Robert Thomas Velline was born in Fargo, North Dakota, in April of 1943. When Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens were killed in that devastating plane crash in Iowa, on the 3rd of February, in 1959 it was Robert, at the age of just fifteen, who was called upon to fill in for Buddy at the tour’s next venue, in Moorhead, Minnesota.
From there this singer, songwriter soon adopted the pseudonym of Bobby Vee and within two years had emerged as an international popstar. The third single he released, under the livery of Liberty Records, was a revival of The Clovers’ ballad, “Devil Or Angel”, from 1956.
http://youtu.be/Pg4aL97Fn8c
However, it was to be his fourth single, “Rubber Ball”, that was to stamp him as an international success. The song was co-written by singer, Gene Pitney, who substituted his mother’s maiden name of Orlowski on the record’s label.
http://youtu.be/zHihhau3j8I
Bobby, between 1959 and 1970, was to enter the American charts with singles which numbered almost forty in total. This was no mean feat when one considers just how highly competitive entrance to the charts was in those days, what with such a stellar array of talent, both ensconced and burgeoning, on hand.
In the wake of “Devil Or Angel” and “Rubber Ball”, in 1960, Bobby’s most popular recordings proved to be “More Than I Can Say”, Take Good Care Of My Baby”, “Run To Him”, “Walkin’ With My Angel” (all from 1961), “Please Don’t Ask About Barbara”, “Sharing You”, “The Night Has A Thousand Eyes” (1962), “Charms” (1963) and “Come Back When You Grow Up” (1967).
http://youtu.be/4v3J2FeUqAA
http://youtu.be/QyOqFVzrMVQ
http://youtu.be/72FUhSvIevM
Across the Atlantic, “More Than I Can Say”, which had only risen to No.61 in his homeland, ascended to No.4. Similarly, “How Many Tears”, in 1961, also performed considerably better in Britain, where it peaked at No.10. In 1962, in Britain, “A Forever Kind Of Love”, reached No.13 and stayed in the chart for nineteen weeks.
http://youtu.be/wkZ6h9Nkk64
http://youtu.be/eRgXHGT6kbM
“Rubber Ball” and “One Last Kiss” (which Bobby shared with Crash Craddock, who had released a simultaneous version) both reached No.1, in Australia, in early 1961, and, in the second half of the year, his revival of the classic, “Baby Face”, from the 1920s, reached No.4 there.
“More Than I Can Say” spent four weeks at No.2, in America, in 1980, when the song was revived by Englishman Leo Sayer. Leo became a naturalised Australian citizen, in 2009.
Bobby Vee has continued to tour into his sixties.
I have included Bobby Vee’s original recording of “More Than I Can Say” on my list of favourite recordings, which is located in the suggested playlists.