Get ready to twist!

(Above) Chubby Checker, who was part of the 2014 Winter Dance Party, will return for the 60th anniversary event. -Reporter file photo by Chris Barragy.

Surf Ballroom announces lineup to commemorate 60th anniversary of 1959 Winter Dance Party

Plans for the 2019 Winter Dance Party, scheduled for Jan. 30 - Feb. 2 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, are well underway.  Event organizers announced a star studded, jam packed lineup Monday, featuring many rock ‘n roll greats and a long list of artists who have followed in the footsteps of their musical lineage… a tribute to the first generation of rock ‘n roll.

Surf Ballroom & Museum Board President Jeff Nicholas said, “It has been our goal from the beginning to include as many authentic rock ‘n roll acts as our budget would allow to make the 60th anniversary event one to remember. Celebrating and honoring the musical legacies of three of the greatest rock ‘n roll pioneers is a large part of our organization’s mission, and we are so humbled by all who have energetically agreed to be a part of it.”

Things will start rockin’ on Wednesday, Jan. 30, with the Winter Dance Party Family Sock Hop featuring The Whitesidewalls. The Whitesidewalls were part of the lineup during the first “Buddy Holly Tribute” back in 1979, and have performed during 15 of the 40 tribute events, the most of any musical act. Single-night tickets for the Family Sock Hop will be available for $15 in advance, $18 at the door.

Thursday

Thursday night’s lineup features Jay and The Americans. The group, started by four teenage boys in Sandy Yaguda’s Brooklyn basement 50 years ago, is one of the lasting success stories in rock ‘n roll history.  From 1962 to 1971, this group charted an amazing 12 top 10 records. With three original band members, founding member Sandy Yaguda; original member Howie Kirschenbaum; and original member Marty Kupersmith, plus the addition of Jay Reincke, the third and likely the best “Jay” yet, they will bring the authentic sound of their greatest hits to the Surf in February.

Also featured Thursday will be rhythm and blues/soul/early rock ‘n roll vocal group, Little Anthony and The Imperials. Their first single was “Tears on My Pillow,” which was an instant hit. Little Anthony and The Imperials enjoyed even greater success in the 1960s with a string of chart singles, including “Shimmy, Shimmy, Ko Ko Bop” in 1960, and back-to-back top 10 hits with “Goin’ Out of My Head” (number six) and “Hurt So Bad” (number 10) in 1964. The group charted 10 more singles between the mid-1960s and mid-70s, including “Take Me Back” and “I Miss You So.” In 1974 they reached number 25 on the R&B chart with “I’m Falling in Love With You.”

Other performers featured Thursday evening will be Robin Luke, and The Good Clean Fun Band. Luke was 16 when he became a national teen idol whose contemporaries included Buddy Holly, Ricky Nelson, Ritchie Valens, Frankie Avalon, Sam Cooke and the Everly Brothers. He is best remembered for his big hit, “Susie Darlin,’” in 1958, which was named after his then five-year-old sister, Susie.

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Friday

A Rock ‘n Roll Royalty Show, featuring the families of musical pioneers celebrating their rock ‘n roll heritage, will be the theme for Friday evening’s show. Edan Everly with Albert Lee, Frank Avalon, Wendy and Carnie Wilson, The Killer Vees, Linda Gail Lewis with Danny B. Harvey & Annie Marie Lewis, Austin Allsup, Bobby Cochran, Craig Westover featuring James Popenhagen and Mario Ramirez are all scheduled to appear.

“The Winter Dance Party has always been a celebration. A celebration for the fans, a celebration for artists and musicians and a celebration of family. This year, more than any other, we have family members of many of the most influential artists of the first generation of rock ‘n roll joining us,” said Shane Cooney, executive producer.  “Friday night’s show will be a unique way for those family members who had a front row seat as rock ‘n roll history was made to celebrate their musical journey,” he added.

