News

July 27, 2010 New Singles Photos
Thanks to record collector Leonard Yates I have added many new photos of Bobby Vee's Singles to the Singles Page.

July 7, 2010 Harvey Fuqua dies at 80
Detroit - Singer, songwriter and record producer Harvey Fuqua, an early mentor of Marvin Gaye, has died. Fuqua was 80. Ron Brewington of the Motown Alumni Association says Fuqua died of a heart attack Tuesday at a Detroit hospital. The Louisville, Ky., native founded the R&B-doo-wop group the Moonglows, which signed with DJ Alan Freed. The group's first single was the 1954 hit "Sincerely." Fuqua added Gaye and others in 1958 to a reconstituted group Fuqua called Harvey and the Moonglows. It had the 1958 hit "Ten Commandments of Love." He started Tri-Phi and Harvey Records in 1961, recording the Spinners, Junior Walker & the All Stars, and Shorty Long. Motown Records founder Berry Gordy later hired Fuqua to develop recording talent.

July 4, Bobby Vee songs from the vaults
Bobby Vee recalls recording previously unreleased songs from the EMI/Capitol Records vaults which will be released as a double-disc collection, “Rare and Unreleased Gems from the EMI/Capitol Vaults,” in October in the United Kingdom.

Read more from the St. Cloud Times Vee, hit-making team recall sessions | sctimes.com | St Cloud Times

March 25, Bobby Vee has just added 8 new Tour Dates for 2010
We have just added 8 new dates for Bobby. Checkout the Tour Dates Page.

March 25, Singer Johnny Maestro dies in Fla., battled cancer
Singer Johnny Maestro, who performed the 1958 doo-wop hit "16 Candles" with The Crests and enjoyed a decades-long career with The Brooklyn Bridge, has died of cancer. He was 70. The Crests' hits include "The Angels Listened In," "Step by Step," "Trouble in Paradise," "Isn't It Amazing," and "Six Nights a Week."

Les Cauchi, a friend and original Brooklyn Bridge member, said Maestro — born John Mastrangelo — died late Wednesday in Florida. His last residence was in Cape Coral, Fla.

After beginning his career in the 1950s with The Crests — one of the first interracial singing groups — Maestro joined a local New York group, The Del-Satins. It merged with a Long Island band, The Rhythm Method, to form Johnny Maestro and The Brooklyn Bridge in 1968.

Hits by the rock 'n' roll and doo-wop group included "The Worst That Could Happen," which Cauchi said earned "gold record" status with a million sales.

Cauchi said the group performed that song on "The Ed Sullivan Show." Other hits included "Blessed is the Rain," "Welcome Me Love" and "You'll Never Walk Alone."

Cauchi recalled that another well-known song, "Your Husband, My Wife," drew controversy when it was released in 1969 because it dealt with infidelity — a touchy topic during that era.

"Johnny was a class act. He was truly a gentleman," singer Dion DiMucci said on Facebook. "He sang `You'll Never Walk Alone' like an angel. ... We thank you for the beautiful trip you took us on. Love and peace."

"Dion reached out to John over the last couple of months, when Johnny was sick, to encourage him and give him some spiritual guidance," Cauchi said.

The band got its name after a manager declared it would be "harder to sell than the Brooklyn Bridge," Maestro once said. He performed at arenas, amphitheaters and casinos throughout the U.S. and Europe.

"He's considered one of the premier vocalists in rock 'n' roll — and one of the nicest, most sincere perfectionists in music," said Cauchi.

"Maybe now the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame will recognize him," said veteran radio host, author and music historian Bruce "Cousin Brucie" Morrow.

"Of all the talent, Johnny was the smoothest," said Morrow, who worked with Maestro many times. "He probably sounded more like his recordings live than any other performer. He always held true to the music and treated it with great respect."

Maestro's last performance was Jan. 17, when The Brooklyn Bridge was among groups appearing at the Mohegan Sun Arena in Connecticut. It was billed as "The Ultimate Doo-Wop Party."

Bobby was scheduled to do a show with Johnny Maestri July 17 in Columbus, OH. The show will now be "The Original Stars."

March 1, 2010 Bobby Vee Fan Club on Facebook
Thanks to Gareth Davies Bobby Vee now has a Fan Club on Facebook and the club already has 165 members. You can find a link to the website on Bobby's Fan Club Page or clink on the Facebook logo.

February 15, 2010 Bobby Vee is one of the 2009 Inductees into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame
John Rook's Hit Parade Hall of Fame 2009 Inductees includes Bobby Vee. Many thanks to Bobby's fan who voted for Bobby to become a member of the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

February 11, 2010 Earthworks Entertainment's Hit Parade Radio To Launch February 13th
We have just added a link to Hit Parade Radio to the Radio Links Page. Hit Parade Radio is a 24/7 Oldies on Clear Channel Satellite. Hit Parade Radio President John Rook has announced Hit Parade Radio's line-up is as follows, Mornings - Chuck Brinkman, Mid-Days – Wink Martindale, Afternoon - Larry Lujack and Evenings - Ron Foster. We hope to hear a lot of Bobby Vee's music on Hit Parade Radio.