Pop Music

In 1960, Bobby Vinton was signed by CBS Records as a bandleader. He recorded two albums that were unmitigated flops. By 1962, CBS was ready to drop him. Vinton was called to the dreaded meeting with label executives, where he pointed out that his contract allowed him to record and release two more songs.  The executives left the meeting room for a quick pow-wow with CBS Legal. While alone in the conference room, Vinton kept busy by listening to rejected demo records that were lying in a heap on the floor. He heard one that made him sit up and pay attention: “Roses Are Red .” When the CBS executives returned to the conference room, Vinton delivered his pitch to convince them that he could sing and make a hit out of “Roses Are Red.”  It saved his job and went all the way to #1 on the Billboard Hot 100.

Vinton is from Canonsburg, Pennsylvaniaa. His father, Stan Vinton, was a bandleader. Bobby Vinton plays the clarinet, oboe, saxophone, piano, drums, and trumpet. His most popular single was his cover of Tony Bennett’s 1951 song “Blue Velvet,” which went to #1 in 1963.

Here are the lyrics to “Roses are Red (My Love)” by Bobby Vinton:

“A long, long time ago
On graduation day
You handed me your book
I signed this way

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you

We dated through high school
And when the big day came
I wrote into your book
Next to my name

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you

Then I went far away
And you found someone new
I read your letter dear
And I wrote back to you

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
Good luck may God bless you

Is that your little girl
She looks a lot like you
Someday some boy will write
In her book, too

Roses are red, my love
Violets are blue
Sugar is sweet, my love
But not as sweet as you”

If you are interested in other songs by Bobby Vinton: “Blue Velvet” and “Blue on Blue.”

For More Golden Oldies Music

The Daily Doo Wop Rec Room has daily featured doo wop music, rock and roll hits, R&B, or rockabilly songs that were hits during the first era of rock and roll (that is, from about 1952 until the British invasion in 1964). After a song is featured, it then goes into the juke box. You are welcome to listen to any of the 40+ selections there. Every weekend, there is a Golden Oldies Juke Box Saturday Night, and the juke box is full of song requests from the 1950s and 1960s.

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