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FIRST PUBLISHED: Tuesday, September 8, 1936
Buddy Holly's Birth Announcement

Editor's Note:
In his birth announcement, the Lubbock Avalanche Journal, Evening Edition mistakenly announced Buddy Holly as the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. L. O. Holley. Following is the actual story that was printed.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Saturday, November 28, 1953
Two Boys Critically Injured In Mishap
Two Lubbock junior high school students enjoying the Thanksgiving holidays were critically injured here Friday afternoon when their two-seat motorscooter was struck by a car at the Avenue S-25th street intersection.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Various Dates, 1955
Live in Lubbock:

The following ads ran in the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal on various dates throughout 1955. Click the image to see a larger image.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Tuesday, October 23, 1956
Young Singer Is Lubbock's ' Answer To Elvis Presley'

Lubbock now has its own 'answer to Elvis Presley'. He is Buddy Holly, 20-year-old graduate of Lubbock High School, who recently signed a five-year contract with Decca Recording Co. and who is I packing them in' on weekends at the American Legion Youth Center.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Thursday, November 22, 1956
Recording Artist To Play At Legion Youth Dances Here

Buddy Holly, 20-year-old Lubbock musician signed to a five-year contract with Decca Records will begin a year's contract to play at the American Legion Youth Center, 2nd St. and College Ave., by playing for an after-game Thanksgiving dance there tonight.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Sunday, December 30, 1956
Knife Threat Is Ignored Youths Nab Shoplifting Suspect In Wild Downtown Chase Here

A group of courageous youths captured a 37 year-old suspected shoplifter who was armed with an open knife following a 'hare-and-hounds' chase through crowded streets in downtown Lubbock Saturday.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Sunday, November 24, 1957
Lubbock Combo On Network Show Next Sunday

Four Lubbock youths who have scored a success in the recording and personal appearance field with their music will hit the nationwide audience on Sunday, Dec. 1, when the Crickets are slated to appear on the Ed Sullivan Show.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Sunday, August 17, 1958
Rockabilly' Holding Own Among Music Followers
'Rockabilly', a mixture of rock 'n'roll and hillbilly, is the most popular type of music in and around Lubbock according to record sales, say owners of local record stores.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Tuesday, February 3, 1959
Lubbock Rock 'N' Roll Star Killed
Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson, Pilot Also Dead Buddy Holly, 22-year-old Lubbock rock 'n' roll singing star, was killed along with three other men in the crash of a light chartered plane northwest of Mason City, Iowa, this morning, the Associated Press reported...
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Wednesday, February 4, 1959
Death Cuts Short Meteoric Career For Lubbock Youth
Death which struck in a snowy winter's night in Iowa early Tuesday brought to an abrupt end the life of a 22-year-old Lubbock singing star and ended a meteoric career which had brought him cheers on three continents...
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Wednesday, February 4, 1959
Singing Star's Body Due Here Today
Services Pending For Buddy Holly, Victim Of Iowa Plane Crash - Three Others Die In Mishap
The body of Buddy Holly, popular 22-year-old singing star from Lubbock who was killed in an airplane crash near Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, is scheduled to be returned here by chartered plane today for funeral services and burial.

FIRST PUBLISHED: Thursday, February 5, 1959
Services Pending Here For Singing Star Buddy Holly

Funeral arrangements for Buddy Holly, 22-year-old Lubbock rock 'n roll singer and recording star who was killed in an airplane crash Tuesday in Iowa, were pending here late Wednesday night.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: Saturday, February 7, 1959
Buddy Holly Rites Slated Here Today

Funeral services are scheduled at 2 p.m. today in the Tabernacle Baptist Church for Buddy Holly, 22-year-old rock 'n roll singer who was killed in the crash of a chartered plane near Mason City, Iowa Tuesday.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: October 18, 1996
Petition shows residents favor naming street in honor of Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly might have a street named for him after all. After weeks of confusion over whether Avenue H had been permanently renamed for the rock 'n' roll pioneer from Lubbock, the official process to change the road's moniker is under way.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: December 11, 1996
Council to vote on renaming Avenue H

