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.
Swell Little Sixteen
Bobby Vee Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Pittsburgh, P. A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way down in New Orleans
All the guys wanna dance with
Sweet little sixteen
Sweet little sixteen
She's just got to have
'Bout a half a million
Famed autographs
Her wallet filled with pictures
She gets 'em one by one
Becomes so excited
Watch and look at her run, boy
Whoa mommy, mommy
Please may I go
It's such a sight to see
Somebody steal the show
Whoa daddy, daddy
I beg of you
Whisper to mommy
It's all right with you
'Cause they'll be rockin' on bandstand
Philadelphia, P.A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
And down in New Orleans
All the guys wanna dance with
Sweet little sixteen
They're really rockin Boston
Pittsburgh, P. A.
Deep in the heart of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
All over St. Louis
Way down in New Orleans
All the guys wanna dance with
Sweet little sixteen
The song "Sweet Little Sixteen" by Bobby Vee is a classic rock and roll anthem that captures the youthful energy and excitement of the genre. The song's lyrics describe a young girl who is the center of attention wherever she goes, with guys from all over the country vying for her affection. The song mentions various cities where people gather and dance to rock and roll music such as Boston, Pittsburgh, P.A., New Orleans, St. Louis, Texas, and Frisco Bay.
The lyrics portray the girl as having great popularity and desirability, with a wallet full of autographed pictures and men trying to win her over wherever she goes. The chorus repeats the phrase "Sweet Little Sixteen" which reinforces the idea of the girl's youth and innocence, while the entire song is a tribute to the burgeoning rock and roll culture that was taking over the country at the time.
Overall, the song is a celebration of the excitement and energy that rock and roll music and youth culture brought to America in the mid-20th century. Its catchy melody and upbeat rhythm make it a classic tune that has stood the test of time and continues to be enjoyed by music lovers of all ages.
Line by Line Meaning
They're really rockin Boston
The people in Boston are enjoying rock and roll music
Pittsburgh, P. A.
The city of Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania
Deep in the heart of Texas
In the southern state of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
Around the San Francisco Bay
All over St. Louis
The city of St. Louis is full of rock and roll music
Way down in New Orleans
In the southern city of New Orleans
All the guys wanna dance with
All the men want to dance with
Sweet little sixteen
A young girl who is sixteen years old and very attractive
She's just got to have
She wants to have
'Bout a half a million
Around five hundred thousand
Famed autographs
Autographs from famous people
Her wallet filled with pictures
Her wallet is full of pictures
She gets 'em one by one
She collects the pictures one at a time
Becomes so excited
She gets very thrilled
Watch and look at her run, boy
Watch as she runs in excitement
Whoa mommy, mommy
An expression of amazement towards her mother
Please may I go
Can I please go
It's such a sight to see
It's very exciting to watch
Somebody steal the show
Someone who is very impressive and takes attention away from others
Whoa daddy, daddy
An expression of amazement towards her father
I beg of you
I plead with you
Whisper to mommy
Tell mom secretly
It's all right with you
If you agree, it's okay with me
'Cause they'll be rockin' on bandstand
Because they will be performing on the TV show Bandstand
Philadelphia, P.A.
The city of Philadelphia in the state of Pennsylvania
All the guys wanna dance with
All the men want to dance with
Sweet little sixteen
A young girl who is sixteen years old and very attractive
They're really rockin Boston
The people in Boston are enjoying rock and roll music
Pittsburgh, P. A.
The city of Pittsburgh in the state of Pennsylvania
Deep in the heart of Texas
In the southern state of Texas
And 'round the Frisco Bay
Around the San Francisco Bay
All over St. Louis
The city of St. Louis is full of rock and roll music
Way down in New Orleans
In the southern city of New Orleans
All the guys wanna dance with
All the men want to dance with
Sweet little sixteen
A young girl who is sixteen years old and very attractive
Lyrics © ENTERTAINMENT ONE U.S. LP
Written by: Chuck Berry
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
George May
Her first top 40 recording , and in my opinion , her best . What a legend .
MIKECNW
Amazing how these rarities can be so much better than that person's or groups' other stuff.
harryl5
such a strong sweet voice..a classic
Jojoseahorse
Songs were so simple and beautiful back then :)
David Barney
Carol has given the world so much to enjoy. So many good memories. God love you Carol.
patrick ryan
God this song reminds me so much of our country home and all those wonderful summer days (even the rainy ones). The early 60's would seem unbelievable to today's youth. 3/2017
ausfan100
Carole's actual demo was very basic according to Bobby Vee, nothing like the finished version featured here - basically just piano backing. Vee recorded his version at the same session as "Punish Her" on 20 June 1962, but Snuff Garrett didn't think much of it and left it in the can until it was used as an album track on the "Thousand Eyes' LP the following year. After Liberty sat on the song, Don Kirshner overdubbed Carole's demo with an orchestra and backing singers and issued it on his Dimension label for commercial release and it became a hit. Great record!
ausfan100
Bobby Vee told me the actual demo from Carole had NO ORCHESTRA. After Liberty withheld Vee's own recording (his was done at the same session as "Punish Her" on 20 June 1962), Don Kirshner added overdubs, including strings for Carole's Dimension single release. So the often published claim that her record was a demo only, is not strictly true. Demos were always basic only - it was simply cost-prohibitive to hire a full orchestra for a song which was only ever intended as a demo.
MIKECNW
Thanks for the info.
Karen Stickney
This is the way I feel because of the constant snowstorms. It might as well snow until April.