Buddy Holly Archives

Beane

Lubbock could commit thousands of dollars and land once proposed for a new visitors center to continue using the name of its legendary native son.

A contract the City Council will consider Monday allows the continued use of the city-operated Buddy Holly Center downtown for another 20 years in exchange for licensing fees, royalties and the construction of a new park on a dirt lot across from the center.

Councilman Paul Beane, who negotiated the contract with the Holly estate over the last several months, said the rest of the council welcomed the terms he described during a Thursday executive session, though at least one official was not yet sold Friday on the deal.

Beane expected smooth passage at Monday’s meeting.

“To the person, they were delighted,” he said.

Jonathan Faber, the attorney representing the Holly estate, did not return calls for comment.

DeLeon

The use of Buddy Holly’s name in his hometown had led to past legal fights and bad memories. Battles over the singer’s image ended a music festival and angered residents.

Property and publicity rights in Texas tied to the name were set to expire in early February on the 50th anniversary of the rocker’s death.

But federal trademarks, some less than a year old, continue to protect the use of Holly’s name.

The nine-page contract commits $20,000 by early March to the 20-year license, as well as royalties and the development of a park in honor of Holly and his widow, Maria Elena Holly, on property the city purchased for $1.3 million two years ago.

Other costs remain less specific. Maria Holly would receive an appearance fee if she chose to participate in any local ceremonies, as well as upgraded airfare and hotel accommodations. And Lubbock would need separate agreements to hold a Buddy Holly music festival or to invite impersonators to perform at the center, according to the terms of the contract.

Gilbreath

“I think it’s a fantastic deal for the city,” Councilman John Leonard said. “The name is still relevant, everything about him, it’s still relevant, and for $83 a month, I think it’s a heck of a good deal for the city.”

By committing the half-block property at Crickets Avenue and 19th Street, the contract may also finish visitors center plans that have long roiled City Hall politics.

Lubbock has looked to spend as much as $6.7 million in hotel/motel tax revenue to construct a new visitors center in the Depot District.

Texas restricts how the city can spend such revenue to projects like the visitors center.

The city committed $900,000 to make improvements to the Buddy Holly Center during the last budget session, and through the new contract would also commit to move the Buddy Holly statue and the West Texas Walk of Fame to an empty city lot across from the museum.

Councilmen reached for comment Friday favored adding visitor amenities into the Buddy Holly Center.

Leonard

Lubbock could add visitor center resources to the center, as well as new signs along Interstate 27, to bring new traffic to the museum, Mayor Pro Tem Jim Gilbreath said.

“I think that if a visitors center is located there, then it will serve a dual purpose,” Gilbreath said. “I think it’s a good idea.”

Councilwoman Linda DeLeon was not yet convinced. She had received the contract Friday but had not had time to review it, she said.

She did not believe she had the votes to oppose the contract.

Including Maria Elena Holly’s name in the proposed plaza angered residents she had heard from on Friday, DeLeon said.

The idea to combine the visitors center with the Buddy Holly Center also had a past, she said – it was shot down under a previous council due to a lack of bathrooms and to protect valuable artwork in the center.

“They forget, very quickly, why we moved away from that,” DeLeon said.