The Day the Music Died
 

The 50 year anniversary of The Day the Music Died is quickly approaching. The day Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the "Big Bopper" died in northern Iowa. While I wasn't alive then - my parents were high school students and always talked about it. My mom loved Buddy Holly and was so into the music of these artists, and it was a big deal that he died in her home state.

Perhaps some of you are old enough to have remembered or just love the music.

To recognize the anniversary the local paper has created an extensive site filled with video, timeline, fact & fiction, trivia, stories, pictures and more - thought you might be interested - so here it is DesMoinesRegister.com | Buddy Holly: 50 years after the crash that changed rock 'n' roll | The Des Moines Register

Plus they are giving away tickets to a big concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa - the place Buddy Holly performed last

Thought you might find this interesting. His wife Maria is such a money grubbing witch.(JMO) Lubbock would do a lot more if she weren't so concerned with getting a big check for anything his name goes on and it's not as if she's poor by any means! Just greedy. It's a shame.


1/22/09
City To Create Buddy And Maria Elena Holly Plaza

Posted: Jan 22, 2009 10:17 PM CST

City To Create Buddy And Maria Elena Holly Plaza


NewsChannel 11 has learned new information on a story we broke Thursday on NewsChannel 11 at 6, which pertains to the deal between city hall and the widow of rock-n-roll legend Buddy Holly.

Maria Elena Holly has signed a 20-year deal to allow Buddy Holly's name and likeness to be used at the Buddy Holly center at 19th & Buddy Holly Avenue. Lubbock will pay $20,000 up front for the rights. If you do the math, that's only $83.33 per month.

In addition to that, the Buddy Holly statue and the West Texas Music Walk of Fame will be moved next door to the Buddy Holly Center. Those tributes will occupy the space that was once set aside for a visitor center.

Then finally, near the statue will be some benches and a grassy area. That miniature park will be named the "Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza."

If the Buddy Holly statue and the Walk of Fame go into the spot previously reserved for the visitor center, then where will a new visitor center go? The city council has already approved $900,000 for the west end of the depot building, which is the same building that now houses the Buddy Holly Center.

After the roof, doors and windows are all repaired to historic standards, then that space will become the visitor center. The mayor says plans for a visitor center are not quite final but we have a hint from Councilman Paul R. Beane as to when we might see more details.

Beane says, "When the terms of the new agreement with Mrs. Holly are approved, if they are approved by the council on Monday ... I think that the terms of the agreement will go a long way in answering any questions anybody might have about a visitor's center here in Lubbock."

The agreement with Mrs. Holly does not directly relate to a visitor center. However, the city council is trying to coordinate a visitor center with the "Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza" so that the two projects complement each other.

Here's a link to the Surf Ballroom and info about their week-long party that starts next week Surf Ballroom

thought I would share a link to this well written story about people that were at the Surf Ballroom for Buddy's last concert

The Surf Ballroom and the crash of silence | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

Wow...50 yrs...while I was not born for another 4 yrs after the crash....I grew up listening to thier music and have always loved all those old tunes...it's amazing and wonderful that their music has kept thier spirit alive all these years and will continue to do so for many years to come!

Well last night was the 50th Anniversary of the final Buddy Holly concert -- there had been speculation that Paul McCartney would show up to play at the big concert last night. Guess Sir Paul owns all the rights to Buddy Holly's songs and he is a huge fan. Supposedly, because Buddy Holly's band was the Crickets, that's how McCartney & his pals named their band the Beatles - it was a whole insect thing :rolleyes:

Anywho - they thought McCartney, or Springsteen or Clapton or someone on that level would show - but they didn't. Holly's widow, family of Ritchie Valens, and the "Big Bopper" were there along with singing stars Graham Nash, Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys, Peter and Gordon, Joe Ely and Bobby Vee.

Read all about the 50th anniversary concert here - also video - lots of pictures & links there to a ton more on Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the "Big Bopper" - today, is really the anniversary of their death on Feb. 3, 1959. The concert was on Feb. 2 - the plane took off shortly after midnight & soon crashed

Big night at Surf's Buddy Holly concert, minus superstars | DesMoinesRegister.com | The Des Moines Register

We talked about it a bit in my history class today (we have a "today in history" thing). That's very sad. :(

I thought you were going to say in your music class. For a music lover like yourself Megan - the website the paper has is just amazing with all the links & data.