Bobby Vinton

Not to be confused withBobby Vee.

Stanley Robert Vinton(born April 16, 1935) is an American singer, celebrity, and actor, who hosted his own self-titled TV show in the late 1970s. As ateen idol,he became known as "The Polish Prince", as his music paid tribute to his Polish heritage. One of his most popular songs is "Blue Velvet"(a cover of the 1951 song recorded byTony Bennett) which reached No. 1 on theBillboardHot 100in 1963, No. 1 in Canada (5 weeks), and number 2 in the UK in 1990.

Bobby Vinton
Vinton in 1964
Background information
Birth name	Stanley Robert Vinton
Born	(1935-04-16)April 16, 1935 Canonsburg, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Genres	Pop,lounge
Occupation(s)	Singer actor
Years active	1958–2015
Labels	Bobby Records Alpine records Epic ABC Ahed Tapestry Curb
Website	bobbyvinton

Early life

Vinton was born inCanonsburg, Pennsylvania,the only child of locally popularbandleaderStan Vinton and Dorothy Studzinski Vinton.He is of Polish and Lithuanian descent. The family surname was originally Vintula, and was changed by Vinton's father.Vinton's parents encouraged their son's interest in music by giving him his daily 25-cent allowance after he had practiced the clarinet.

At 16, Vinton formed his firstband,which played clubs around thePittsburgharea. With the money he earned, he helped finance his college education atDuquesne University,where he graduated with a degree in musical composition.While at Duquesne, he became proficient on all of theinstrumentsin the band:piano,clarinet,saxophone,trumpet,drums,andoboe.When Vinton became an active musician, it was common for people to become confused with the bands of father and son, for both were named Stanley. Vinton's father suggested his son use his middle name of Robert professionally to clear up the confusion.

Vinton's birthplace of Canonsburg, Pennsylvania, is also the birthplace ofPerry Como,Vinton's hometown named two streets, Bobby Vinton Boulevard and the shorter adjoining Bobby Vinton Drive, in his honor. These streets were built in the late 1970s; prior attempts to name a residential street after him failed. The residents had not cared for the singer always claiming Pittsburgh as his home town on TV interviews. Como always claimed Canonsburg as his hometown, so hundreds of people changed their address when the town renamed a street in the east end after Perry Como. The Canonsburg town fathers had plans to erect a statue in Vinton's honour, but Vinton himself vetoed the idea, noting that the $100,000 planned cost could go to far more important town needs.

Career

1950s

According to his autobiography, Bobby was inspired to record his music by theElvis PresleymovieJailhouse Rock.He formed his own record label, Bobby Records, in October 1958. His first release was "Twilight Time", backed with "Hallelujah". Bobby sang on the B-side of the 45 rpm release, making this his first commercially released vocal recording. This record did not chart. In March 1959, Bobby recorded for the Melody label out of Philadelphia, listed as "Bobby Vinton and his Orchestra" for the first time. His release of "Harlem Nocturne", backed with "Always in My Heart" with a vocal by Bobby, attracted attention in Pennsylvania. His 'young man with a big band' style was established here, and "Always In My Heart" would be a song he would return to. In August 1959, Bobby moved to another larger record company, Alpine Records. He released two self-written singles for Alpine, the first being "You'll Never Forget" backed by "First Impression". The second Alpine release was "A Freshman and a Sophomore", backed with the self-written "The Sheik"; this was released in February 1960. Both Alpine releases garneredBillboardmagazine mentions.

1960s

Billboardadvertisement, September 14 1963

After two years of service in theUnited States Army,in which he served as a chaplain's assistant, Vinton was signed toEpic Recordsin 1960 as a bandleader: "A Young Man With a Big Band". The break for the Epic Records contract had come after Vinton and his band appeared onGuy Lombardo'sTV Talent Scoutsprogram.Since March 20, 1961, his released three singles. Titled "Posin'" "Little lonely one" and "Well I ask ya",these records were his vocal recordings, and the flip sides were credited to "Bobby Vinton And His Orchestra". Despite the big label backing, the three singles were not successful, and two albums,Bobby Vinton Dancing At The HopandBobby Vinton Plays for his Lil Darlin'sdid not sell well. With Epic ready to drop him from its roster, Vinton found the material for his first hit single literally sitting in a reject pile.The song was titled "Roses Are Red (My Love)".Vinton had to do his own promotion for the song; he bought one thousand copies and hired a young woman to deliver a copy of the record and a dozen red roses to every local DJ.It spent four weeks atnumber oneon theBillboardHot 100.The song was also a hit on the Country and R&B charts. The success of the song pushed Epic to renew Vinton's contract and change his status from bandleader to solo singer.

