Bobby Vinton and His Musical Legacy

Back in 1962, Bobby Vinton’s “Roses Are Red” spent four weeks at number one on Billboard’s Hot 100.  Currently, “Roses Are Red” clocks in at #23 on Billboard‘s Top 50 Love Songs of All Time.  In 1963, Vinton’s most famous love ballad “Blue Velvet” was number one for three weeks.  Vinton had many more hits, including “Mr. Lonely” and “There! I’ve Said It Again,” all of which led Billboard to naming him “the all-time most successful love singer of the Rock Era.”

Bobby Vinton was extremely popular in Wisconsin in the 1960s.  In 1965, he performed at our local county fair.  My girlfriend and I were even able to meet him backstage after a grandstand show.

For me, my best memories go back, though, to Anderson Lake where my family’s summer cottage was located.  On weekend evenings, those fishing or those just rowing around on the lake would be serenaded by Bobby Vinton’s two songs “Roses Are Red” and “Blue Velvet.”

On one end of the lake, there was a bar.  (I guess we called it a tavern in those days.)  The tavern used a loudspeaker to project those two songs over and over again across the lake from early evening until dark.  It was really rather strange because, to my recollection, no other music was ever played.  It was just those two songs most weekend evenings in the mid-1960s.

Moving forward to the present day, Bobby Vinton is now 85 years old.  He stopped performing a few years ago after a remarkable career and many honors.  He was granted a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame and received an honorary doctorate in music.

I have to say that whenever I think of Valentine’s Day, I think of those pleasant evenings on the lake in Northeastern Wisconsin and of Bobby Vinton’s musical legacy as the king of love songs.

Happy Valentine’s Day to you and yours!