Bobby Vinton had his first hit release “Roses Are Red” in 1962.
Approaching the 50-year mark of his career, during a telephone interview Sept. 15, Vinton said, “I can’t believe it. I feel the same, I look the same. I can’t believe 50 years have passed me by.”
He said it’s hard for him to imagine he had a No. 1 hit record around the world.
“It’s a great memory, but I try not to live in the past,” Vinton said.
Vinton will bring his show to the Honeywell Center in Wabash Oct. 2 at 7 p.m. Tickets are $18, $34, $44 and $75.
Born in Pennsylvania in 1935, Vinton formed his first band at 16 years old. “Roses are Red” was a No. 1 for 10 years, from 1962 to 1972, and Vinton has had numerous No. 1 records. Some of his most famous songs include “Blue Velvet”, “Mr. Lonely” and “Earth Angel.”
Vinton’s music hasn’t been buried in the annals of history.
In 1986, the movie “Blue Velvet” was released, helping Vinton’s song regain popularity. The song became No. 1 in two weeks in England when it was used in a commercial.
In 2005, rapper Akon worked with Vinton on an “updated” version of “Mr. Lonely”. Vinton said he thinks Akon was in prison at the time when he came up with the idea to do “Mr. Lonely.”
“It just shows that certain songs can last a long time with the right exposure,” Vinton said.
Working with Akon turned Vinton from an “old square” into a “cool guy” with the rappers, he said.
When asked what the key element is to writing a good hit song, Vinton said he always tried to make a record that applied to a certain group of people. They help carry the song over to the masses. When he wrote “Mr. Lonely”, Vinton was in the Army. He was lonely, his buddies were lonely.
Vinton loves his music. However, he has no plans to record any new songs or albums because they aren’t done the way they used to be in a room with others. Today, artists record songs with headphones alone in a booth. Records today are really clean because they’ve been overdubbed for six months. In the 1960s, Vinton said there was “just magic in the music.” There was simplicity, honesty, love and less anger to them. There are great singers today, he said, but they are of a different style.
“I don’t want to do anything with recording today. I had my time,” Vinton said.
His concentration now is on doing an outstanding performance for his shows. His shows feature his music, but also are a presentation on how the music happened. He explains each song.
“I don’t take it too serious. I think people want to laugh. It’s just more than ‘Roses Are Red’. I’d like to think my show is more entertaining than musical,” Vinton said.
Two years ago, Vinton performed at the Honeywell Center. Since then, they’ve tried to bring him back because it went over so well.
“It’s kind of an attitude,” he said. “It’s a positive attitude that people will come to and the kind of show that people don’t do anymore.”
People don’t always connect Vinton with the songs that he’s made into hits over his career.
“That’s been a problem,” he said. “I’ve been in the business 50 years and been playing Las Vegas for 30 years and people are still find out about me.”
He had plans to retire, but he never does because his shows continue to sell and have favorable reactions.
“I do one weekend a month. I look forward to it,” he said.
He used to own a theater in Branson, Mo., and performed twice a day. After getting burned out, he took some time off, but found he missed performing.
“You can’t imagine what joy it is,” Vinton said.
While he doesn’t write any new songs for himself or others, he is a musical arranger and keeps rewriting the background music to his songs. He spends a lot of time working on his act.
“Once I’m stimulated, I can stimulate the audience,” Vinton said. “You can’t fool the audience especially after 50 years. I try to be as honest as I can.”
When he’s not dabbling in his music, he golfs, loves the outdoors and has projects on his estates.
“I have a very active life,” Vinton said. “I just don’t want to spend 24 hours a day on (music).”
As for the show at Wabash, Vinton said, “It’s going to be a great show. If I didn’t think it would be a great show, I wouldn’t waste my time, I wouldn’t waste your time with this. It’s a fun show.”
Online: Honeywell Center: www.honeywellcenter.com Bobby Vinton: www.bobbyvinton.com
