The Roots of Rock: Bobby Vee, Singer Who Gave Dylan His Rock Start, Dead at 73

As best as I can recall, I began to seriously listen to AM rock music on the radio in 1962, when I was 10 years old.

A young Bobby Vee

One of my 1st favorites was "The Night Has a Thousand Eyes" by rising pop star Bobby Vee. I'm not really sure why I liked the song so much, but I think it had something to do with the image of the night actually having a 1,000 eyes.

Well, Bobby Vee died today at age 73. Here are 4 facts I never knew about Vee:

1. If it hadn't been for the airplane crash that killed Buddy Holly there might never have been a star known as Bobby Vee.
2. Bobby Vee's band was asked to fill in some dates for Holly, where he was discovered.
3. You might know Vee's 1st piano player - it was a gentleman known then as Bobby Zimmerman and today as Bob Dylan
4. In a 2013 show, Dylan played one of Vee's songs "Suzie Baby" and said Vee was  "the most meaningful person I've ever been on stage with.

Here is what Rolling Stone had to say about Vee's death and career.