Clear Lake, Iowa's one big claim to fame is the tragedy that hit rock and roll's first big superstar. It's the place Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Richie Valens played their final concert, before their plane crashed and killed them and their pilot in 1959. It's what Don McLean would later call "The Day The Music Died."

Now the ballroom where the trio performed for the last time is opening as a high tech museum, with special tributes and exhibits for all three stars. But it's clear Holly is the star of this show. 

“We’ve also had the original microphone from the very last performance at the Winter Dance Party that Buddy sang into return to the fold, and that’s going to be on display with a brand new jacket that Buddy Holly left after his last performance in San Antonio. These are really powerful items...

It also gives us a chance to take several things that have been in our collection that are intimately associated with those three stars, and many other musicians, and put them on prominent display.”

Not enough to make me head to Clear Lake, but if I'm ever passing through, I'd go see it for sure. 

Clear Lake’s famed ballroom to unveil high-tech music museum

Last edited by aflem (August 11, 2025 2:18 pm)