Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Wallet |
Source |
Surf Ballroom |
Iowa History Era Tag |
World War II to an Urban State (1940-1963) |
Chronological Tag |
Postwar United States (1945-1970s) |
Catalog Number |
2021.002.014 |
Description |
Wallet belonged to Ritchie Valens who signed it inside. Ritchie Valens was the stage name of a rock and roll singer, songwriter, guitarist. He was killed in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa February 3, 1959. |
Additional Research & Sources |
Often referred to as "The Day the Music Died," February 3, 1959 rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson, "The Big Bopper" were killed when their plane crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa after taking off from the Mason City (Iowa) airport. The men had been performing at the Surf Ballroom as part of a tour across the Midwest called the "Winter Dance Party." Because of the cold, uncomfortable conditions traveling on the tour bus as well as illness among the band, Buddy Holly chartered a plane to fly to their next performance site in Minnesota. Taking off in poor conditions, the pilot lost control of the aircraft and crashed, killing the pilot and the three musicians on board. Singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to this as "The Day the Music Died" in his 1971 song, "American Pie." The Surf Ballroom that exists today opened July 1, 1948, replacing an earlier building across the street which burned in 1947. The Surf was a popular venue for dancing, and attracted popular bands and musicians. In 2009 the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Music (Cleveland, Ohio) dedicated the Surf Ballroom as a historic rock and roll landmark. In 2011 The Surf Ballroom & Museum was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. On January 13, 2021, the U.S. Department of the Interior designated the Surf Ballroom a National Historic Landmark, recognizing its ewnduring role in the history of American music. The Surf is Iowa's 27th National Historic Landmark. |
Primary/Secondary Source |
Significant - State/National |
County Tag |
Cerro Gordo |
People |
Holly, Buddy Valens, Ritchie Richardson, J.P. "Big Bopper" |
Subjects |
Music Rock & Roll |
Relation |
Show Related Records... |
Multimedia Links |
Click here to view/hear the file. |
Legal Status |
Copyright to this resource is held by the Surf Ballroom and has been provided here for educational purposes only, specifically for use in the Iowa Museum Association's "Teaching Iowa History" project. It may not be downloaded, reproduced or distributed in any format without written permission from the Rights Holder. For more information on U.S. and International copyright laws, consult an attorney. |
