AMERICAN pop star Bobby Vee is still very much in demand 40 years after hits like Rubber Ball and Take Good Care Of My Baby.

He's back in the UK topping the bill on the All American Solid Gold Rock 'n' Roll Tour, ready to hammer out the hits at The Anvil in Basingstoke on Friday, November 1.

Born Robert Thomas Velline in Fargo, North Dakota, in 1943 into a musical family, it was no surprise when Bobby took an early interest in music.

He said: "I played saxophone in the high school band, but I wanted to rock out."

Bobby's brother Bill had his own band but was reluctant to let him join them.

Eventually Bobby cajoled his way into the band, The Shadows (the American version) despite their misgivings about his youth.

"I kind of backed into the band," said Bobby. "I was 15 years old and my ears were glued to the radio.

"It didn't take long before I started singing the songs and they started rockin' along."

Bobby's story took on a bitter-sweet flavour on February 3, 1959. A light plane carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper crashed in a snow-covered Iowa field, killing everyone on board.

The performers were due to play their next gig in Moorhead, Minnesota, where Bobby was now based.

Other performers who had travelled by road decided to continue with the show, and the promoters appealed for local talent to help fill in.

Bobby, a huge Buddy Holly fan, responded as he knew all the words to the songs, and took his chance with huge success.

It was the first step on a career which was to lead to huge chart success both in the USA and in the UK, where Bobby clocked up seven Top-10 hits by 1963, including Run To Him and The Night Has A Thousand Eyes.

Tickets for the Anvil show, which also features Chris Montez and The Chiffons, are available through 01256 844244.

The show will also be playing at Portsmouth Guildhall and at Bournemouth International Centre later in the month.