CLEAR LAKE – Hundreds of Clear Lake school children are getting an education in rock ‘n roll history.
On Friday morning kids from grades k-3 filled the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake.
They got a musical lesson from one of the pioneers of rock, guitar legend Tommy Allsup.
Allsup recorded with Buddy Holly and was on tour with him when he played his final show at the Surf in February 2, 1959.
Members of the Jimmy Sutton Band also played tunes and talked about the influence of Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson who also performed on that fateful date, all three and pilot Roger Peterson would die hours later in a plane crash.
Along with getting a greater appreciation of the music, the kids also got to learn and try out some new dance moves.
Valens’ sister Connie Valens Lemos watched and smiled, “I feel energized,” she said, “ I’m just feeding off their energy.
Photo:
Video: The Jimmy Sutton Band offers a musical history lesson to students from Clear Creek Elementary at the Surf Ballroom as a part of the Winter Dance Party weekend.
