Bobby Vee - Personal

Personal

As a child, Bobby spent summers on the Tuomala Family Farm in Perth, North Dakota, with his cousins. He is half Finnish through his mother who was Saima Cecelia Tapanila. He lived in Beverly Hills, for decades, but relocated to St. Cloud, Minnesota, then to nearby Collegeville. He is currently located in Cold Spring, Minnesota.

Vee married Karen Bergen of Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, December 28, 1963, and fathered three sons and a daughter. His children include: Jeffery Robert Velline (born January 3, 1965), Thomas Paul Velline (born October 25, 1966), Robert Bryon Velline (born August 4, 1967), and Jennifer Joanne Velline (born May 31, 1972). A number of his children join him on tour backing as his band. He is still active and touring internationally as a performer as of 2008, along with his backup band, The Vees, which includes his two elder sons, Jeff and Tommy Vee. His youngest son, Robby Vee, is also a recording and performing artist. Bobby Vee is a recipient of the state of North Dakota's Roughrider Award and his contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 2009 Bobby Vee was inducted into the Hit Parade Hall of Fame.

Bobby Vee and his sons in the Vees traveled to Perth, North Dakota, summer after summer to entertain people for the Music on the Prairie concert series and to participate in the Tuomala and Tapanila family reunions as both families came together from Canada and America.

Bobby announced on 29 April 2012 on his website that he was diagnosed a year before as in the early stages of Alzheimer's Disease.