Return To Media Room

BOBBY VINTON IN CONCERT
Taken from starbanner.com
Written by MARIAN RIZZO

WHAT: Bobby Vinton in concert.
WHEN: Sunday, 3 p.m. opening acts, Rockin' Robin and Stephanie Ann, will go on at noon.
WHERE: Silver Springs Attraction, 5353 E. Silver Springs Blvd.
COST: Included with regular park admission: $31.99 for adults, $28.99 for seniors; $22.99 for children. Through April 30, special $19.99 daily admission for Florida residents.
For information, call; (352) 236-2121.

Call him "Mr. Lonely," if you like, but in reality, Bobby Vinton has never been completely alone. His 40-year career in the entertainment business has placed him before large audiences in numerous concert halls throughout the world.

Now Vinton will pack up his show and move it to the Twin Oaks Mansion stage at Silver Springs nature park for a concert at 3 p.m. Sunday.

During his Ocala concert, Vinton plans to perform some favorite oldies, perhaps "Roses Are Red," "Please Love Me Forever," "I Love How You Love Me," and a whole slew of "blue" pieces such as "Blue on Blue" and "Blue Velvet." These are some favorites, Vinton said in a telephone interview from Las Vegas.

"'Mr. Lonely' means the most to me," he said. "It's a song about a lonely guy. It seems to relate to so many people. It's about what it's like to be a GI. 'Mr. Lonely' was a song I wrote when I was in the Army. Now I sing it for the troops in Afghanistan."

Vinton's show, accompanied by a 12-piece orchestra, will be a tribute to the big band era. He's planning to sing a song in Italian, and he'll do "The Battle Hymn of the Republic."

Opening for Vinton in Ocala will be Rockin' Robin and Stephanie Ann. The two local acts have opened for several major concerts at the park, said Steve Specht, director of public relations for Silver Springs.

"They both have a following fan base here," Specht said. "Rockin' Robin does early and classic rock 'n' roll from the '50s and early '60s. Stephanie Ann is high-energy, a great all-around performer, a fiddle prodigy. She can play anything from contemporary to gospel. She's a classically-trained violinist. I once asked her what the difference is between a fiddle and a violin, and she said, 'It all depends on how you play it.' "

Then, there's Vinton.

Born in Canonsburg, Pa., Vinton grew up in a musical family. His father, Stan Vinton, was a popular band leader who taught his son how to perfect his craft. However, Vinton admits in the early days he did not strive for perfectionism.

"For the first 20 years, I just showed up and walked on the stage," Vinton said. "The older I get, the more of a perfectionist I have become. Now I'm concerned about the lights, the stage setup. The older you get, the more you have to work at it."

A natural musician, Vinton plays the saxophone, clarinet, piano and trumpet. He formed his first band when he was 16, and earned a degree in music composition at Duquesne University.

Vinton's heartrending "Mr. Lonely" landed him an appearance on Guy Lombardo's "Talent Scouts" TV show, followed by a recording contract with Epic Records. Vinton's first single, "Roses Are Red," was the Number 1 song on the charts. Then came a string of Number 1 hits from 1962 to the early '70s. He has sold more than 75 million records and has acquired more than a dozen gold records.

A highlight of Vinton's career was performing in Poland, the land of his heritage, when it was still a Communist country.

"I was in Poland when the song, 'Melody of Love,' was popular," Vinton said. "It was a sad thing to see my relatives living like this, in fear. I had a telethon and raised millions of dollars for the Solidarity Movement. Because I was popular, I was the Polish spirit. In fact, the government brought me in. It was kind of a link between America and Poland."

Eight years ago, Vinton opened the Blue Velvet Theatre, a 1,600-seat venue managed by one of his children in Branson, Mo. Vinton is there from April to December and tours during the rest of the year.

Vinton and Dolly, his wife of 35 years, have five children. During the Ocala show, one of his sons will sing contemporary songs and his daughter will perform country music.

"I like having my family with me," Vinton said. "I would say we have a show for the whole family. At one time, to be a family show was corny. The wholesome variety type of entertainment is back."

His show includes a lot of interaction with the audience.

"I call myself the master of interaction," Vinton said. "That's all I do. I must be doing it right. It's been 40 years since 'Roses Are Red' was Number 1. I've been a major headliner all over the world for 40 years. I don't want to change anything now."

Marian Rizzo can be reached at marian.rizzo@starbanner.com or (352) 867-4149.

Return To Media Room