Arguably, Vinton's most famous song is 1963's "Blue Velvet",originally a minor hit forTony Bennettin 1951, that also spent three weeks at the number one positions inBillboard,Cash Box,andRecord Worldmagazines. In 1986, 23 years later,David Lynchnamed his movieBlue Velvetafter the song.In 1990, "Blue Velvet" reached number 2 on theUK Singles Chart,after being featured in aNiveacommercial. The 1990 reissue also hit number 3 in the Irish Singles Chart and number 7 in Australia.

In 1964, Vinton had two number 1 hits, "There! I've Said It Again"(a number 1 hit in 1945 forVaughn Monroe) in January and "Mr. Lonely"in December. Vinton's version of" There! I've Said It Again "is noteworthy for being the last U.S.Billboardnumber-one single of the pre-Beatlesera, deposed from the Hot 100 summit by "I Want to Hold Your Hand".Also noteworthy is the fact that Vinton continued to have big hit records during theBritish Invasion,scoring 16 top-ten hits, whileConnie Francis,Ricky Nelson,the Shirelles,and other major artists of the early 1960s struggled to reach even the Top 40.

Vinton performing onThe Ed Sullivan Showin 1969

Vinton wrote and composed "Mr. Lonely" during his chaplain's assistant service in the U.S. Army in the late 1950s. The song was recorded during the same 1962 session that produced "Roses Are Red (My Love)",and the two songs launched Vinton's singing career. It was released as an album track on the 1962Roses Are Red(and other songs for the young & sentimental)LP. Despite pressure from Vinton to release it as a single, Epic instead hadBuddy Grecorelease it and it flopped. Two years and millions of records sold later, Bobby prevailed on Epic to include "Mr. Lonely" on hisBobby Vinton's Greatest HitsLP. Soon DJs picked up on the song and airplay resulted in demand for a single release. "Mr. Lonely" shot up the charts in the late fall of 1964 to reach number 1 on the Hot 100 on December 12, 1964. Epic then released the LPBobby Vinton Mr. Lonely,giving the song a unique claim to fame since it now appeared on three Bobby Vinton albums released within two years. The song continued to spin gold for Vinton, its author-composer,in the 50+ years to date since reaching number 1;Harmony Korinenamed his 2007 filmMister Lonelyafter the latter and features the song in the film's opening, and it was also the basis forAkon's 2005 hit, "Lonely".

In 1965, Vinton continued his "Lonely" success streak with the self-written "L-O-N-E-L-Y"."Long Lonely Nights"peaked at number 17 and spawned an album,Bobby Vinton Sings for Lonely Nights.Vinton's self-written 1966 hit "Coming Home Soldier"hit No. 11 on the Hot 100 and was a favorite on request shows on theAmerican Forces Networkduring theCold WarandVietnamera, often called in by soldiers about to board theFreedom Birdthat would take them back to the "Land of the Round Doorknobs". Vinton's lush 1967 remake of "Please Love Me Forever",which reached number 6 and sold over a million copies, began a string of twelve consecutive Hot 100 hits, all remakes, over a little less than five and a half years.His 1968 hit "I Love How You Love Me"surged to number 9, sold over one million copies, and was awarded agold recordby theRIAA.

1970s

Vinton in 1977

In the 1970s, Vinton continued to hit the Top 40, notably with "Ev'ry Day of My Life",a No. 2 Adult Contemporary hit also awarded the Jukebox single of the year award which was produced byJimmy Bowenand CBS recording engineer Jim Reeves, which peaked at number 24 on April 29, 1972, and "Sealed With a Kiss"hitting number 19 on August 19–26, 1972.Despite the success of the two hits, Epic Records decided to drop Vinton from his contract the following year, claiming that his days of selling records were over.

