Author: Keith Saturn

February 1, 1959 – The Winter Dance Party

February 1, 1959 – The Winter Dance Party is stranded en route to Appleton, Wisconsin, when the bus breaks down. With temperatures at 30 degrees below zero and no source of heat, the passengers burn newspapers in the aisles to keep warm. Sheriffs’ cars pick up the freezing entertainers and drummer Carl Bunch is admitted to the hospital suffering from frostbite. Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens take turns filling in on drums for the next shows. With the Cinderella Ballroom performance canceled, the Winter Dance Party continues and performs at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, Wisconsin. Source: The Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., Lubbock. @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #WinterDanceParty #RocHop

February 1, 1958 – Buddy Holly Center

February 1, 1958 – A review of the Crickets’ Newcastle, Australia performance appears in the local newspaper under the headline, “Rock Show Quiet,” an apparent comparative reference to the wild audience behavior at the Little Richard concert the year before. Source: The Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., Lubbock. @buddyholly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #buddyholly #TheCrickets #WinterDanceParty #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3KNIp9Y

January 31, 1958 – Buddy Holly

January 31, 1958 – In Newcastle, Australia, Pat Barton, a local deejay, interviews Buddy. During the interview, Buddy denies that The Crickets, or any group, will fill Elvis Presley’s shoes while he is in the Army. Source: The Buddy Holly Center, 1801 Crickets Ave., Lubbock. @BuddyHolly @BuddyHollyCtr #ROCkabillyHop #BuddyHolly #TheCrickets #RocHop
https://amzn.to/355od37

January 31, 1957 – Ritchie Valens

January 31, 1957 – Two airplanes collided over the playground of Ritchie Valens’ junior high school, killing or injuring several of his friends. This resulted in a fear of flying. Valens had been at his grandfather Frank Reyes’ funeral that day but was upset about the loss of his friends. #ROCkabillyHop #RitchieValens #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3KtPYmd

January 30, 1959 – Ritchie Valens

January 30, 1959 – Ritchie Valens called home to talk to his Mom. She wasn’t there, so he talked to Bob about wanting Mom to join him. “You’re gonna have a helluva time trying to get Mom on a plane!” Bob replied. “What about you…we’re still brothers, right?” Ritchie asked. After a brief silence, Bob told him “I’m there, Brother.” #ROCkabillyHop #RitchieValens #WinterDanceParty #RocHop
https://amzn.to/3JeDVbR