Volume One, mentions Vee and provides complimentary details about their friendship, both professional and personal.
In a concert at Midway Stadium in St. Paul, Minnesota, on July 10, 2013, Dylan said he had been on the stage with many stars, but that none of them were as meaningful as Vee. He said Vee was in the audience and then played Vee's hit "Suzie Baby" with emotion. Dylan said (in an audio recording of the concert),
Thank you everyone, thank you friends. I left here a while back, and since that time, I've played all over the world, with all kinds of people. And everybody from Mick Jagger to Madonna. And everybody in there in between. I've been on the stage with most of those people. But the most meaningful person I've ever been on the stage with, was a man who is here tonight, who used to sing a song called "Suzie Baby". I want to say that Bobby Vee is actually here tonight. Maybe you can show your appreciation with just a round of applause. So, we're gonna try to do this song, like I've done it with him before once or twice.
Vee and Karen Bergen were engaged July 1, 1963, and married December 28, 1963. They had four children: Jeffery Robert Velline (b. Jan 3, 1965), Thomas Paul Velline (b. October 25, 1966), Robert Bryon Velline (b. August 4, 1967), and Jennifer Joanne Velline (b. May 31, 1972). Karen died of kidney failure on August 3, 2015.
On April 29, 2012, Vee announced on his website that a year prior he had been diagnosed with an early stage of Alzheimer's disease and consequently would withdraw from the music business.
On October 24, 2016, Vee died in Rogers, Minnesota, from complications of early onset Alzheimer's disease.
Last Kiss
Bobby Vee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Oh one last kiss, oh baby one last kiss
It never felt like this, oh baby not like this
You know I need your love, oh oh oh give me one last kiss
Oh one more time, oh baby one more time
You made me feel so fine, oh baby so so fine
Darling it isn't right why must we say goodnight
Don't let me go like this
Baby I need you, so what if I have to
Go, just give me one last kiss
Oh one last kiss, oh baby one last kiss
It never felt like this, oh baby not like this
You know I need your love, oh oh oh give me one last kiss
Darling it isn't right why must we say goodnight
Don't let me go like this
Baby I need you, so what if I have to
Go, just give me one last kiss
Oh one last kiss, oh baby one last kiss
It never felt like this, oh baby not like this
You know I need your love, oh oh oh give me one last kiss
Oh oh oh give me one last kiss (just one last kiss)
The lyrics of Bobby Vee's song One Last Kiss depict a lover pleading for one final kiss before parting ways. The first stanza expresses the urgency of the request, emphasizing the intensity of the emotions involved. The chorus repeats the request, reiterating the singer's need for love, and highlighting the fact that this kiss is unlike any other. The second stanza makes a plea not to say goodnight yet, and mentions how the singer needs the other person, even if it means having to leave eventually.
The lyrics of this song are poignant and emotive, emphasizing the themes of love, parting ways, and the bittersweet feelings that come with it. The plea for one last kiss highlights the desperation and longing of the singer, underlining the intensity of the connection with the other person. The lyrics paint a picture of a profound relationship, with a love that both parties are reluctant to let go of.
Overall, One Last Kiss showcases Bobby Vee's skillful musical expression, capturing the feelings and nuances of a universal human experience. The melody and rhythm of the song are catchy and memorable, adding to its timeless appeal.
Line by Line Meaning
One last kiss, one last kiss, give me one last kiss
Bobby Vee pleads for one final kiss from his lover as they prepare to part ways
Oh one last kiss, oh baby one last kiss
Bobby Vee calls out to his lover, asking for one final kiss
It never felt like this, oh baby not like this
Bobby Vee expresses that this feeling is unique and different from previous experiences
You know I need your love, oh oh oh give me one last kiss
Bobby Vee acknowledges his lover's importance in his life and pleads for one final kiss before they part ways
Darling it isn't right why must we say goodnight
Bobby Vee questions why they must separate and part ways at this moment in time
Don't let me go like this
Bobby Vee expresses his desire to be with his lover and not be separated in this manner
Baby I need you, so what if I have to
Bobby Vee expresses his need for his lover and is willing to do whatever it takes to stay with them
Go, just give me one last kiss
Bobby Vee begs for one final kiss before they part ways
Oh one more time, oh baby one more time
Bobby Vee repeats his request for one last kiss from his lover
You made me feel so fine, oh baby so so fine
Bobby Vee reminisces on how his lover made him feel and how special their bond was
Oh oh oh give me one last kiss (just one last kiss)
Bobby Vee repeats his request for one final kiss, emphasizing the urgency of the situation
Lyrics © Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
Written by: Charles Strouse, Lee Adams
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bunjongchueansuwan2499
-Oh one last kiss
Oh ba-by one last kiss
It ne-ver felt like this
Oh ba-by not like this
You know I need your love
Oh Oh Oh
Give me one last kiss.
Oh one more time
Oh ba-by one more time
You make me feel sub-lime
Oh ba-by it's sub-lime
You know I need your love
Oh Oh Oh
Give me one last kiss.
.And dar-ling it is-n't right
Why must we say good-night
Don't let me go like this.
Ba-by I need you so
but if I have to go
just give me one last kiss.
.Oh one last kiss
Oh ba-by one last kiss
It ne-ver felt like this
Oh ba-by not like this
You know I need your love
Oh Oh Oh
Give me one last kiss.
.Dar-ling it is-n't right
Why must we say good-night
Don't let me go like this.
Ba-by I need you so
but if I have to go
just give me one last kiss.
Oh one last kiss
Oh ba-by one last kiss
It ne-ver felt like this
Oh ba-by not like this
You know I need your love
O-h O-h Oh
Give me one last kiss
Oh Oh Oh
Give me one last kiss
@herrera2681
Bobby vee was one the greatest singers that has ever existed in this world.Thank you.Rest in peace Bobby Vee.
@jmrodas9
Bobby Vee had a special style of singing that made him very liked and was very good to hear. He was one of my favorite singers in my teen years and hearing him again I remember so many things of High School.
@louisguerra756
That's because he is trying to sound like Buddy Holly. He is a knockoff version of Holly's voice.
@MiTical_Official
One of my favorite music on the radio when i was a kid and now i love this more. My father also used to love this
@irenetan4763
Lovely joyous song, love very much to listening.
Thank you for singing so beautifully!!
@Benson-S-27
This is my late father's favourite song, he used to turn this song on during my childhood.
@irenetan4763
Beautiful song and music. Love listening to it.
Wonderfully sung!! Thank you!!
@havingagr8time
A perfect pop confection. One of my all time favorites!
@mikelewis4166
tremenda cancion porfavor.
nadie hace musica asi hoy en dia....
@manuelcamposvillarreal6572
My favorite Bobby Vee song, takes me back to the wonderful 60´s.