RE: Buddy Holly, The Surf Ballroom & More, 50th Anniversary

[Jerry@CHP]

Hey Guys,

One of the biggest 1950’s and ’60’s rock n’ roll line ups in modern history will take place at the end of the month for the Buddy Holly Tribute weekend. The Surf Ballroom has been doing tribute concerts since 1978 and this year marks the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of some of rock n’ rolls most promising young stars. The Surf Ballroom is still going strong all these years later.

We (Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs) were honored to be a part of the activities and will play on the show Friday night. I’m humbled just to be a part of this historic event and in the company of so many artists that I listened to as a kid. Being a part of this event is almost as good as a 10 second pass in the new 1967 Z28 D/ Stock race car! Very close!

Don’t know if anyone from CRG is attending. If you are, look me up. We will be staying at the Best Western in Clear Lake, Iowa. Wednesday Jan 29th through Feb 3rd.

The special guest star rumors are all over the map. P. McCartney and Ringo Starr are and have always been big Buddy Holly fans and there is a real possibility that they will be here. There is also Mick Jagger, Keith Richards, Springsteen, and a possible reunion of Dion & The Belmonts.

In any event, this rock n’ roll extravaganza promises to be magical to say the least. Serius-XM Radio will be there in full force along with plenty of local TV coverage and many FM oldies radio stations from all over the county.

Rock On,

Jerry


The Buddy Holly Winter Dance Party Tribute Week, January 2009. Special 50th Anniversary Celebration to commemorate the music of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens.

EVENING CONCERT: Wed Night, Jan 28, 2009
Doors Open: 6:30pm
Arists Scheduled to Appear:
Jason D. Williams
The Original Founding Members of the Whitesidewalls
Location: Surf Ballroom

EVENING CONCERT: Thursday Night, Jan 29, 2009
Doors Open: 6:30pm
Artists Scheduled to Appear:
Bill Haley’s Original Comets
Johnny Tillotson
The Tymes
Dodie Stevens
Tommy Allsup & Johnny Rogers (and special guests TBA)
Hosted by Diamonds 'Original Lead Singer' David Somerville
Location: Surf Ballroom
Tickets: SOLD OUT

CONCERT:, Friday Night, Jan 30, 2009
Doors Open: 6:30pm
Artists Scheduled to Appear:
The Winter Dance Party featuring Costume and Dance Contest, John Mueller, Ray Anthony, J.P. Richardson, Jr. and the MAD HATTER’S TEA PARTY Featuring The Killer Vees w/ special surprise guests, Jimmy Gilmer & The Fireballs
Location: Surf Ballroom
Tickets: SOLD OUT

CONCERT:, Saturday Night, January 31, 2009
Doors Open: 6:30pm
Artists Scheduled to Appear:
Bobby Vee
Buddy Holly’s Original Crickets
Johnny Preston
Chris Montez
and Special Guests - TBA
Location: Surf Ballroom
Tickets: SOLD OUT

CONCERT: Monday Night, February 2, 2009,
50 Winters Later Commemorative Concert
Artists Scheduled to Appear:
Tommy Allsup (Buddy Holly’s original lead guitar player on the last tour)
The Big Bopper JR
The Original Crickets
Pat DiNizio of the Smithereens
Joe Ely
Wanda Jackson
Los Lobos
Los Lonely Boys
Legendary DJ, Cousin Brucie Morrow from Radio Station 77-WABC
Graham Nash
Peter & Gordon
Sir Tim Rice
Bobby Vee
and special guests TBA
Doors Open: 6:00pm
Concert: 7:00pm
Location: Surf Ballroom
Tickets: $85

Also, a possible reunion of Dion & The Belmonts who played the Winter Dance Party Tour in 1959!

Enjoy,

Jerry

[Jerry@CHP]

Hey all,

Made it into Des Moines, IA tonight.  Very cold here.  1 degree.  In court tomorrow and then off the Clear Lake for the big Buddy Holly bash on Wed.

Sir Tim Rice of Broadway show fame is doing a spot for this event on the internet and TV.  I think every famed musician and singer who is still alive from from the '50s and '60s will be at this event.  I'll let everyone know about the Keith Richards and P. McCartney sightings.

Jerry

[Jerry@CHP]

In Clear Lake, IA now, Chrysler van broke down, POS.%$^*(**&*^%

No GM cars when I arrived.  Concerts start tonight.

12 degrees here.............burrrrrrr

Jerry

[Jerry@CHP]

Wed Night Comcert.  Great!

The Whiteside Walls (oldies band) were the opening act followed by Jason D. Williams out of Memphis, TN.  Jason is a mad man, does a lot of Jerry Lee Lewis stuff and throws things all over the stage.  Surprised he didn't hit any of the band members with the furniture!  He goes on for about two hours playing like a crazy person at 100 mph.  The Surf is packed!  No room to dance.

16 degrees here now. 

Got rid of the Chrysler POS rental and now have a 2008 red Impala, just like the one I bought. 

More Later,

Jerry

[Jerry@CHP]

Thursday Afternoon,

Went to Surf Ballroom this afternoon, dance class going on and sound check for tonight's artists.  Bill Haley's original Comets, and many.  Comet's original drummer, Dick Richards is 85 years old and he can play with the best of them.  I was amazed. 

Met Sir Tim Rice, Johnny Tillottson, and Dodie Stevens.  D. Stevens had a major hit in 1958, "Tan Shoes and Pink Shoelaces".  Only problem is she looks like she's 40 years old and she had a hit record 50 years ago.  Can't figure this one out.

Having dinner tonight with Jimmy Gilmer, Fireballs, Trevor Churchill (CEO of Ave Records in London) and more.

Still cold as hell here with 30-40 mph winds.

