This is the column that I was not looking forward to doing. I knew too well that the day to write it would be coming faster than I even wanted to think about.
In 1983, I was producing record shows at various venues across the Midwest. I always tried to make these shows more fun, so I’d invite some great rock and roll stars, if available, to come to the shows and do some autographs. It was through doing this I got to meet so many amazing musicians.
At this time I was into writing and publishing books on Midwest rock and roll history. The most successful book that I had done up until then was my book, “Minnesota Rocked!! The 1960’s.” In that book I had a lot of great information on Bobby Vee, who had recorded in Minneapolis.
When I invited Bobby Vee to sign at one of these shows, he comes walking into the room carrying my latest book. I had never met Bobby before, but he approaches me like a long lost brother and gushed on and on about the book and asked me to sign it for him. That was the start of a friendship that lasted over 30 plus years
Every time I started work on a new book, I’d call Bobby and ask for help. In fact, one of my books “The Midwest Rock Art Collection,” Bobby even wrote the foreword.
I knew when Bobby “retired” from performing in 2011 with the discovery that he had Alzheimer’s disease, the clock would start ticking. The clock finally stopped on Oct. 24, 2016, with the passing of one of our own, a true Midwest real deal rock and roll hero, Mr. Robert Thomas Velline.
While being a true Midwest rock and roll legend, I can say with pride he was for me a great friend. I miss him already.
Some years ago, I created this story on Bobby. I wanted to bring it out of retirement and share it again. It was a story I planned to revisit in 2017 as Bobby was such a huge star at our Hollyhock Ballroom. Who didn’t have a Bobby Vee story that didn’t include Hatfield? I hope you enjoy. Thanks Bobby!!!
I’m sure almost everyone has heard the story on how Bobby Vee stepped in to help fill out the rock and roll show bill at Moorhead, Minn. in 1959 after the tragic plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. What followed after that show with the career of a young Robert Velline, or Bobby Vee as we would all come to know him, was simply amazing.
It is a fascinating story as it relates to how Mr. Robert Velline, a/k/a Bobby Vee, started his musical life in Fargo, N.D. and established what has turned out to be a legendary career in the music business. This story includes many stops and appearances at our own Hollyhock Ballroom.
The story of Bobby Vee begins in the Spring of 1958 when four high school friends got together to form another nameless band in the basement of one of the band members in Fargo, N.D. The group included: brothers Bobby and Bill Velline, Jim Stillman, and Bob Korum.
February of 1959 changed everything for these kids, with the Buddy Holly plane crash. When the story broke in Fargo/Moorhead, it was a shock to all. The local radio station, KFGO, put out the word that if any local bands wanted to appear on the show that Buddy was to have played in Fargo that evening, they should call the station. Jim Stillman did just that, volunteering the unnamed band to open the show at the Moorhead Armory.
As the four guys climbed on stage for the show, MC Charlie Boone turned around and asked, “What’s the name of the band?” Quickly, Bobby answered, “The Shadows,” not having any idea where he got the name. From that minute on, Bobby Vee & The Shadows were born.
From February to June of 1959 it was traveling from date-to-date across the Midwest rural scene, with the band establishing a reputation on the Midwest music scene as the next “big thing.”
Things changed for them in June of 59′ when they would travel to Minneapolis and record their first record at the Kay Bank Recording Studios. It was released on the Soma Records label (Soma 1110) and titled “Suzie Baby/Flyin’ High.”
Once again it was uncommon for a high school band to hit it big in 1959 with a record, but “Suzie Baby” was not just any record. It was a legitimate Midwest hit!
It was just after this recording session they decided they needed a piano player in the band. Soon they tried out a short little fellow, by the name of Elston Gunn.
After a few dates, they felt that Elston was a good piano player, but the style of music they were doing didn’t work as well with a piano, so Elston left the group. If they had only known that Elston Gunn was not his real name, but rather it was Robert Zimmerman, who hailed from Hibbing, Minn. Maybe you know him better under his other stage name Bob Dylan.
By the Summer of 59,” “Suzie Baby” was number #1 on most radio charts in the Midwest. It’s at this time Bobby and the Shadows made one of their many appearances at our legendary Hollyhock Ballroom. In total, Bobby would appear at the Hollyhock a 10 times. That is a testament that the man did business and sold tickets. Plain and simple!
At this time, the regional man for Liberty Records was in Fargo and he saw how hot the record was and sent a copy back to Los Angeles for Liberty to listen to. This was the same time that Liberty Records was working with artists such as Eddie Cochran and Johnny Burnette.
By September of 1959 the record was picked up by Liberty and the next stages for the career of Bobby Vee and The Shadows was about to begin. At this same time, Jim Stillman left the group and was replaced by Dick Dunkirk.
Things really started to click for Bobby and the group. The only problem, as was often the case, the record company had other ideas as to how things should be done.
Often a record company would take one member from a group and “groom” him or her for stardom separate from the rest of the band members. This was the case with Liberty.
They saw Bobby becoming a national chart topper, but this could be done with session musicians from L.A. Thus, the Shadows were not really in Liberty’s plans.
Thus the early years of Bobby Vee and The Shadows was pretty much over by 1962 as it related to the national spotlight. The Shadows all moved back to live in Fargo again. Anytime Bobby was to play the Midwest, The Shadows were the band that he tried to use to play those shows. Later he’d work with another Fargo-based band, the Strangers.
It was a fast, eventful, and an exciting three years for the high school kids from Fargo that were thrust into the national spotlight in a most difficult way, but a way that they turned into a giant rockin’ positive.
Later in life Bobby made his home in rural St. Cloud. He and his sons created a new recording studio in St. Joseph called Rock House Studios.
The statement has been made: “Bobby Vee, the nicest man in rock and roll.” With that I would whole heartily concur. I’d also add he was one of the best entertainers you ever encountered anywhere on the music scene. If you met Bobby once, he would treat you like you were part of the his rock and roll family.
I can’t tell you how many times I’ve seen a “name” act come in, do the job, take the cash, and get out of town as fast as their wheels will go. Not Bobby, the hours he put in prior to and after a show meeting the fans was unbelievable. He was a one of a kind.
Again, I miss him…………………………………..
Until Next Month…..
Take Care & Remember The Music