Buddy Holly memories linger long in Clear Lake, Iowa

Old-time rock’n’rollers are gathering Feb. 1-3 for the annual “Winter Dance Party,” hosted by the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. This year’s edition salutes the three musicians who performed their last concert in Clear Lake 65 years ago.

The Winter Dance Party performance on Feb. 2, 1959, was the final concert before singers Buddy Holly, Jiles Perry “The Big Bopper” Richardson Jr., and Ritchie Valens perished in an airplane crash early the next morning (Feb. 3), only minutes after takeoff from the municipal airport in nearby Mason City, Iowa.

 

Here’s the word from the ballroom’s publicist: “This year’s lineup promises to be an unforgettable tribute to the past and a celebration of the present. Musicians are gearing up for three exciting days of rock’n’roll.” 

“The Winter Dance Party has long been known for its ability to transport attendees back to the golden era of rock & roll, where timeless melodies and infectious rhythms laid the foundation for generations of musicians to come. This year’s event will uphold that tradition.” 

Among those artists performing, two acts have special connections to the 1959 Winter Dance Party tour. 

Vocalist Austin Allsup is the son of Tommy Allsup, who played guitar with Buddy Holly during the 1959 dance party tour and then became a regular “Buddy Holly tribute” performer at the Surf until his death in 2017 (at age 85). Tommy Allsup was supposed to be aboard the plane that went down, but he “lost” a coin toss with Ritchie Valens, who took his seat. 

Austin Allsup was a top-10 finalist on “The Voice” in Season 11 (2016) as a member of “Team Blake.” He succeeded his father “as part of the Winter Dance Party family and has returned to the Surf every year since.”

 

The Killer Vees group descends from entertainer Bobby Vee, who hurriedly put together a band of high school chums in Fargo, N.D., on Feb. 3, 1959, immediately after the fatal plane crash to join the Winter Dance Party

 

Bobby Vee’s band played at the venue just across the Red River in Moorhead, Minn. They were impressive…and that effectively launched Bobby Vee’s lengthy music career. His earliest hits from 1961 were “Rubber Ball,” “Take Good Care of My Baby” and “Run to Him.” The following year, he scored big with “The Night Has a Thousand Eyes.” 

Bobby’s sons, Jeff and Tommy Vee are joined by their cousin, Matt Vee and his wife, Julie Velline, to make up the heart of The Killer Vees. The newest member of the group is Tommy’s son, Bennett Vee, who is now 17. Their show is “a wonderful legacy to Bobby Vee,” who died in 2016 at age 73. 

Several stars from the past are also scheduled to perform at the Surf this year. They are: 

Vito Picone & The Elegants, whose major hit was “Little Star” in 1958.

 

Dodie Stevens, whose chartbuster song was “Pink Shoe Laces” in 1959.

 

Chris Montez, who had a huge hit in “Let’s Dance,” from 1962.

 

The Chiffons, featuring original vocalist Judy Craig Mann. The group’s most popular songs were “He’s So Fine” and “One Fine Day” from 1963.  

 

Judy Craig Mann is second from the left.

Dolores “La La” Brooks, who was a member of The Crystals. She sang lead on two of the group’s biggest hits from 1963, “Then He Kissed Me” and “Da Doo Ron Ron.”

 

Also scheduled to appear are: Rocky & The Rollers; Richie Lee & The Fabulous 50’s; Slim Jim Phantom; The Lettermen; Albert Lee; Marshall Crenshaw; Jennie Vee; Blondie Chaplin; Glen Matlock; and Gilby Clarke.

Rocky & The Rollers