City Council members will vote for the first time Thursday on renaming part of Avenue H for Lubbock native and music legend Buddy Holly. But before that happens, residents will get to voice their opinions once more.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: December 13, 1996
City approves renaming Avenue H after Buddy Holly
For some area residents, the argument over naming a Lubbock street after Buddy Holly wasn't whether to do it, but where.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 2, 1997
Monday marks 38th anniversary of Holly's death
The past year has seen the debut of a full fledged Buddy Holly Music Festival in the Depot District, one supported by the city and attracting thousands. Perhaps more historically, it also found the name of a section of Avenue H that guides visitors through the entertainment district changed to Buddy Holly Avenue.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 5, 1997
That'll be the day when Buddy Holly's forgotten
Rock 'n roll singer Buddy Holly, who died 38 years ago Monday in a plane crash, lived only 22 years; he's been gone almost twice that many. His string of hit singles spanned just 22 months. So why, nearly four decades after ''the day the music died,'' are so many fans still reminiscing about him?
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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 25, 1997
Holly to be honored at 1997 Grammys
Lubbock-born singer-songwriter, rock 'n' roll recording artist and innovative producer Buddy Holly will be honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 1997 Grammy Awards.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: March 20, 1997
City exhibits early interest in Depot site Sale of restaurant could lead to new home for cultural center
The city is eyeing the Depot Restaurant and Bar as the new home for the Lubbock Fine Arts Center and the Buddy Holly collection, a City Council member said Wednesday.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 11, 1997
Circus to pay tribute to Buddy Holly
The reputation of Lubbock-born rock 'n' roll innovator Buddy Holly endures and will be celebrated todays with an appearance by elephants, horses, Holly's family and Ringling Bros. and Barnum & Bailey Circus celebrities.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 27, 1997
Griggs puts together Holly facts
I stand corrected. In my review of the concert by The Moody Blues with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra, I noted that bass player John Lodge was wearing a Buddy Holly T-shirt. Ralph DeWitt, seated much closer to the stage, told me last week, ''Justin Hayward also was wearing a Buddy T-shirt.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: August 30, 1997
Holly to sing with Family Praise Festival today in Post
Sherry Holly will be among those appearing with the Fred Goldsmith Music Ministry's Family Praise Festival at 7 p.m. today at The Community Center in Post at 113 West Main.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 8, 1997
Holly mail art show gets stamp of approval
Buddy Holly's influence has been felt throughout Lubbock since the second annual Buddy Holly Music Festival kicked off Thursday.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 10, 1997
Holly project cost set at $2.2 million Council gets contract for sale of Depot
A project to turn a historic downtown building into a showcase for the Buddy Holly collection, the Fine Arts Center and a West Texas music museum will cost more than $2.2 million.

