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.
Never Love a Robin
Bobby Vee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Up in the sky
When it got cold
I watched her fly
Now tears are falling
Since she's gone away
So please believe me
Never love a robin
Cause she'll fly away
Though she says she loves you
She can't stay
First sign of winter
She'll say goodbye
And while she's flying
You'll be crying
Just like me, oh
Never love a robin
She can't change her ways
And your love is numbered
By the days
When autumn leaves start falling
She'll long to fly
And you can't tame her
So don't you blame her
When she says goodbye
Never love a robin
Never love a robin
When autumn leaves start falling
She'll long to fly
And you can't tame her
So don't you blame her
When she says goodbye
The song "Never Love a Robin" by Bobby Vee is about a love that is as fleeting as the flight of a bird. Vee uses the metaphor of a robin, a bird known for its migratory patterns, to describe a woman's inability to commit to a long-term relationship. He claims that her love is like a bird in the sky, beautiful and enchanting, but unable to withstand the harshness of winter.
Vee warns the listener not to fall in love with this type of woman, because she will inevitably fly away when the first sign of winter arrives. He speaks from personal experience, as he reveals that he has already lost this type of love and is now left with nothing but tears. The chorus repeats the message of the song, emphasizing that this type of woman cannot change her ways and that any love given to her is limited by the number of days she is willing to stay.
The song's message is bittersweet, as it acknowledges the beauty of an intense, yet short-lived love. Vee acknowledges that this type of woman is irresistible and that even though he has suffered because of her, he would not hesitate to fall for her again. The song ends with a final warning not to fall for the flighty nature of a robin, but it is clear that love is not always logical or controllable.
Line by Line Meaning
Her love was like a bird
The singer describes the girl's love as something that is free-spirited and can easily come and go, just like a bird.
Up in the sky
The singer emphasizes that the girl's love was not grounded or steady, but rather flying high and out of reach.
When it got cold
The singer implies that when things got difficult or challenging, the girl would withdraw or distance herself from him.
I watched her fly
The artist observed the girl leaving when things became tough, unable to hold on or work things out in the relationship.
Now tears are falling
The artist is experiencing sadness and regret over the girl's departure.
Since she's gone away
The singer is acknowledging that the girl has left and is not coming back.
So please believe me
The singer is asking the listener to trust and take heed of his warning based on his personal experience.
When you hear me say
The artist is emphasizing that his message is important and should not be ignored.
Never love a robin
The artist is using the metaphor of a robin to caution against falling in love with someone who will inevitably leave.
Cause she'll fly away
The artist implies that the girl will eventually depart, just like a robin flies away when the season changes.
Though she says she loves you
The singer acknowledges that the girl may express affection or love, but her true nature will not change.
She can't stay
The artist emphasizes that the girl cannot commit or remain in the relationship, despite any promises or assurances she may give.
First sign of winter
The singer is using a seasonal metaphor to describe a turning point in the relationship where the girl will leave.
She'll say goodbye
The girl will end things with the singer and move on, regardless of the singer's feelings or desires.
And while she's flying
The singer is emphasizing that the girl has already moved on and is leaving him behind, leading to further heartbreak.
You'll be crying
The artist implies that the listener will experience the same sadness and pain he has felt once the girl leaves.
Just like me, oh
The artist relates to the listener by emphasizing that he has been through the same heartbreak and is warning them to avoid it.
She can't change her ways
Despite any promises or assurances, the girl will ultimately follow her nature and leave, unable to change her behavior.
And your love is numbered
The singer is warning that any love or relationship with the girl is limited, only lasting for a short amount of time.
By the days
The artist emphasizes that the relationship is only temporary and will come to an end soon.
When autumn leaves start falling
The artist is using the changing season to emphasize another turning point in the relationship when the girl will leave.
She'll long to fly
The artist is emphasizing that the girl's desire to leave is innate and cannot be denied or controlled.
And you can't tame her
The singer implies that the girl cannot be changed or constrained, and any attempts to do so will be futile.
So don't you blame her
The artist is cautioning against blaming the girl for the inevitable end of the relationship caused by her nature.
When she says goodbye
The singer is emphasizing that the girl will leave and end things, regardless of the singer's wishes or feelings.
Contributed by Violet N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.