Central Minnesota’s Bobby Vee says Joetown Rocks performance will be his last major appearance

By Kristi Anderson
For The Visitor

Whether you’ve heard his tunes on the radio, seen him on TV or attended a live performance, you have likely experienced the musical phenomenon that is Bobby Vee.

With songs like “Take Good Care of My Baby” and “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes,” the former teen sensation has had 38 “Top 100 Hits,” seven gold records and an illustrious career spanning more than 50 years.

Today, Vee, a dedicated Catholic, is preparing for what’s being billed as his last major appearance before sampling “retirement living.” He will perform at 8:45 p.m., July 3 as part of Joetown Rocks, the combined festival of the city of St. Joseph and St. Joseph Parish. The concert is free.

Though Vee, 69, assiduously earned his celebrity status, his break in the music industry came in 1959.

“I didn’t seek out my career. Music chose me when I was 15 years old,” recalled the Fargo, N.D. native. “As I think back, it feels like some sort of strange fate that landed me on a stage Feb. 3, 1959, in Moorhead, Minn., filling in for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the ‘Big Bopper’ [J.P. Richardson] after the tragic plane crash in Iowa that took their lives and stunned the world.  At the time, I could not comprehend anything that had happened. We all just did what we could and suddenly I was in Hollywood, in the music business.

“There is most certainly a spiritual-faith dimension around how I got into the business and it has been there all along,” Vee said. “I have been able to do what I love all my life and I’m grateful for that. I do not take it for granted.

“I believe there is something spiritual in what we do with our music and performance; however, you have to pay attention to notice,” he added. “This can probably be true of most any job or vocation. It is all about how you do it, about being present to where you are, what you are doing and who you are sharing the experience with.”

Coming to Minnesota

Vee attributes his spirituality to his mother and his wife, Karen.

“I actually grew up Lutheran and our faith was very important to my mother who instilled this in me and my brothers,” Vee said. “But it was really about faith, not denomination. When I met Karen, who was Catholic, I was drawn to her faith and the structure of the Catholic Church that was so apparent in her family.”

Vee converted to Catholicism and married Karen in 1963 at her home parish in Detroit Lakes with Benedictine Father Eugene McGlothlin presiding.

The Vees settled in central Minnesota in 1981, with their four children: Tommy, Robby, Jennifer and Jeff, all of whom attended Cathedral High School in St. Cloud.

“Our children’s entire education was in Catholic schools, beginning in Los Angeles,” Vee said. “When we moved to St. Cloud, it was not a question that we would continue to educate our children in the Catholic tradition.”

And when it came time to settle on a home parish, the Vees were pleased to once again cross paths with Father McGlothlin.

“For several years, we attended services at the Abbey Church on St. John’s University campus. We eventually were drawn to St. John the Baptist in Collegeville where Father Eugene was the pastor,” Vee recalled.

“He married our son, Jeff, and his wife, Cindy, in 2004. Father Eugene was a thread that ran through our spiritual and family life story. Since Father Eugene’s retirement, Father Jerome Tupa has facilitated a magically seamless transition with great inspiration. We very much enjoy the energy of this parish community.”

Sharing their gifts 

With their devout commitment, it’s not surprising that the Vees used their God-given talents to help raise funds for Cathedral High School with the Rockin’ Around the Clock concert event that lasted 24 years and raised over $1 million. Though the event ended in 2004, the Vees again put their talents to use again in 2006, when the parish in St. Joseph combined its festival with the city’s annual celebration, Joetown Rocks.

“We did Rockin’ Around the Clock for 24 years. We never thought it would last that long. And, in a million years we did not think we could ever duplicate it,” Vee said. “Joetown Rocks has been a thrill. In both cases, the community has everything to do with the success.  By the second year of Joetown Rocks, it pretty much drove itself — thanks to so many wonderful folks.”