Jerry 

[Jerry@CHP]

Thursday Night,

Big line up of stars.  Found out there are people here from 47 states and seven countries.  Surf Ballroom was packed last night.  Bobby Vee's boys have a band called the Killer Vees and they are very good.  They were the back up band for most of the acts last night.  Buddy Holly's lead guitar player, Tommy Allsup, who was on the last tour was on first.  Then came David Sommerville of the Diamonds, Dodie Stevens, The Tymes, Johnny Tillotson, and Bill Haley's original Comets.  The Comets were great.  Dick Richards, 85 yearts old did a drum solo that would get Buddy Rich's attention. 

Many media outlets here, we play on Saturday night now which is better for us.  A lot happeneing in this little town.

More later,

Jerry

[Adz28]

You sound like you are a kid in a candy store and having a blast!

Are you playing your drums in the band?

I will have to take your word on the line-up. A liitle before my time :-)

Enjoy!

[Jerry@CHP]

Yes, I'm playing drums for the band........tomorrow night.

Was at the British Luncheon today and it was a big jam session between many musicians.  I palyed a few Buddy Holly & Chuck Berry numbers.

Latest talk is this Keith Richards, Paul McCartney, Eric Clapton and others are in the area.  Looks lilke they are going to make a showing at the Monday night show.

More later, off to dinner with some of the out of towners.

Jerry 

[Jerry@CHP]

Friday Night,

Surf Ballroom, packed.  I wonder what the fire code is?  Great B. Holly act, Johnny Mueller.  Best Holly look a like and singer that I've seen to date.  The Big Bopper's son was also on the show along with Jimmy Clanton and Shirley Alston Reeves of the Shirelles. 

More later, sound check at 5:30 PM for us.

Jerry

[Jerry@CHP]

Tonight's Saturday night concert will be broadcast live on XM-Serius radio starting at 8:00PM, EST.

Jerry

[tom]

Do you know which station ?

[PURESS]

tonight on 50's on 5 at 8pm et.......rebroadcast on Monday,Feb. 2....@6pm et.....

[tom]

Thanks. Will try to catch the replay.

[Jerry@CHP]

Sunday Morning, TIRED!!!!!

Will write more to cover the show later.  I have to do a Camaro inspection today in Minn. 

The crowd was incredible!  Being on the stage and seeing the thousands of people out there was a very humbling experience.  Cousin Bruce Morrow introduced us.  I used to listen to him when I was a kid growing up in Long Island, NY. 

I stayed back stage most of the night mingling with the acts on the show and taking pix.  We shared a motor home lounge with Peter & Gordon.

Have to get up to MN.

Jerry

[click]

Here is link to article on the lady from Minnesota that had the only known pics of that night. cool story, attaboy Jerry

http://www.kare11.com/news/news_article.aspx?storyid=538377&catid=14

[ChevyThunder]

http://www.spinner.com/2009/02/02/buddy-holly-makes-his-widows-heart-go-boom-50-years-later/


This story says Buddy's wife was at the show Feb 2nd

[Jerry@CHP]

I'll post some good photos when I get caught up.  Got in late last night, Tuesday, 271 e-mails, a pile of snail mail and tons of stuff to open up yet...........numerious phone calls to return, etc.  If you have your own business you know the drill.

I will say this, the Monday night Surf concert was not that great.  No big surprises or special guests as we were led to believe.  Graham Nash and Dave Mason were about the best........along with Peter & Gordon, and G. Nash came out and sang with P&G.  That was cool. 

There was a group called Los Lonely Boys on the Monday show.  I have no clue as to why they were there.  All they played was LOUD hard rock music and no songs relating to B. Holly, R. Valens or The Big Bopper.  I was stunned that a band like this would perform at a B. Holly tribute concert???  The lead singer kept saying "Buddy Holly man, Ritchie Valens man, The Big Bopper man, rock & roll man."  We should have came home on Sunday.     

The guys were in the shop yesterday trying to get me a leg up on the work load but we are very busy now.

Jerry

[PURESS]

A review in Minneapolis paper did not favor the concert much either, sorry to say, but they kinda like Los lobo Boys..go figure..Rock and Roll music effects us all in different ways...as a younger man I went to a Foreigner & Bad Company concert...The warm-up Band was a new Punk rock band..the crowd hated them...we booed them off the stage..and now they are in the Hall of Fame for Rock and Roll...The Ramones...Let's just hope the Music never really dies...Scott

[3Zs]

Los Lobos were at the right venue.  They are a West Coast group from Richie Valens neck of the woods and they do mostly 50's rock and roll.  They did all the music for the movie La Bamba.  Los Lonely Boys, on the other hand, is a rock group and, as Jerry said, they probably did not belong at The Surf.

[PURESS]

my mistake..yes Los Lobo review was favorable..los lonely boys not so..sorry for the confusion

[Jerry@CHP]

Los Lobos were good, loud but good.  They had the Valens family come on stage while they performed.

Jerry

[tom]

I tivoed the Cousin Brucie broadcast replay Monday night. Not so hot, mostly he just spun period records., and mixed in a few interviews. I was hoping they would have played more of the live show.

[CVKUEBER]

Jerry, Are you still planning to post pictures from the Surf Ballroom?

[another kurt s]

I nearly died after leaving the surf ballroom in 1983 after a concert a couple of days before christmas.  Eighty below windchill factor and blizzard conditions.  Would have thought the jacked up 67 camaro RS/SS with fifties sticking out the rear wheel wells would have done me in but just slowly drove it in a ditch with my head out the window.  They closed the road and found us out of gas the next afternoon.  My toes still get cold even living in sunny Arizona.  No more snow for me.  The Buddy Holley curse passed me by!