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Remembering the life of teen star Bobby Vee – who got his break the day the music died

February 3,1959 will long be remembered as the day the music died, but for the “Baby Face” singer Bobby Vee, it was the day his career was given life…

Pop singer Bobby Vee. (Photo by Michael Levin/Corbis via Getty Images)

Bobby Vee, who’s known for chart-topping hits like “Take Good Care of My Baby” and “Suzie Baby,” got his lucky break on the same day the music world was crushed by tragedy.

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, Dion and other pop stars, were travelling on a tour bus, performing 24 back-to-back shows through the rough and snowy terrain of the Midwest in the Winter Party Tour, which is known as rock & roll’s “Tour from Hell.”

Tired of being on the unheated bus–some artists had gotten frostbite and the flu–Holly chartered a single-engine aircraft to quickly carry him, Valens, and the Big Bopper from Clear Lake, IA to the next stop, in Moorhead, MN, which is a six-minute drive from Fargo, ND, the home of the then 15-year-old Bobby Vee.

Wikipedia Commons / Harry Pot / Anefo

It was just before 1 a.m. when the plane crashed killing the pilot and all three stars, a dark day observed by singer-songwriter Don McLean in his 1972 pop song “American Pie.”

Despite the tragic loss of music’s greatest stars, which was felt across the world, the tour went on, with new headliners Jimmy Clanton, Fabian & Frankie Avalon. Frankie Sardo, Dion & The Belmonts, and The (new) Crickets–who took the bus to Moorhead–continued until the end of the tour.

That day, Vee’s name would also appear on the playbill as a headliner.

Vee, born Robert Thomas Velline, was a fresh-faced, clean-cut boy whose love for music was inherited from his musical family. Learning how to play the guitar from his big brother Bill, Vee used his earnings from his paper route to purchase his first guitar, and practiced in a band with Bill and two high school friends, Dick Dunkirk and Bob Korum.

Flickr / Bradford Timeline

On February 3, the two brothers had tickets to the star-packed Moorhead event, The Winter Dance Party, with the headliner, Buddy Holly, whom Vee idolized.

“Like so many other people, I became a Buddy Holly fan the very first time I heard him sing,” Vee said.

Learning of the crash, Vee said he was “stunned.”

“I remember a few years ago when Buddy was scheduled to appear at a dance in my home town of Fargo, North Dakota. It was going to be a big event for the whole town, but even more so for me. I was anxiously looking forward to seeing Buddy in action. The day he was to arrive disaster struck, taking Buddy’s life, along with the lives of two other fine singers, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. The shocking news spread through Fargo very quickly,” Vee said.

The news spread and a local DJ delivered desperate pleas for replacement performers. Though never having played before an audience, Vee and his band volunteered.

Wikipedia Commons / Harry Pot / Anefo

The boys had three hours to prepare, and they only had about six songs to perform.

“Our style was modelled after Buddy’s approach and we had been rehearsing with Buddy’s hits in mind. When we heard the radio plea for talent, we went in and volunteered. We hadn’t even named the group up to that time, so we gave ourselves a name on the spot, calling ourselves The Shadows.”

After a tribute by Waylon Jennings–Holly’s bass player and future country music star–the quartet was put on stage as the Shadows, a name Vee chose on the spot.

“It changed my life. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for that show,” Vee said, recalling that lucky day.

When the show ended, the tour continued with headliners Jimmy Clanton and Frankie Avalon, but the Shadows were left behind.

Their next gig was a Valentine’s Day show at a high school gymnasium, where they earned $60, and in the following months, they added a pianist, Elston Gunnn, to their roster.

That pianist was Bobby Zimmerman, now known as Bob Dylan.

“He was in The Shadows. Yeah, he played piano, but he didn’t play very well, and we didn’t have a piano. He talks about playing in a church basement, and that’s true,” Vee said about Dylan. “The piano was horribly out of tune. He could play “Whole Lot Of Shakin’ Going On.” He played really well in the key of C, but that was about it.”

Dylan moved on from the band and found his place in folk music with a guitar.

St. Joseph,Mn.,Tues.,Nov. 30,2004–Former teen idol Bobby Vee at the door to his recording studio, Rockhouse Studio, on the main street of St. Joseph which he runs with his sons. On the door is a poster for his “Up North December” tour. (Photo by JOEY MCLEISTER/Star Tribune via Getty Images)

And Bobby Vee went on to record 38 Top 100 songs from 1959 to 1970, hitting No. 1 in 1961 with the Carole King-Gerry Goffin song “Take Care Good of My Baby,” and “Run to Him,” reaching No. 2. Other hits include “Run to Him,” “Rubber Ball,” “The Night Has A Thousand Eyes,” “Come Back When You Grow Up,” and “Punish Her.”

