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Donald's Encyclopedia of Popular MusicA B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y ZVINTON, Bobby(b Stanley Robert Vintula Jr, 16 April 1935, Canonsburg PA) Singer, bandleader; same hometown as Perry Como. He played clarinet and other instruments in high school; after US Army discharge in 1961 turned to bandleading, his dance LPs for Epic including Dancing At The Hop and Bobby Vinton Plays For His Li'l Darlin's. In early '62 he began making vocal records aimed at teen market and had a USA no. 1 'Roses Are Red' later that year. A total of 30 top 40 hits '62-75 included number ones 'Blue Velvet' '63, 'There, I Said It Again' '63, 'Mr Lonely' '65. He switched to ABC late '72 for a number 3 with 'My Melody Of Love'. Twenty-four LPs also charted in the Billboard top 200 including All-Time Greatest Hits '72, The Golden Decade Of Love '75 (songs from '50s), both two-disc sets on Epic; last top 20 LP Mr Lonely '65 until surprise Melodies Of Love '74 on ABC. Also had syndicated TV series '75-8, LP The Bobby Vinton Show '75. A dozen CDs in print '97 were mostly compilations on Epic and Curb/Warner, and As Time Goes By with George Burns. |