Vee has announced that this year’s Joetown Rocks will be his last major performance. “I’ve been all over the world many times but this is my home and I love performing here, so it is only natural to celebrate here,” he said. “The atmosphere can’t be beat: families on lawn chairs, kids dancing and friends coming together.

“We have called our show ‘Family & Friends’ and it truly is,” Vee said. “Many wonderful St. Cloud area musicians have played in the show over the years in addition, of course, to my sons.

“The focus will certainly be on family as my sons will be performing with me, along with grandsons, in-laws and friends. Several great area bands will be on the bill that night as well,” he added. “We hope that everyone knows how very grateful we are as a family for all of the support so many have shown for what we do.”

Ffor the full schedule of Joetown Rocks, visit www.joetownrocks.org.

Bobby Vee reflects on Midwest roots, power of music 

By Kristi Anderson
For The Visitor

Originally from Fargo, N.D., Bobby Vee’s Minnesota roots run deep. He and his wife, Karen, a retired therapist, have a home on Watab Lake near Avon. In addition, their four children have also made Minnesota their home.

“Over all of my thousands of miles and hundreds of shows it is a rare night that we do not refer to our Midwest roots and more specifically, Minnesota roots. When we say ‘Minnesota,’ we mean St. Cloud,” said Vee.

Two of Vee’s sons, Tommy and Jeff, and their families live in the St. Cloud area and run Rockhouse Productions, located in St. Joseph. The recording and multimedia studio produces events across the country.

Another of Vee’s sons, Robby, lives in Prior Lake, Minn., and has his own band recording and touring the country, and when he can, works with his father and brothers.

Vee’s daughter, Jennifer, lives near Buffalo, Minn., and is a graphic designer. Her husband is a musician as well as a film producer.

The Vees have a second home in Tucson, Ariz.

“We recently built an adobe home at the foothills of the Catalina Mountains,” Vee said. “Karen and Jennifer have their horses there and the merging of music and family in a beautiful place like that is inspiring.

“I have always painted and hope to do much more of this,” Vee added. “Jennifer, who is an artist as well, helped me make a little space for an art studio above our garage on Watab Lake. Also, we bought an RV a few years ago and I hope to hop in there with the family when we can and truck on down the road where the only gig is a campfire under the northern Minnesota stars.”

All four of the couple’s children recently worked on a project with their father in their Tucson garage. Vee said, “Before long you will hear a CD from those adobe sessions. There may even be a few sneak previews on July 3.”

More than fame

Over the years, Vee has heard countless stories of what his music has meant to people, how it carried them through a tough time, or how it brought them back to when they were dating their spouse.

“I’ve heard stories from Vietnam veterans to little kids,” he said. “I believe everyone has a ‘soundtrack’ to their life that is firmly attached to memories, good and not so good. I think that the importance of these memories and experiences cannot be underestimated.”

“These days with the Internet these stories come from all over the world,” Vee said. “We just sent a care package to a small city in Russia where they had started a ‘Bobby Vee’ fan club, 14 members strong. We correspond with a 22-year-old boy from Israel who said the music helped him get through some very hard times with his family and health.

“We hear from folks across Europe, Australia, South America, Asia and, of course, from all over the USA,” he added. “This to me is amazing and something I never could have imagined would happen starting out. It is not about my experience, it is about theirs and it is often very touching stuff.”

Vee feels honored that his music has been a source of inspiration for people. “Hearing these stories night after night from people who attend our shows has always been one of the most meaningful aspects of the job,” he said. “Many a night we’ve driven off down the road talking about this person or that person and the story they told. I have been truly blessed. It has been a wonderful ride and I wouldn’t change a thing.”

Through all of his experiences, Vee said he remains a humble steward of his gifts.

“I just live my life. I do what I do and try to treat people well. It is not a challenge; it is a way of life,” he said. “I believe goodness is infectious. What I do on stage with my family and my band is simply to spread joy by creating something we hope is a little contagious. Very simple really: have fun and reconnect people with their special memories, which I believe music can do like no single other thing.”