April 2009 \ Features \ Field Report \ 50 Winters Later: A Tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper

50 Winters Later: A Tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper

Joe Coffey

Inside the tribute concert for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper
Premier Guitar April 2009
(2 of 5)
They can make those people dance: Ritchie Valens’ brother, Mario
Ramirez (Left); J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardon’s son, J.P. Richardson, Jr.
(Center); and original Cricket Joe B. Mauldin (Right)


Bobby Vee with his Telecoustic-inspired guitar built by Richard Leach. At the age of 15, Vee formed a band that literally kept the music alive, filling in for Buddy Holly and his band at a scheduled show in Moorhead, MN, following
the crash. Vee would go on to sell 28 million records and score six Top 10 hits.


Guitar Legend Tommy Allsup lost the coin toss for a seat on the plane that crashed. Allsup has 10,000 session credits to his name, going clear back to Bob Wills, and was called “one of the finest guitarists in the world” by Paul McCartney. Here Allsup plays his maple Tradition MTA 700 set-neck hollowbody.”


Graham Nash’s admiration for Buddy Holly runs deep—and even inspired the name of his British Invasion-era band, the Hollies, which continues to perform today. He was also born on February 2 (1942), which would later become known as the “Day the Music Died.” Here Nash plays a vintage J-160E, one of Gibson’s first acoustic electric guitars.

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Comments

 (5 comments) display by
UsernameComment
Ramon
on 06/02/2009 		Gear 101 - Know thy Gear. I've just been schooled. Thank you!
Brian Wilson
on 04/14/2009 		I was happy just to be in the building 50 years to the day of the last show. I am told it hasn't changed much.... I could imagine Buddy and Tommy, Waylon, Ritchie and The Bopper setting up their equipment and playing to a crowd somewhat similar to what we experienced 50yrs later. I was overwhelmed with the feel of the building and the energy.... I hope to return visit the Surf again in future years... Buddy Holly we still miss you.... Your music lives on. Rave On!
Phillie C
on 03/31/2009 		Awesome lineup (performers AND equipment!). The music lives on!
Dan Marois
on 03/27/2009 		Wish I'd been there. Great article. This is what music is about; celebration.
Holly Surfer
on 03/23/2009 		It was a good show, in the 20 years I have gone I have seen better shows there. We still rocked and remembered. It was good to see Kevin Montgomery open the show, the Crickets and Bobby Vee are always a great addition. Too much hype for a mediocre show however, this show should have been swapped out with the Saturday night show.



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