Vee continued to perform with his new band the Vees, made of sons Robby, Tommy, and Jeff, until 2011, when he was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease, a degenerative and incurable brain disorder.

In an interview with the Associated Press, Vee stumbled in finding his words and said, “It’s not getting any better, I can tell you that. But I’m doing the best I can.”

Still, in 2014, Vee released The Adobe Sessions, a jam session recorded with family members featuring some of his favorite songs from Townes Van Zandt, Gordon Lightfoot and Ricky Nelson. It was released on the 55th anniversary of the Buddy Holly plane crash.

After having four children and 50 years of marriage, Vee’s wife Karen died of kidney failure in 2015 at age 71. Bobby Vee died the next year at 73.

Speaking of his condition, and his life, Vee said in an interview, “But I’m not going to cry about it. God brought me home. And that’s the deal.”

Wikipedia Commons / John Mathew Smith

What a voice he had, Bobby Vee was great! It’s hard to imagine he only had one # 1 song, they were all great. Those were so much simpler days back then.

Do you remember listening to Bobby Vee? Feel free to share your memories in the comment section and don’t forget to share this article with all of your friends on Facebook.

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A camel bit off its owner’s head after being left tied up in the hot sun all day.

Left tied up in the scorching heat all day, the camel attacked and killed its owner by biting off their head.

An Indian man who left his camel tied up in the heat all day lost his life because of it.

When he tried to untie the camel, it became aggressive, attacking him and biting off his head.

“The camel grabbed him by the neck, threw him to the ground, bit his body, and severed his head,” villager Thakara Ram told The Times of India.

It took around six hours and 25 people to finally control the camel.

Some villagers in Rajasthan said the camel had attacked the man, Urjaram, before.

Camels don’t usually attack people very often.

Camel attacks can be extremely violent and unexpected.

In January last year, a camel at a breeding farm in Texas killed two people by crushing them.

The previous fall, an American man who owned an animal sanctuary in Mexico was killed by a camel. It bit and kicked him, then sat on him until he suffocated.

Rescuers had to tie the camel to a truck to pull it away from the body. Some believe the camel was upset because it didn’t get its daily Coca-Cola that day.

A few months earlier, a similar attack happened in California when a camel attacked an elderly man the same way. However, he survived.

Camels are usually friendly animals that like to sniff and even play with people’s hair.

However, male camels can be aggressive and sometimes fight with females.

Even though they have big teeth, camels raised in captivity are usually bred to avoid biting.

Camels tend to kick in a circular motion, but experts say they rarely kick people.

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Why new Justin Bieber photos are worrying fans

Pop icon Justin Bieber, now 30, has captivated millions of fans worldwide for over a decade. But lately, his latest photos have sparked serious concern among his devoted followers.

Once the ultimate teenage heartthrob, Bieber’s recent appearance has left many asking — what’s really going on?Disheveled look

Pop sensation Justin Bieber has always been known for his ever-changing looks, but his latest public appearances have left fans more worried than entertained. The 30-year-old singer has been spotted looking noticeably pale and gaunt, often dressed in oversized, shabby clothing, fueling speculation about his well-being.

What’s most unsettling for his loyal supporters is that this should be a joyful chapter in Bieber’s life — he recently became a father to baby Jack Blues, born in August 2024.

Yet, instead of exuding the glow of new parenthood, Bieber’s disheveled look has sparked concern, marking a stark contrast from his previous public image.

Bieber first shot to fame as a teen heartthrob, rocking his signature side-swept fringe while repeating the word “baby” in a way that made the whole world sing along. As his career skyrocketed, his style evolved — transitioning from skate park casual to something clearly influenced by a professional stylist.

In recent years, his wardrobe choices have often been quirky and unpredictable, at times even bizarre — but mostly in a way that felt harmless, even amusing. Now, however, fans fear those days are long gone.

In recent months, several photos of Justin Bieber have surfaced, sparking concern among fans about his well-being. Many believe he hasn’t looked his best, and his latest public appearances have only fueled speculation.

Wandering the streets of NYC in a bathrobe

Back in January, Justin was seen leaving a New York City studio alone, looking visibly exhausted. While he’s always been a fan of oversized clothing, his fashion choices took an unexpected turn this week when he was spotted wandering the streets of NYC in a bathrobe and stained Ugg boots.

The latest images have left fans genuinely concerned for his well-being.

In response to the photos, one person commented that it appeared he was going through a “difficult time,” while another fan noted that he looked like he was “struggling.” Some even speculated that he might be “suffering,” further fueling worries among his followers.

Justin Bieber is seen on February 05, 2025 in New York City. (Photo by XNY/Star Max/GC Images)

His latest appearances suggest something deeper may be going on, and the internet is buzzing with speculation. Is it just an experimental fashion phase? Exhaustion from fatherhood? Or is there something more serious behind Bieber’s drastic change?

