Holly Center offers free lectures and discussion series
The Buddy Holly Center is, in effect, still a museum. As such, it has been designed to provide not only entertainment but also education.
Those interesting in learning about area music can choose from eight Buddy Holly Center-sponsored sessions this weekend, grouped together under the heading of “Roots: A Symposium on West Texas Music.”
More specifically, this symposium will examine the music legacy of Buddy Holly and explore the musical heritage of West Texas.
All sessions are free.
SATURDAY
“Technology in Music” Joe Carr, professor of country music at South Plains College, will present an examination of the impact of technology on the evolution of popular music from 8:30 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Southwest Collection on the Texas Tech campus.
Lanny Fiel, an independent producer and documentarian with 30 years of diverse musical experience, will be moderator.
“Environment and Music: West Texas Culture” Paul Carlson and Virgil Johnson will discuss West Texas culture and its impact on musicians from 10:30 a.m. to noon at the Southwest Collection on the Texas Tech campus.
Carlson, associate chair of Texas Tech’s history department, has published books, articles and essays about Texas history. Johnson, a long-time educational administrator, wrote and performed a Top 40 hit song in 1961 while a member of doo-wop band The Velvets.
Bluegrass musician Alan Munde, an associate professor of music at South Plains College, will moderate.
“Conversation with the Crickets” A luncheon at noon will find Crickets members Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis and Joe B. Mauldin discussing their music and backgrounds in the Matador Room at the Texas Tech University Center.
The session is free, but there is a $12 charge for the luncheon.
“The Buddy Holly Legacy” Paul Friedlander, director of Chico State University’s music industry program, will discuss Holly’s impact on modern music culture and role as inspiration to generations of songwriters and musicians in a session from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Southwest Collection on the Texas Tech campus.
Rob Weiner, a reference librarian, will be the moderator.
“West Texas Music Roots” Musician Tommy Allsup and writer Nolan Porterfield will examine West Texas music preceding Buddy Holly, emphasizing its impact on Holly, from 3 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the Southwest Collection on the Texas Tech campus.
The moderator is Guy Logsdon, a recognized authority on the history of Western music.
“Buddy Holly: A Life” A presentation on the life and work of Buddy Holly will open with a discussion of Holly’s career by rock ‘n’ roll historian Bill Griggs and John Goldrosen, who wrote the first major biography of Holly in 1975, at 5 p.m. at the Southwest Collection on the Texas Tech campus.
Carr will moderate.
SUNDAY
“Buddy Holly: Story Telling” Session will be held from 1:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Texas Tech’s Southwest Collection.
“Buddy Holly: Story Telling Part II, A Remembrance” Session will be held from 3:30 p.m. to 5 p.m. at Texas Tech’s Southwest Collection.
Both Sunday sessions will be moderated by Weiner and Bill Tydeman.
By WILLIAM KERNS
A-J Entertainment Editor