Undeterred, Vinton spent $50,000 of his own money on "My Melody of Love",partially self-written and partially sung inPolish.The suggestion for the song came from Vinton's mother.After six major labels turned Vinton down, Lindy Blaskey, Managing Director of A&R at ABC/Dunhill Records, bought Vinton's idea, and the result was a multi-million-selling single of simple lyrics that hit number 3 on theBillboardHot 100,number 2 on theCashboxTop 100chart, and number 1 on theACchart in 1974.A gold album,Melodies of Love,followed as well as one final Top 40 pop hit (the traditional "Beer Barrel Polka",also sung partially in Polish, b/w" Dick And Jane "in 1975). Vinton would go on to record an additional four albums for ABC Records, three of which hit the Billboard Hot 200 albums chart. Epic Records rediscovered Vinton in the wake of his newfound success, releasing two albums of previously recorded material, both of which hit the top album charts. In addition, in a throwback to his career start in the 1950s, his two albums on Ahed were released in Canada.Party Music(1976) went platinum and100 Memories(1979) was successful. In 1975, Vinton exploded onto televisions across the United States and Canada with a successful half-hour variety show,The Bobby Vinton Show,which aired from 1975 to 1978 and of which "My Melody of Love" was the theme song; ABC Records subsequently released an album of songs performed on the show.

In 1978, Vinton wrote his autobiography, titledThe Polish Prince,which became a bestseller. In the same year, CBS-TV airedBobby Vinton's Rock N' Rollers,a one-hour special that achieved top ratings.

1980s–1990s

While appearing atPittsburgh'sThree Rivers Stadiumprior to Game 4 of the1990 National League Championship Seriesbetween thePittsburgh PiratesandCincinnati Reds,Vinton delivered a mixed-up rendition of "The Star-Spangled Banner"that left out many of the words and was off-key. Controversy ensued afterCBSbroadcasterJack Bucksaid on air, "Well, when you're Polish and live in Pittsburgh, you can do anything you want with the words!"

Vinton performing in 2004

Honors and achievements

In the early 1990s, Vinton found himself booked as a guest star at the Roy Clark Theatre in Branson, Missouri. He was unsure of his ability to draw at what was then a country-western-themed resort, and was shocked at the massive turnout for his concerts there. He was so impressed with the Branson model that he invested millions in building the Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Theatre and enjoyed ten successful years there. In 2002 the theatre was sold toDavid King,creator and producer ofSpirit of the Dance.Vinton returned to Branson periodically for limited engagements at the theatre.

Billboard Magazinecalled Bobby Vinton "the all-time most successful love singer of the 'Rock-Era'". From 1962 to 1972, Vinton had had moreBillboardnumber 1 hits than any other male vocalist, includingElvis PresleyandFrank Sinatra.In recognition of his recording career, Vinton was awarded a star on theHollywood Walk of Fame,located at 6916 Hollywood Blvd.

Vinton's alma mater,Duquesne University,awarded him an honorary doctorate in music in 1978.

Acting

Vinton appeared in seven acting roles during his singing career, commencing with the beach party movieSurf Partyin 1964. In 1965, he played George Reynolds in the episode "Patty and the Newspaper Game" ofABC'ssitcomThe Patty Duke Show.He was also cast as Jeff McCandles in the 1971John WaynefilmBig Jakeand as Ben Young in another Wayne film,The Train Robbers(1973). His last role as a character was as Bobby Gaines in the 1983 episode "Chance of a Lifetime" of theNBCfamily drama television seriesBoone,starringTom Byrd,while his last scripted role as himself was in 1997, appearing in part one of the three part series finale ofCoach.

Personal life

Vinton and his wife, Dolores, have been married since December 17, 1962. They reside inEnglewood, Florida,and have five children.In 2015, after contracting a serious case ofshingles,Vinton retired from live performing and recording.He spoke to his fans and friends in February 2018 onTheCousin BrucieShowon Sirius XM radio, and encouraged all to get a shingles vaccination.

Discography

Main article:Bobby Vinton discography

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1964	Surf Party	Len Marshall	also theme song ( "If I Were an Artist" )
1965	The Patty Duke Show	George Reynolds	Episode: "Patty and the Newspaper Game"
1965	Harlow	Theme song ( "Lonely Girl" ) singer	Voice only
1971	Big Jake	Jeff McCandles
1973	The Train Robbers	Ben Young
1976	The Duchess and the Dirtwater Fox	Theme song ( "Lemondrops, Lollipops and Sunbeams" ) singer	Voice only
1980	The Gossip Columnist	Marty Kaplan	Television film
1983	Boone	Bobby Gaines	Episode: "Chance of a Lifetime"
1985	Benson	Himself	season 6 episode 17 "Solid Gold"
1997	Coach	Himself	Episode: "Leaving Orlando: Part 1"

External links

• Official website
• Bobby VintonatAllMusic
• Bobby Vintondiscography atDiscogs
• Bobby VintonatIMDb
• Classic bands