2020 Edition
This road trip was taken during the scamdemic of 2020. The year that
the commie Democrats intentionally destroyed the US economy, unlawfully
took away our constituional rights and freedoms and pretty much destroyed
America as we knew it.
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The Surf Ballroom (the Surf) is a Historic Rock and Roll Landmark at 460
North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa. The Surf is closely associated with
the event known colloquially as "The Day the Music Died" - early rock and
roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper"
Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on February 2, 1959
as part of the "Winter Dance Party Tour".
I remember that day well. I was just an early teenager but I cried (and
stil do) when I think about that great loss.... Buddy Holly was a true
innovator when it came to the advent of Rock 'n Roll.... Alan Freed,
Ike Turner, Jerry Lee (The Killer) Lewis, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Richard
Penniman (Little Richard), Antoine (Fats) Domino and a few others who
defined the music of the 1950's.
What a great time to be growing up in America!
On September 6, 2011, The Surf Ballroom was added to the National Register
of Historic Places.
The Day the Music Died
Holly, Valens and Richardson left The Surf immediately after the show,
going to the nearby Mason City airport and chartering a small plane to
take them to Fargo, North Dakota to prepare for their next show at the
Moorhead Armory in Moorhead, Minnesota. The plane took off at 12:55 AM
Central Time on Tuesday February 3, 1959. Shortly after takeoff, the
plane crashed, killing everyone aboard.
A concrete monument was erected outside The Surf, and the ballroom is
adorned with large pictures of the three musicians. A street flanking
the facility's east property line is named Buddy Holly Place in his honor.
Crash site:
22728 Gulf Ave, Clear Lake, Iowa 50428
I-35S (coming from I-90), exit 300th St.
These images were made with my Nikon D810 camera and my
Zeiss Planar T* 50mm F/1.4 ZF.2 manual focus Lens.
I arrived at the Surf Ballroom at around 08:00. They don't open until
10:00. Wasn't crazy about killing two hours waiting for them to open,
but...... so I'm taking pictures of the marquis out front and this very
nice girl unlocks the front door and asks if I'd like to come in! Cool!
She turned on many of the lights and gave me the run of the place which
I very much appreciated!
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