Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Songbook |
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 |
2021.002.003 |
Description |
Songbook contains handwritten lyrics written by J.P. Richardson, the Big Bopper. "Don't Slam the Pearly Gates (In My Face). Put down the bad Pick up the good Better start doing the things you should Start doing right For time runds out Or when I see you up there I'll hear you shout Don't Slam the Pearly Gates In my face Open up! Open up! Let me in this heavenly place You're gonna hear St. Peter say Turn around and go the other way Don't Slam the Pearly Gates In my face 2021.002.003a is a page that contains lyrics written by J.P. Richardson, the Big Bopper, for By Ole Booze Bye Ole Booze For ever more My drinking days are surly ore I had a good time But I will agree that drinking Booze are killing me When I die you can bury me With a bottle of booze At my head and feet Put a pair of dice in my right hand Gona shoot my way lawd Shoot my way to the promise Land I started drinking for fun Man I loved that stuff Ain't gona drink another drop Cause the devils juice sure is rough O if I go on down below 2021.002.003b shows the songbook's front cover. |
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 Songs & music |
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. |
