Thursday, October 26, 2000:

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From Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Friday, June 11, 1999

Council votes to court Everly Bros.

By DAN McKAY
Avalanche-Journal

The City Council is spending $30,000 to attract the Everly Brothers to an upcoming music festival.

Lubbock's Convention and Tourism Bureau had requested the money for the Music Crossroads of Texas - West Texas Style Rock-n-Roll Festival, which will feature 1950s music and entertainment.

''We all want it to succeed,'' Mayor Windy Sitton said. ''We want to do everything we can to make it a success.''

The resolution was adopted 7-0, but not without some harsh words from councilor Victor Hernandez. Hernandez questioned whether the festival is worth the city's investment.

''We need to take a really hard look at it financially,'' he said.

Hernandez said he wants the festival to be a true community event ''but at these prices that's never going to happen.'' He urged the council to examine the festival's financial history.

''It's no longer the Buddy Holly festival,'' Hernandez said, ''and that's going to have an impact.''

Negotiations with Buddy Holly's widow to allow the city to use Holly's name, likeness and image broke down. The festival formerly was called the Buddy Holly Music Festival.

Sitton said organizers are now trying to make the event more than just a Buddy Holly festival.

''This is an attempt to try something different,'' she said.

The convention bureau hopes the September festival will attract tourists and encourage other organizations to have conventions and events in Lubbock.

Money for the music festival comes from revenues from the city's hotel/motel tax.

Dan McKay can be contacted at 766-8707.