Cindy Ehlen
Mason City Graduate
Belle Plaine Resident
Buddy Holly
Charles Martin author once wrote that Music “goes in the ear and comes out emotions”. I love this as
We tap our toes or keep time with our finger or move our bodies in time with the music. This month the Buddy Holly music was once again celebrated at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. It is a celebration for fans, artists and musicians. . . . Celebrating Rock and Roll. On 2/4/1959 Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper Richardson, and Richie Valens died shortly after takeoff from the Mason City-Clear Lake airport. This had an impact on me and my classmates. Buddy Holly music takes you back in time
and was our music to dance to.
Winter Dance Fest Memories 2019 (Written by a friend that attended the 2019 Festival)
What a great weekend of music and activities in Clear Lake Iowa for the 60th anniversary of the loss of music greats Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper.
We traveled to Clear Lake January 29 in blowing snow and record -23 degrees temperatures along with 2100 other rock and rollers as well as all the very fine musicians to enjoy 3 days of rock and roll from the 1950s. As it was our first time going to the Winter Dance fest we were unaware of all the other activities that occur each day during the fest. We were treated to free entrance to movies at the movie theatre which was showing Bohemian Rhapsody. There were art exhibits, luncheon with Richie Valens family, tour to the crash site, and many other activities that the great team of Surf Ballroom folks, who are mostly volunteers, put together.
Highlights of the evenings were getting to see great performer such as Little Anthony and Chubby Checker as well as younger family members such as Frank Avalon filling their father’s shoes so that the current generation can continue to enjoy live music of past greats. All the women singers were absolutely fantastic not only as a group but front singers for the bands.
Now for the Surf itself. She has been reconditioned and truly brings home what a ballroom was like in the era of big bands. The floor is huge and the original tables are meant for 1930’s size folks, even though most of us can still squeeze in to the hard wood seats.
The main ballroom tables and booths were sold out by the time we called in (on the second day of ticket sales!) but the true fun was wondering around and sharing conversations with all the other folks who shared open tables off and on when a person felt the need to sit down for a while. There were TVs in the other rooms so you didn’t miss a thing if you went to the bar for another drink. The Lions Club sold food and popcorn each night so if one was hungry you didn’t have to wait until midnight to find sustenance.
There were lots of folks in great costumes and the dance competition was amazing. It was even won by some Brits who came over especially for this weekend.
The only issue with the weekend was a slight problem finding a parking space close to the Surf. The Surf team did commandeer a shuttle for the various motel locations but not many seemed to use the service which seemed very convenient once you found out it was available. As we stayed at a bed and breakfast it was not a good option. Many locals went to eat close by first and parked their cars in the lot so that they had a spot close to the doors. Food at both the Chinese restaurant and the Half Moon was excellent. As in so many things these days, security screening was part of getting into the Surf each night, but they made it quite easy since it was so cold those 3 nights. Waiting in line to get in was another opportunity to visit with people especially when they had stories of going to school with Bob Dylan or finding out more of the real story about the crash of the plane that night from an aviation mechanic who knew much more about what happened that night. Finally a final hurrah goes to the team who checked our coats each night and seemed to find them all again during the rush at the end of the evening, when over a 1000 folks were still in the building but ready to head out in one lump.
Mason City Graduate
Belle Plaine Resident
Buddy Holly
Charles Martin author once wrote that Music “goes in the ear and comes out emotions”. I love this as
We tap our toes or keep time with our finger or move our bodies in time with the music. This month the Buddy Holly music was once again celebrated at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. It is a celebration for fans, artists and musicians. . . . Celebrating Rock and Roll. On 2/4/1959 Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper Richardson, and Richie Valens died shortly after takeoff from the Mason City-Clear Lake airport. This had an impact on me and my classmates. Buddy Holly music takes you back in time
and was our music to dance to.
Winter Dance Fest Memories 2019 (Written by a friend that attended the 2019 Festival)
What a great weekend of music and activities in Clear Lake Iowa for the 60th anniversary of the loss of music greats Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper.
We traveled to Clear Lake January 29 in blowing snow and record -23 degrees temperatures along with 2100 other rock and rollers as well as all the very fine musicians to enjoy 3 days of rock and roll from the 1950s. As it was our first time going to the Winter Dance fest we were unaware of all the other activities that occur each day during the fest. We were treated to free entrance to movies at the movie theatre which was showing Bohemian Rhapsody. There were art exhibits, luncheon with Richie Valens family, tour to the crash site, and many other activities that the great team of Surf Ballroom folks, who are mostly volunteers, put together.
Highlights of the evenings were getting to see great performer such as Little Anthony and Chubby Checker as well as younger family members such as Frank Avalon filling their father’s shoes so that the current generation can continue to enjoy live music of past greats. All the women singers were absolutely fantastic not only as a group but front singers for the bands.
Now for the Surf itself. She has been reconditioned and truly brings home what a ballroom was like in the era of big bands. The floor is huge and the original tables are meant for 1930’s size folks, even though most of us can still squeeze in to the hard wood seats.
The main ballroom tables and booths were sold out by the time we called in (on the second day of ticket sales!) but the true fun was wondering around and sharing conversations with all the other folks who shared open tables off and on when a person felt the need to sit down for a while. There were TVs in the other rooms so you didn’t miss a thing if you went to the bar for another drink. The Lions Club sold food and popcorn each night so if one was hungry you didn’t have to wait until midnight to find sustenance.
There were lots of folks in great costumes and the dance competition was amazing. It was even won by some Brits who came over especially for this weekend.
The only issue with the weekend was a slight problem finding a parking space close to the Surf. The Surf team did commandeer a shuttle for the various motel locations but not many seemed to use the service which seemed very convenient once you found out it was available. As we stayed at a bed and breakfast it was not a good option. Many locals went to eat close by first and parked their cars in the lot so that they had a spot close to the doors. Food at both the Chinese restaurant and the Half Moon was excellent. As in so many things these days, security screening was part of getting into the Surf each night, but they made it quite easy since it was so cold those 3 nights. Waiting in line to get in was another opportunity to visit with people especially when they had stories of going to school with Bob Dylan or finding out more of the real story about the crash of the plane that night from an aviation mechanic who knew much more about what happened that night. Finally a final hurrah goes to the team who checked our coats each night and seemed to find them all again during the rush at the end of the evening, when over a 1000 folks were still in the building but ready to head out in one lump.