Bobby Vee and the original Shadows Band, 1959. (L-R) Jim Stillman on bass guitar, Bob Korum on drums, Bobby, and, on rhythm guitar, Bobby's brother, Bill VellinePhoto, from the Bobby Vee collection, is posted here with the permission of Rock House Productions.
Received a message from Dave Stillman, brother to one of the members of Bobby Vee's original Shadows band who alerted me to an excellent 8 minute "mini-documentary" on the career the Fargo, N. Dak., native and rock-n-roll legend. Dave's brother, Jim Stillman, played base guitar for the group, who was followed on that instrument by my friend and former radio colleague, Dick Dunkirk. When Bobby's career as a solo performer started to take off nationally, Jim saw the handwriting on the wall: there were many studio bands to back-up the hit records the new teenage idol was about to make. Stillman went on to a life-long career in music; he passed away in 2000.
Dave played drums in high school and enjoyed sitting in for the Shadows' Bob Korum, when the band's drummer took a break. Residing in the Twin Cities since the mid-60s, Dave says his 96-year-old mom still lives in Fargo.
This is the Shadows band after Jim Stillman left and Dick Dunkirk (on left) took his place on bass guitar. To Dick's left is Bobby, of course, and then drummer Bob Korum and guitarist Bill Velline. Photo is from the Bobby Vee Collection and is posted here with the permission of Rock House Productions.
Bobby Vee's studio, band recording and booking service takes its name from the great, but not well-known, Buddy Knox song: Rock House. I used the LP recording of that number as the theme song for my DJ show on KOVC Radio, Valley City, ND, when I was a 16-year-old disc jockey, back in the late 50s. To hear "Rock House" and other hits by Buddy Knox, all available for listening and purchase, click here.
A lifelong cigarette smoker, Knox died of lung cancer in 1999 in Bremerton, Washington. He is interred in Dreamland Cemetery, Canyon, Texas.
More Bobby Vee photos, songs, videos and history click on over to the official Bobby Vee website.
