Thank you! Ritchie Valens, indeed! What a talented young man he was. His younger sister, Connie, is a wonderful lady and really does a great job of keeping up Ritchie Valens' legacy. I see her a couple of times a year and always have a nice chat with her when we're at the Surf Ballroom for the Winter Dance Party.
He was brilliant! A genius! I love his songs and I've watched La Bamba several times! I love American Music and all those talented musicians that you guys have launched to the whole world: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Robert Johnson, Hendrix, Valens... Uncountable marvelous artists! I'm looking forward to packing my stuff and heading to America right to the place where Ritichie Valens and Buddy Holly died! Just like the way you did, I want to play some of their music and drink something in honor of their memory! I love those guys! I love Music! You did a REAL good job, Sir! Keep it up! God bless you all! Regards from Brazi! Peace!
Thank you so much for this. My Father grew up with Buddy Holly as they both lived on 6th Street here in Lubbock. They both rode Triumphs according to my late father. My Dad used to take me over to that neighborhood and drive around and share stories. Sadly that historical neighborhood has been torn down and replaced with a Walmart store.
For many years I have wanted to take a trip to Iowa to visit the final hours of Buddy, Ritchie and J.P. Great video Mark and Lisa, thank you for taking the time to make this video.
Very well done. I had a sales job one winter which took me around the state of Iowa. I decided to try the Mason City/Clear Lake area and got the idea of trying to visit the crash site. I found what I could online (this was around 1989 or so) and from a description I then consulted a map program I had on my computer and spent a long time finding the spot on the map. The program would give you the latitude and longitude of the cursor on the map. From that, I entered them into an early hand held GPS unit that I'd gotten. It was very eerie that day, as it was winter and the day was overcast and foggy with wet snow cover on the ground. A gray winter day, much like the one on that fateful day, and nearly as cold. I drove gravel roads for some time hoping I was on the right track. The GPS unit had no map, but rather an arrow that simply pointed towards your entered destination and how far away it was. I managed to weave my way towards the spot and finally got to a spot where the arrow would point out into the field. I drove back and forth a few times to see just when the arrow turned and was really unsure it was accurate. There was no marking whatsoever. No indication at all that the site was near. I don't know when the glasses were added, but whoever had the idea was brilliant. It's perfect. Nothing but a fence row and barren snow covered fields. No path to be seen. No footprints. I really wasn't sure this could be it, but I parked and pulled my coat and hat tight and started to trudge off along the fence following my GPS in my freezing hands. It was grey, windy, cold, and extremely lonesome out there and it definitely gave me an eerie feeling. I kept walking, and stopped a few times wondering if there was any way to know where the spot was, and looking back at my car a long way back, wondering if I was nuts and should just turn around and go back to the warmth of the car. But I kept going. I was too curious. I recall there was tall corn on my left. I kept walking. Suddenly there was a very small area at the end of the corn maybe a few yards square. I was literally was almost on top of the spot before I realized it. And even then I wasn't sure, but there was a stake in the ground and what looked like some soggy disintegrating objects laying on the ground. None of the markers shown here were present. I was the only person for miles it seemed, on a cold, foggy, gray day. And I was way out in a field standing at the spot these legends died. Not something I'll soon forget.
I visited the Surf and the plane crash site in May 2016 and the experience was nothing less than extraordinary. Your video is fantastic. I also agree with you about the coin toss.
Man I can feel your passion n love for the music for buddy your heart is in the right place man, i've never seen the crash site, I have respect for the early ROCKnROLL music great vid -ALLWAYS ROCKnROLL-
Awesome video Man, this was the kind of video I was looking for on the sight and you even included the Surf Ballroom along with the Airport and Maps. I couldn't tell though if the phone both had a protective glass over it or not. Maybe people just don't touch it out of respect.
+MrJimmyc82 Thanks for the nice words! They do lock the door, but once it's opened there is no protective glass. I've been asked if I picked up the phone and heard a dial tone...nope! Out of respect I didn't touch it. It was just so cool seeing the booth that close!
The phone hasn't always been there. They found it years later and placed it in the lobby. Buddy either phoned from backstage or from the manager's office opposite the current phone booth.
Hey all! THANK YOU for your kind comments! It was definitely a moving thing to experience.
Mark Flora Man, I've been a fan since my teens (I'm now almost 45). Your vid is way moving. Thanks for sharing. Keep it rocking!
What an emotion, man! I'm from Brazil1 I was born in 1981, and I'm a huge fan of Valens! I hope I can do the same you did and then feel this energy!
Thank you! Ritchie Valens, indeed! What a talented young man he was. His younger sister, Connie, is a wonderful lady and really does a great job of keeping up Ritchie Valens' legacy. I see her a couple of times a year and always have a nice chat with her when we're at the Surf Ballroom for the Winter Dance Party.
