Bobby Vinton Biography

Fast Facts

• Had more Billboard #1 hits than any other male vocalist between 1962 and 1972
• Billboard Magazine described him as "the all-time most successful love singer of the 'Rock-Era․'"
• Duquesne University awarded him an honorary doctorate in music in 1978
• Formed his first band when he was 16 and played in clubs around the Pittsburgh area
• As a child, he earned his daily 25 cent allowance by practicing the clarinet
• Quote: "[on "The Bobby Vinton Show"] "It's a family-oriented music show․ We're not going to get the hard rockers, the 12-year-old punk rockers․ But for the average public who wants to see a music show, we're going to give them variety․""
• Best known for the love song "Roses Are Red," he also charted such pop singles as "Mr․ Lonely" and "Blue Velvet․"
• During the '90s he started traveling on the oldies circuit with a Las-Vegas-style revue
• Owned the Bobby Vinton Blue Velvet Theatre in Branson, Mo
• Kept his marriage to Dolly Dobbins secret for years because his record company thought his music would sell better if the public thought he was single