Since Justin Bieber appeared to be his usual self in January 2024, sharing selfies on Instagram that showcased a healthy appearance, fans have been left puzzled by his recent transformation.

P. Diddy mentored Bieber

As the year progressed, many noticed he appeared noticeably thinner and more downcast. This shift in his demeanor coincided with the mounting struggles surrounding Diddy’s situation, which worsened over time, culminating in his arrest in September 2024. Fans can’t help but wonder if these events may have had an impact on Bieber’s well-being, prompting a wave of concern from his loyal followers.

Music mogul Diddy, readers will surely already know, is facing charges of sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. According to a troublesome claim made by RadarOnline, Bieber is “haunted” by his past.

Recently, fans voiced concerns when Justin Bieber was seen looking fatigued and gaunt during a dinner outing with his wife, Hailey. The sighting sparked worries, and RadarOnline points out that this was around the same time old clips of Bieber and Diddy resurfaced online.

Prince Williams/FilmMagic

In one particularly notable clip, Diddy, who had mentored Bieber in his early years, proudly reminisced about spending “48 hours” with Bieber when he was just 15 years old. The re-emergence of these videos only seemed to intensify the growing concern for the pop star’s well-being.

“He’s having 48 hours with Diddy. What we’re doing, we can’t really disclose. But it’s definitely a 15-year-old’s dream … we’re gonna go full crazy,” he said.

Now sources are suggesting that Bieber’s links to Diddy may be adversely affecting the Baby singer. One individual, said to have worked in Bieber’s team for years, told PageSix: “Do I believe he was involved in some stupid s—? Yeah.

“He was a teenager. He was the biggest pop star in the world. Everyone was worried about him, and we didn’t know if he would survive it.

“People took advantage of everything he did.”

While celebrities like Justin Bieber live their lives in the public eye, it’s easy to forget that they too are human, facing their own challenges behind the glam and flashing cameras.

Paparazzi and constant media attention can often overshadow the fact that, at the end of the day, they deserve the same kindness and understanding as anyone else. As fans, it’s important to remember the pressures that come with fame and offer support where we can — because, like all of us, they need it too.

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10 warning signs your kidneys are failing

Your kidneys play a vital role in filtering waste, balancing fluids, and keeping your body healthy.

However, kidney disease often develops silently, with symptoms appearing only in later stages. Recognizing the early warning signs can help you take action before serious complications arise.

1. Fatigue and Low Energy

When your kidneys aren’t functioning properly, toxins build up in your bloodstream, leading to persistent tiredness, weakness, and trouble concentrating. Anemia, which often accompanies kidney disease, can also leave you feeling drained.

2. Trouble Sleeping

A buildup of waste in the blood can make it difficult to fall and stay asleep. Additionally, people with kidney disease may suffer from sleep apnea, which disrupts breathing throughout the night and leads to poor rest, the National Kidney Foundation says.

3. Dry, Itchy Skin

Healthy kidneys regulate minerals and nutrients in your body. When they struggle to do their job, imbalances can cause dry, itchy skin, signaling underlying bone and mineral disorders related to kidney disease.

4. Frequent Urination

Feeling the urge to urinate more often, especially at night, can be a sign of issues. When the kidney filters are damaged, they can cause increased urine production, which may indicate early kidney disease.

5. Blood in Urine

Healthy kidneys filter waste while keeping essential blood cells in your body. If you notice blood in your urine, it could signal disease, infections, or even kidney stones. Never ignore this symptom.

6. Foamy Urine

Excessive bubbles or foam in your urine, similar to what you see when scrambling eggs, may indicate the presence of protein.

Protein leakage in urine is a sign that your kidneys aren’t filtering properly.

7. Swelling in the Feet and Ankles

When kidneys don’t remove excess sodium efficiently, fluid retention can occur, leading to swelling in your feet, ankles, and even hands. This is a common symptom of kidney disease and should be checked by a doctor.

8. Poor Appetite

A loss of appetite may seem minor, but it can be an early sign of kidney disease due to the buildup of toxins in the body. Nausea and an altered sense of taste often accompany this symptom.

9. Muscle Cramps

Electrolyte imbalances can lead to muscle cramps. Low calcium and imbalanced phosphorus levels may contribute to this uncomfortable condition.

10. Puffiness Around the Eyes

Persistent puffiness around the eyes can indicate protein leakage in urine, which suggests your kidneys may not be properly filtering waste. This can be an early sign of damage.

When to See a Doctor

If you experience any of these symptoms, especially more than one at a time, consult a healthcare professional. Early detection of problems can prevent further damage and improve your overall health.

Maintaining a balanced diet, staying hydrated, and managing conditions like high blood pressure and diabetes can help protect you in the long run.

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