About The Song
Crafted by Al Byron and Paul Evans, “Roses Are Red (My Love)” was performed by Bobby Vinton and marked his inaugural success. The track debuted in April 1962.
Vinton stumbled upon the composition in a discarded pile at Epic Records. Initially, he recorded it with an R&B vibe, but he was granted the opportunity to rework it into a slower, more poignant rendition, complete with strings and a vocal choir. The song claimed the top spot in Australia, New Zealand, Norway, South Africa, and the United States, making it a significant hit across various nations.
On July 14, 1962, the song ascended to the summit of the Billboard Hot 100 singles chart, reigning for four consecutive weeks. Notably, this single marked Epic Records’ inaugural number-one hit. In Billboard’s year-end assessment for 1962, the record secured the fourth position in the “Top 100 Singles of 1962” ranking. Furthermore, it clinched the 36th spot in the year-end assessment for the top Rhythm and Blues records of 1962. Cash Box’s “Top 100 Chart Hits of 1962” also recognized the song at the 17th position.
Vinton, initially signed as a bandleader by CBS (Epic) Records in 1960, faced adversity after two unsuccessful LPs. Executives contemplated dropping him from the label. However, in a pivotal meeting, Vinton persuaded them to let him sing on the next, seemingly final, single—the very song he discovered amidst discarded material.
Although dissatisfied with the initial recording due to its incorrect tempo, Vinton made a second attempt. The re-released version not only claimed the number-one spot in the U.S. but also secured him a new recording contract, this time as a solo artist.