Edan Everly, son of Don Everly of The Everly Brothers, will perform with legendary guitarist Albert Lee. Lee was greatly influenced by recordings of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, Gene Vincent and the Everly Brothers. Albert toured with the Everly Brothers off and on for 20 years. He won two Grammy Awards, in 2002 for his contribution to “Foggy Mountain Breakdown” featured on “Earl Scruggs and Friends,” and in 2009 for his performance on Brad Paisley’s instrumental, “Cluster Pluck.”

Frank Avalon has been a part of the rock ‘n roll scene since childhood as the oldest son of rock ‘n roll teen idol Frankie Avalon, playing drums since the age of three.  He has been working with his father Frankie Avalon as his drummer for the last 20 years. 

Wendy & Carnie Wilson are the daughters of Beach Boys co-founder Brian Wilson. Wendy, along with older sister Carnie and Chynna Phillips, founded pop singing trio Wilson Phillips. Wilson Phillips released two albums in 1990 and 1992.

Jeff, Tommy and Matt Vee, national music scene veterans and sons and nephew, respectively, of the late legendary Bobby Vee, join forces with their family and friends as The Killer Vees to celebrate timeless music classics from a wide variety of eras.

Like her brother Jerry Lee, Rockabilly Hall of Fame member Linda Gail Lewis soaked up the sounds of hillbilly music and rhythm and blues in the rural areas of Louisiana. Annie Marie Lewis is Linda Gail Lewis’s daughter, Jerry Lee Lewis’s niece and cousin of Mickey Gilley. She has opened shows for Jerry Lee with her mama since she was a teenager. She recently hooked up with Texas Rockabilly star Danny B. Harvey and toured with him as a duo and guest singer in his band, The 69 Cats.

Austin Allsup rose to fame in 2016 as a top-10 finalist on NBC’s “The Voice.”  His father, Tommy Allsup, played guitar with Buddy Holly during the 1959 Winter Dance Party Tour and was a regular performer at the Surf Ballroom until his death in 2017. After performing in his father’s place that year, Austin instantly became a part of the Winter Dance Party list of fan favorites and returned in 2018.

Bobby Cochran is the nephew of the late rock legend Eddie Cochran, and they were inducted into the International Rockabilly Hall of Fame together in 2017, the first time two family members have achieved that honor. Bobby Cochran has performed with numerous bands, including Steppenwolf, the Flying Burrito Brothers and Leon Russell. Cochran performed during the 2018 Winter Dance Party event and quickly became a fan favorite.

James Popenhagen has been performing Del Shannon’s songs for 25 years. He has performed with many artists including Brian Hyland, Tommy Roe and Frankie Ford. Del Shannon’s only son Craig Westover, who is also Popenhagen’s manager, will be joining in the fun at the Surf Ballroom this year.

Mario Ramirez, who is Ritchie Valens younger brother, plays harmonica, sings and writes songs for his own band, The Backyard Blues Band. With encouragement from friends and family and for the first time in Winter Dance Party history, Mario and his band will play a set of Ritchie’s songs in his honor.

Saturday

“Saturday evening’s show is a bit like a time capsule,” said Laurie Lietz, executive director of The Surf Ballroom & Museum and Winter Dance Party event coordinator.  “These are the voices and this is the music that defined a generation, and we think that’s worth celebrating.” Scheduled to appear at Saturday evening’s show are: Chubby Checker and The Wildcats, Albert Lee and Friends, Shirley Alston Reeves: the Original Lead Singer of The Shirelles, The Chiffons, Brian Hyland, Chris Montez, Johnny Tillotson and The Holy Rocka Rollaz.

In June of 1959, Chubby Checker recorded “The Twist.” An appearance on “American Bandstand” made the song a number one hit and dance sensation, changing the way people danced to the beat.  The next few years were prolific for Chubby as hit followed hit.  In 1961, Chubby recorded “Pony Time” written by Don Covay and John Berry. It went to number one and stayed on the charts for 16 weeks. In between recording and touring, Chubby took time to add feature films to his portfolio with the releases of “Don’t Knock The Twist” and “Twist Around The Clock.” In the fall of 1961, record industry history was made when Checker’s original hit record, “The Twist,” reentered the charts and by January of 1962, it was back in the number one position. No other record before or since has accomplished that feat. Combining its 1960 run with its 1961/62 return, “The Twist” spent an amazing nine months total on the U.S. best-seller charts.

