The music didn’t die on February 3rd 1959. Far from it! Clear Lake and our beloved Surf Ballroom have celebrated the everlasting music of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), and Ritchie Valens for 49 years.
In the wee hours of February 3rd 1959, after the rocking Surf concert, pilot Roger Peterson was taking the performers to Fargo North Dakota to play next at Moorhead Minnesota. Roger, Buddy, Ritchie, and J.P. perished in a tragic accident.
There are innumerable stories swirling around the concert and the crash.
Barbara, 14 at the time, recalls the exhilaration of dancing on the iconic wood floors with her date Denny. She and Denny flowed with joyful, smooth moves to tunes like “Rave On”. One thing that she notices in the films that attempt to replicate that night are that they often show chairs on the dance floor. Not so according to Barb. The entire floor was filled with dancers moving to the music.
At school the next day little studying happened. The concert and following loss of their idols were all anyone talked about for many days to come. We still talk about it. Barb’s 9 year old brother Ron rode out to the crash scene the next morning. He remembers it vividly.
But happiness can be born of tragedy. Barb and Denny have been dancing through life together for over 65 years, their love not fading away.
Were you at the original concert? Do you know someone who was?
The Winter Dance Party as well holds our collective history and individual memories, from here in Clear Lake and around the world.
What are yours?
