Bobby Vee, RIP: Teen Idol’s Tragic Final Years
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Bobby Vee Sketching
Tragic pop star Bobby Vee — who scored 38 Top 100 hits in the early 1960s — passed away from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 73. But, in a tragic twist, the hitmaker who sung "Take Good Care of My Baby" was denied his desperate wish to be outlived by his wife! Even as his mind began to go, Bobby was struggling to take care of his wife of 50 years. Bobby would die on Oct. 24, 2016 — a year and two months after he finally lost his beloved Karen!
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Bobby Vee Sketching
Tragic pop star Bobby Vee — who scored 38 Top 100 hits in the early 1960s — passed away from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 73. But, in a tragic twist, the hitmaker who sung "Take Good Care of My Baby" was denied his desperate wish to be outlived by his wife! Even as his mind began to go, Bobby was struggling to take care of his wife of 50 years. Bobby would die on Oct. 24, 2016 — a year and two months after he finally lost his beloved Karen!
bobby-vee-dead-alzheimers-2
Bobby's diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's came just as he learned that Karen needed a lung transplant in 2012. She had been suffering from a genetic disorder that forced her to use an oxygen tank to breathe for six years. Determined to take care of his baby, Bobby had moved back to his home state of Minnesota in 1980 and kept up a grueling concert schedule of 80 gigs each year.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Bobby Vee in outdoor portrait, 1959-61
Bobby spoke of how his failing memory forced him to give up the stage — and keep his tragic secret from the public! "My concern was Karen," Bobby explained."I took my problem out of the picture so I could be there for her" — adding: "The toughest part is when I mumble about something and I don't even know what I'm talking about!"
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Two Bobby Vee’s
Bobby — born as Robert Velline — had first noticed his Alzheimer's symptoms in 2010, and tried his best to stay on the road to help provide for his wife's medical needs. "Music has been such a part of my life and I love it," he said, "but there's no playbook for this." But despite moving his family to Arizona, Karen continued to struggle with her medical issues.
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Photo credit: Getty Images
Two Bobby Vee’s
Bobby — born as Robert Velline — had first noticed his Alzheimer's symptoms in 2010, and tried his best to stay on the road to help provide for his wife's medical needs. "Music has been such a part of my life and I love it," he said, "but there's no playbook for this." But despite moving his family to Arizona, Karen continued to struggle with her medical issues.
bobby-vee-dead-alzheimers-5
She had her lung transplant at Duke University Hospital, but succumbed to kidney failure at the age of 71 in 2015. By then, Bobby had also given up making any public appearances. Towards the end, he mostly took comfort in playing music with his adult children. One of his final statements was made on his website, with Bobby declaring: "Together and with our amazing family, we treasure each moment — and we hope and pray for the best outcomes!"
Bobby Vee Sketching
Tragic pop star Bobby Vee — who scored 38 Top 100 hits in the early 1960s — passed away from the ravages of Alzheimer's disease at the age of 73. But, in a tragic twist, the hitmaker who sung "Take Good Care of My Baby" was denied his desperate wish to be outlived by his wife! Even as his mind began to go, Bobby was struggling to take care of his wife of 50 years. Bobby would die on Oct. 24, 2016 — a year and two months after he finally lost his beloved Karen!
Photo credit: Getty Images
bobby-vee-dead-alzheimers-2
Bobby's diagnosis of early onset Alzheimer's came just as he learned that Karen needed a lung transplant in 2012. She had been suffering from a genetic disorder that forced her to use an oxygen tank to breathe for six years. Determined to take care of his baby, Bobby had moved back to his home state of Minnesota in 1980 and kept up a grueling concert schedule of 80 gigs each year.
Bobby Vee in outdoor portrait, 1959-61
Bobby spoke of how his failing memory forced him to give up the stage — and keep his tragic secret from the public! "My concern was Karen," Bobby explained."I took my problem out of the picture so I could be there for her" — adding: "The toughest part is when I mumble about something and I don't even know what I'm talking about!"
Photo credit: Getty Images
Two Bobby Vee’s
Bobby — born as Robert Velline — had first noticed his Alzheimer's symptoms in 2010, and tried his best to stay on the road to help provide for his wife's medical needs. "Music has been such a part of my life and I love it," he said, "but there's no playbook for this." But despite moving his family to Arizona, Karen continued to struggle with her medical issues.
Photo credit: Getty Images
bobby-vee-dead-alzheimers-5
She had her lung transplant at Duke University Hospital, but succumbed to kidney failure at the age of 71 in 2015. By then, Bobby had also given up making any public appearances. Towards the end, he mostly took comfort in playing music with his adult children. One of his final statements was made on his website, with Bobby declaring: "Together and with our amazing family, we treasure each moment — and we hope and pray for the best outcomes!"
