Bobby Vee

Fargo Music Icons Murals

Celebrating the intersection the Fargo-Moorhead community has had with four American music and cultural icons.

Duke Ellington
Recorded a Grammy Award winning album in Fargo

Peggy Lee
Started her decades long career in Fargo

Bobby Vee
Fargo teen took the stage in Moorhead the “Day the Music Died”

Bob Dylan
Nobel Laureate spent a summer washing dishes and playing music in Fargo

Bobby Vee (April 30, 1943 – October 24, 2016) 
Location to be determined. Image above or on this site are not representative of potential mural.

An American tragedy gave rise to the long career of pop-rocker Bobby Vee. When Buddy Holly’s plane crashed on its way to Fargo-Moorhead, the 15 year old Fargo born Vee’ band responded when a local radio station put out calls for local talent to fill the date on short notice. His first single “Suzie Baby” was a nod to Holly’s “Peggy Sue” and he went on to regularly honor Holly throughout his long career. One of his biggest hits was “Take Good Care of My Baby” penned by Carole King and Gerry Goffin. Six of his 25 albums went gold and he inspired other musicians including Paul McCartney, who covered Vee’s music in the early days of the Beatles. For a short time, he employed Elston Gunnn (with three ‘n’s) on keyboards—now known as Bob Dylan. Vee is mentioned in Dylan’s autobiography, “I’d always thought of him as a brother.” 

The mural will honor Vee’s career and musical significance and “The Day the Music Died.”