February Third is also the day Minnesotan Bobby Vee, my father, performed his first public "gig". Responding to a request over the radio waves for local talent to fill in at the Winter Dance Party that evening. 15 years of age and a previously bought ticket in hand, he walked out into the dimmed lights of the stage and announced his band as the Shadows.

This later helped to launch his career and Minnneapolis based Soma Records first hit, Susy Baby. As written by the City Pages, "Soma's first hit came at the tail end of the '50s with Bobby Vee and the Shadows' "Suzie Baby," a rockabilly number that hit so hard, Soma had to enlist the more established Liberty Records to meet the demands of mass distribution." Pretty nice Minnesota rock history.

A fine example that the music is still alive, check out the living legends of the CRICKETS and their new CD "THE CRICKETS & THEIR BUDDIES", produced by Grammy®-award-winning Greg Ladanyi and featuring guest performances by Peter Case, Eric Clapton, Rodney rowell, Phil Everly, Nanci Griffith, Waylon Jennings, Tonio K., Albert Lee, Graham Nash, Vince Neil, John Prine, Johnny Rivers, J.D. Souther, and Bobby Vee.

very cool Jen :)

My father used to work for Amos Heilicher, founder of Soma records for about 15 years.

My father shot that plane out of the sky and blamed the commies...

Hey Jen Vee, your brother Jeff used to be my audio instructor! I think we've met. I was in on that crazy song Jeff's class wrote a couple years ago!

-Jill

HI Jill, I remember your exact class, and your verse! Did not realize that was you who wrote in. I think Jeff should get all the classes "tunes" together for a compilation CD!

jen