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FIRST PUBLISHED: December 4, 1997
City to hire architect for Holly exhibit
The city plans to hire an architect to design the Buddy Holly exhibit at the Depot building later this month. Connie Gibbons, director of the city's cultural arts department, said she hopes to present City Council members with an architect choice at their Dec. 18 meeting.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: January 20, 1998
Influential singer/songwriter Perkins dies Monday at age 65
Carl Perkins, known to some as the godfather of rockabilly and forerunner of rock 'n' roll, died Monday in Jackson, Tenn. He was 65.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 3, 1998
Iowa town to celebrate the life, death of Holly
Today marks the 39th anniversary of the death of Lubbock-born rock 'n' roll singer-songwriter and innovator Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holly. Holly died at age 22 in the crash of a private plane near Clear Lake, Iowa, on Feb. 3, 1959.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: April 12, 1998
Band members long time Holly fans
The Nitty Gritty Dirt Band recorded its own version of "Maybe Baby" for the popular Buddy Holly tribute album called "Not Fade Away." Their inclusion seemed likely. After all, the band already had recorded Holly's "Rave On" back in 1971, and "Oh Boy" and "Not Fade Away" on later albums.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: May 29, 1998
Oh Boy! Holly's trademark glasses in city's hands
Buddy Holly's trademark eyeglasses were donated to the city's Buddy Holly exhibit Thursday by Civic Lubbock Inc. The nonprofit organization spent $80,000 on the glasses sold by Buddy Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: August 30, 1998
Sorensen takes over directoral duties in 'Buddy Holly Story'
George Sorensen had a blast watching the 1997 production of ''Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story'' at the Cactus Theater. He never expected to be directing the musical this year.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1998
South African makes trek to benefit girl with Fanconi's anemia
South African Peter Geldenhuys is walking the walk and talking the talk across America - mostly to help an ailing 8-year-old girl back home. Geldenhuys said Lauren Banhill of Benoni, South Africa, suffers from Fanconi's anemia. He said her family heard about his other charitable exploits from a radio show.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 4, 1998

That'll be the day
''I think Buddy Holly released two albums before his death,'' said local record and memorabilia collector/dealer Larry Thompson. ''I have found 196 Buddy Holly albums and I still don't have every pressing.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 5, 1998
Luncheon kicks off festival Mayor announces center's opening
The Buddy Holly Music Festival/Mayor's Kickoff Luncheon, attended Friday by several hundred corporate employees and a tour group from England and Scotland, actually served as a celebratory kickoff for the 1999 opening of the Buddy Holly Center in the Depot District.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 6, 1998
Crickets still rockin' after all these years
The Crickets Band tuned up their instruments Saturday in Raider Alley to play the style of rock 'n' roll songs that have never really left the stage since the 1950s.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: December 4, 1998
From rubble to rock
The old Depot building downtown today looks like it may be on its last legs. The inside of the building has been gutted, and the courtyard outside is strewn with rubble and construction debris.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: January 4, 1999
Transported to the past
Tim Walker has restored lots of cars in the past 18 years: a Model T, a Model A and about 20 different Mustangs. But his latest project is one that will probably be the most memorable.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: January 31, 1999
'The Day the Music Died'

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa (AP) — It has become known as ''the day the music died.'' But for thousands of rock 'n' roll fans, the music lives and is drawing them to a northern Iowa dance hall for the 40th anniversary of the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. ''The Big Bopper'' Richardson.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 3, 1999
Buddy Holly still cherished 40 years after crash
Musicians never forgot when the private plane crashed into a field north of Clear Lake, Iowa, on Feb. 3, 1959, it's tail pointed toward the snow-filled air and all four of its passengers dead.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: March 16, 1999
Family of rock legend Buddy Holly sues label MCA for royalties
The heirs of rock music legend Buddy Holly are suing MCA Records Inc. for millions of dollars in record royalties they say are owed to them. The suit alleges breach of contract by MCA for failure to honor a settlement from a previous dispute in 1995.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: March 17, 1999
Family disputes royalty payments
Buddy Holly's musical legacy may have generated millions of dollars through the years, but very little of it has found its way back to his estate in Lubbock, say Holly's heirs.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: April 15, 1999
Holley family moves suit to LA court
Buddy Holly's heirs have moved their civil suit against the rock pioneer's former manager, band members and a recording company to federal court in Los Angeles, a Lubbock attorney said Wednesday.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 9, 1999
A sour note for Holly festival: Dispute leads to name change
A breakdown in negotiations with Buddy Holly's widow will result in the name of September's annual music festival being changed from the Buddy Holly Music Festival to the Music Crossroads of Texas — West Texas Rock 'n' Roll Festival.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 11, 1999
Council votes to court Everly Bros.
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.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 13, 1999
William Kerns
A bit of this and a bit of that, while keeping fingers crossed for a dynamic local music festival by any name ... The major event taking place during the first week of September is the grand opening of the Buddy Holly Center.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 19, 1999
Producer says city fumbled music festival