Shirley Alston Reeves was the Original Lead Singer of the Shirelles. While attending Passaic High School in Henderson, North Carolina, she co-founded The Shirelles and sang lead vocals for the group.  “Will You Still Love Me Tomorrow”, written by Carole King and Gerry Goffini, was featured in the colossal hit movie Dirty Dancing” with Shirley on lead vocal.  “Mama Said,” also led by Reeves, was used in a major promotional campaign for Pepto Bismol.

The Chiffons originated from the Bronx area of New York in 1960. Their sassy flair made them one of the top Girl Groups of the early ’60s. They are best known for hit pop singles such as “One Fine Day” and “Sweet Talkin’ Guy,” hits that are still staples of oldies radio today. The group comprised Judy Craig (lead singer), Patricia Bennett and Barbara Lee. Sylvia Peterson was added to the group in 1963.  The group had already recorded a handful of singles when they hit the Number One spot in the United States with the song “He’s So Fine.” Their first hit was followed by other notable tunes like “Sweet Talkin’ Guy” and “I Have a Boyfriend,” although many of their recordings were derivative of the period. The group also released material under the title The Four Pennies.

Brian Hyland’s first hit came at the young age of 16 when “Itsy Bitsy Teeny Weeny Yellow Polka Dot Bikini” was a runaway hit in the summer of 1960. On the ABC label, he had some minor hits with “Let Me Belong To You,” “Ginny Come Lately,” and a song that would later be covered by Dave Edmunds titled “Warmed Over Kisses (Left Over Love).”  He had another top five hit in 1962 with “Sealed With a Kiss.”  In 1970, Brian collaborated with Del Shannon and released a cover of Curtis Mayfield’s “Gypsy Woman”, which went to number three. A few years later when “Sealed With a Kiss” was released again in Great Britain, it went straight to the top 10.

Chris Montez was influenced by Hispanic culture and the rock ‘n roll success of Ritchie Valens. Montez began singing rancheras with older brothers as a kid. They taught him to play the guitar; and while he began singing backup his voice eventually matured and began take the lead. “All You Had to Do was Tell Me” became a local hit. In 1962, Montez’s single “Let’s Dance” hit the top 10 and he was well on his way. He toured with Clyde McPhatter, Sam Cooke, The Platters and Smokey Robinson.

Pop/rock singer and songwriter Johnny Tillotson got his first exposure as a singer on his father’s radio station while he was still a child. His primary interest was country music, although he was inspired by rock ‘n roll when he saw Elvis Presley perform in Jacksonville in 1955, just after he had turned 14. He enjoyed great success in the early ‘60s when he scored a series of top 10 hits including “Poetry in Motion” and the self-penned “It Keeps Right on a-Hurtin’.” In total, he placed 30 singles and LPs in the Billboard charts between 1958 and 1984, most of them in the pop charts, though he also reached the country,

The Holy Rocka Rollaz became instant Winter Dance Party favorites several years ago when they thrilled a Winter Dance Party luncheon. The high-energy trio performs classics from the 1950s and ‘60s, and have become a main-stage favorite at the annual event.

Advance tickets for the 2019 event will be sold for $150 each, and are valid for the evenings of Thursday, Jan. 31, through Saturday, Feb. 2. Both tickets and seating for the event will be sold on a firstcome, first-served basis. Seating for the event is priced at $100 for a four-person booth, $150 for a six-person booth and $250 for a table which seats 10 people. A minimum of four tickets must be purchased to reserve a four-person booth, six tickets to reserve a six-person booth and 10 tickets to reserve a 10-person table on the floor. The booths and tables will be reserved for all three evenings of entertainment (Thursday through Saturday evenings). Tickets for the event are non-refundable and the entertainment lineup is subject to change. Tickets and seating reservations may be purchased online at the Surf Ballroom’s website (www.surfballroom.com) or by calling the Surf’s box office at 641-357-6151 beginning at 8 a.m. on Thursday, Nov. 20.

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