He was brilliant! A genius! I love his songs and I've watched La Bamba several times! I love American Music and all those talented musicians that you guys have launched to the whole world: Elvis, Chuck Berry, Robert Johnson, Hendrix, Valens... Uncountable marvelous artists! I'm looking forward to packing my stuff and heading to America right to the place where Ritichie Valens and Buddy Holly died! Just like the way you did, I want to play some of their music and drink something in honor of their memory! I love those guys! I love Music! You did a REAL good job, Sir! Keep it up! God bless you all! Regards from Brazi!
Peace!
That's a very touchy film. Literally a great tribute on film very poetic very well done.
God Bless you Sir!!!
Nicely put together you two. Thanks for doing this. Good stuff.
Thank you so much for this. My Father grew up with Buddy Holly as they both lived on 6th Street here in Lubbock. They both rode Triumphs according to my late father. My Dad used to take me over to that neighborhood and drive around and share stories. Sadly that historical neighborhood has been torn down and replaced with a Walmart store.
+Lemony Snicket Wow!!! Very cool story about your father! Thanks for sharing!
For many years I have wanted to take a trip to Iowa to visit the final hours of Buddy, Ritchie and J.P. Great video Mark and Lisa, thank you for taking the time to make this video.
loved it mark you answerd some questions we only get bits here in england... thankyou .. janson
Well done!
Very well done. I had a sales job one winter which took me around the state of Iowa. I decided to try the Mason City/Clear Lake area and got the idea of trying to visit the crash site. I found what I could online (this was around 1989 or so) and from a description I then consulted a map program I had on my computer and spent a long time finding the spot on the map. The program would give you the latitude and longitude of the cursor on the map. From that, I entered them into an early hand held GPS unit that I'd gotten.
It was very eerie that day, as it was winter and the day was overcast and foggy with wet snow cover on the ground. A gray winter day, much like the one on that fateful day, and nearly as cold.
I drove gravel roads for some time hoping I was on the right track. The GPS unit had no map, but rather an arrow that simply pointed towards your entered destination and how far away it was. I managed to weave my way towards the spot and finally got to a spot where the arrow would point out into the field. I drove back and forth a few times to see just when the arrow turned and was really unsure it was accurate.
There was no marking whatsoever. No indication at all that the site was near. I don't know when the glasses were added, but whoever had the idea was brilliant. It's perfect.
Nothing but a fence row and barren snow covered fields. No path to be seen. No footprints.
I really wasn't sure this could be it, but I parked and pulled my coat and hat tight and started to trudge off along the fence following my GPS in my freezing hands.
It was grey, windy, cold, and extremely lonesome out there and it definitely gave me an eerie feeling. I kept walking, and stopped a few times wondering if there was any way to know where the spot was, and looking back at my car a long way back, wondering if I was nuts and should just turn around and go back to the warmth of the car. But I kept going. I was too curious.
I recall there was tall corn on my left. I kept walking. Suddenly there was a very small area at the end of the corn maybe a few yards square. I was literally was almost on top of the spot before I realized it. And even then I wasn't sure, but there was a stake in the ground and what looked like some soggy disintegrating objects laying on the ground. None of the markers shown here were present.
I was the only person for miles it seemed, on a cold, foggy, gray day. And I was way out in a field standing at the spot these legends died. Not something I'll soon forget.
I visited the Surf and the plane crash site in May 2016 and the experience was nothing less than extraordinary. Your video is fantastic. I also agree with you about the coin toss.
Thank you! It's quite the experience, isn't it!
Great! Thanks for sharing!
Man I can feel your passion n love for the music for buddy your heart is in the right place man, i've never seen the crash site, I have respect for the early ROCKnROLL music great vid
-ALLWAYS ROCKnROLL-
FANTASTIC Video! Ill be traveling to Clear Lake from Alabama next week. Looking forward to visiting these sites!!!
Great Job Mark and Lisa!
Jana Noonan
Great video. Thanks!
Awesome video Man, this was the kind of video I was looking for on the sight and you even included the Surf Ballroom along with the Airport and Maps. I couldn't tell though if the phone both had a protective glass over it or not. Maybe people just don't touch it out of respect.
+MrJimmyc82 Thanks for the nice words! They do lock the door, but once it's opened there is no protective glass. I've been asked if I picked up the phone and heard a dial tone...nope! Out of respect I didn't touch it. It was just so cool seeing the booth that close!
The phone hasn't always been there. They found it years later and placed it in the lobby. Buddy either phoned from backstage or from the manager's office opposite the current phone booth.
Thanks for that info! I did not know that.