Randy Smith is furious that the Lubbock Convention & Visitors Bureau misrepresented a financial proposal made months ago to the city to produce a September music festival.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: June 20, 1999
Holly Festival Demise
MARIA ELENA HOLLY, widow of famed rock 'n' roller Buddy Holly, held out too long in the negotiations for the rights to use her husband's name, likeness and image for the annual September music festival in Lubbock.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: July 13, 1999
LSO and The Crickets give concert
It may not be Buddy Holly Week anymore not legally anyway but the highlight of the weekend near the late Lubbock-born rock 'n' roll innovator's Sept. 7 birthday definitely will be the Holly-days involving the grand opening of the Buddy Holly Center.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: July 16, 1999
Lubbock trip a high note for Danish fan of Buddy Holly
The others may have missed the significance of Wednesday's visit to the Buddy Holly statue and gravesite. After all, they're in their late teens and they're from other countries.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: July 23, 1999
Buddy Holly Center opening with variety of musical acts
There will be dancing in the streets when Lubbock celebrates the official opening of its Buddy Holly Center Sept. 3. With three days of music and memories planned on Labor Day weekend by the City and the Lubbock Convention and Visitors Bureau, this area's residents and visitors may experience a virtual return to the musical styles of the 1950s.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: August 20, 1999
Free concerts scheduled for Crossroads music festival
The Lubbock Convention and Visitors Bureau has confirmed the following free concerts for the Crossroads of Texas Music Festival, formerly known as Buddy Holly Week.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: August 26, 1999
City-sponsored sock hop fails to get feet off ground
A city-sponsored sock hop Wednesday lacked both socks and hops. City employees say they are trying to figure out what went wrong with the sock hop scheduled at a senior citizens center. The event was to feature Buddy Holly music. But, apparently, few people showed up, and nobody brought music.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: August 29, 1999
Keller feels heat playing Holly in home town
Sean Keller grew up loving the music of Buddy Holly, but he never dreamed he'd be playing that same music, especially not while trying to be Buddy Holly.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999
This weekend will be full of concerts, events
The Lubbock Convention & Tourism Bureau will sponsor a slew of free concerts and events this weekend as part of the city's first Music Crossroads of Texas West Texas Rock 'n' Roll Festival, formerly known as the Buddy Holly Music Festival.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999
Crickets to play first show with orchestra

The concept sounded positively elegant: Further celebrate the opening of the Buddy Holly Center by booking The Crickets, three of whom once played with Holly, and contemporary recording artist Nanci Griffith to perform with the Lubbock Symphony Orchestra.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999

Holly Center big hit with crowd at gala
More than 600 people were in attendance Thursday as a new chapter in Lubbock's history began with the gala opening of the Buddy Holly Center.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999

Crickets are first band in center's Hall of Fame
The first act being honored in the gallery called the Texas Musicians Hall of Fame at the Buddy Holly Center is, quite fittingly, Holly's band The Crickets. (Keep in mind Holly himself was a Cricket before taking a leadership/front man role.)
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999
Holly museum will house Lubbock Fine Arts Center

Those assuming that the Buddy Holly Center, opening today, is limited only to the Buddy Holly Gallery and the Texas Musicians Hall of Fame no doubt will be pleasantly surprised to discover a plethora of visual fine art on display as well.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999
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.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999

Maria Elena Holly to receive 15 percent of Holly-related merchandising
Maria Elena Holly, the late rock 'n' roll star Buddy Holly's widow, will receive no portion of the $3 admission charge to the Buddy Holly Gallery inside the Buddy Holly Center, opening today with a 4:30 p.m. ribbon cutting ceremony at 1801 Ave. G.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 1999
New center aims to put Holly's story into context
Buddy Holly, the legend, meet Buddy Holly, the person. With the opening of the Buddy Holly Center Friday, in conjunction with the Crossroads of Texas Music Festival, Lubbock residents will have the chance to see details from the life of one of its most famous sons.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 4, 1999
Remembering Buddy
With the snip of a ribbon, more than 50 years of memories came flooding back for many Lubbock residents as the new Buddy Holly Center formally opened its doors to the public Friday.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 5, 1999
Fan pays tribute to Crickets
For LeRoy Morford and his wife, Patti, a weekend trip to Lubbock in 1996 turned into a labor of love that culminated this weekend.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 6, 1999
City pleased with Crossroads event
Visitors bureau officials say the West Texas music festival this weekend was a smashing success - although it's too early to gauge the festival's economic impact on the city.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 10, 1999
Keller brings fresh energy to 'Buddy'
There was an initial fear of perhaps trekking to the same well one too many times, but this year's production of Alan Janes' musical "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story" being performed for the fourth consecutive year at the Cactus Theater actually (shimmies and) shakes off any cobwebs of familiarity and sheds light on the relevance of one man's life.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 12, 1999
William Kerns
Total attendance surprised even those producing the outdoor concert on Sept. 4 in the Depot District, the showpiece of the first annual Music Crossroads of Texas - West Texas Rock 'n' Roll Festival. The music was hot, the crowd large and responsive, the weather taunting but cooperative.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: February 3, 2000
Celebrations center on birth, not 'Day Music Died'
It was 41 years ago today that Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley, the 22-year-old innovative musician who created waves from Lubbock to New York City, perished when a private plane piloted by Roger Peterson in snowy weather crashed into a vacant field near Mason City, Iowa.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: May 21, 2000
From Artist to Gallery Collector
Connie Gibbons filled sketch pads as a child. "I'd sketch the house next door, or sometimes I'd sketch characters from the comic strips. But I really didn't decide that I wanted to do art as a career until after I went back to college.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: July 26, 2000
Bank chief is big Buddy Holly fan
Robert McTeer is not stranger when it comes to Buddy Holly, In fact, the president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, made a special point of visiting the grave of the late Lubbock rocker.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: August 27, 2000
Buddy Holly Center snubbed by festival, celebrates anniversary
Connie Gibbons, director of the Buddy Holly Center, which certainly must be considered a valid resident of the Depot District, never was contacted by anyone from Market Lubbock Inc. concerning participation in the second annual Crossroads Music Festival.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 3, 2000
Local groups fill September with activities
A bit of this and a bit of that ... while wondering why practically every local organization decides to book events in September, with many bumping against, conflicting with or sadly being overshadowed by other events.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 7, 2000

Center celebrates Buddy Holly's birthday
Today is the anniversary of the birth of Lubbock singer-songwriter and rock 'n' roll innovator Buddy Holly. Holly was born on Sept. 7, 1936, and died at age 22 in a plane crash Feb. 3, 1959. Had he lived, Holly would have been 64 today.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 14, 2000
Mueller fires up fiesta with Holly tunes
It was about 30 minutes into John Mueller's first set of Buddy Holly tunes Wednesday when the entertainer briefly paused and said, ''OK, dinner time's over. So the rest of Lubbock is gonna show up now, right?''
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 24, 2000
Berry overpaid Holly tribute all but dead
Thousands attended a Chuck Berry concert on Sept. 1 at the Crossroads Music Festival, and many departed offended by the attitude of the 73-year-old rock 'n' roll legend.
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FIRST PUBLISHED: September 26, 2000
Buddy Performance Set
BUDDY HOLLY PROBABLY would be proud to know that legendary rocker Chuck Berry will headline the 2000 Crossroads Music Festival -- the annual music event that replaced the Buddy Holly Festival last year after city officials couldn't come to terms with Holly's widow over compensation for the use of the musician's name and likeness.
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