Twistin’ the night away

(Above) Winter Dance Party headliner Chubby Checker sang and danced his way into the hearts of Saturday audience members. -Reporter photos by Chris Barragy.

by Marianne Gasaway

The 60th anniversary of the Winter Dance Party was celebrated in Clear Lake in the most fitting of ways— with a gathering of all ages of people singing, dancing and reliving great music.

The Surf Ballroom was a sell-out for its annual event and thousands enjoyed not only performances from a record-number of groups, but events throughout the community.

The focus of the celebration is always the lives and legacies of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, but for those making their annual February trek to Clear Lake, or stepping onto the wooden dance floor for the first time, it is also about the feeling they get just being here.

Mary Lynn Jartz and her husband have been coming to Clear Lake for 21 years to enjoy the Winter Dance Party and each year they continue to be amazed.  “Jay and The Americans might be one of the best acts we have ever seen at the Surf.  They were so true to the music,” said Mary Lynn.

Others couldn’t get enough of this year’s headliner, Chubby Checker.  Checker himself seemed

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to also enjoy himself, coming off of the stage Saturday night to sing and dance with fans on the floor.

“I can’t believe I was right there with him,” said Veronica Muller, who came from Wisconsin for the event.  “The Surf is such a great venue.  You feel like your back in time.  And that time period was a very special one.”

Friday night’s entertainment lineup was billed as a Rock ’n Roll Royalty Show, featuring the families of musical pioneers celebrating their rock ’n roll heritage.  The acts included Frank Avalon, Wendy and Carnie Wilson, Austin Allsup, Bobby Cochran and more.  Allsup was making a return trip to Clear Lake, continuing to honor his father, Tommy, who famously gave up his seat on the ill-fated 1959 flight.  The elder Allsup became a staple of Winter Dance Parties, using it as a way to honor his late friends.

In addition to its tried and true fans— the ones who remember the 1950s, the Surf has also made a special attempt to introduce youngsters to the past.  Despite the frigid temperatures brought in by a polar vortex Wednesday night’s family sock hop was well attended. A special Thursday event for school children also featured scheduled performers sharing their thoughts and music with kids.

And then there were the kids at heart.

“I’ve been coming to the Winter Dance Party since The Mad Hatter started it in 1979,” said Audrey Morris.  “It’s a time to get together with friends and just have some good, ‘ol fun.”

“We’re celebrating rock and roll,” said Barbara Fink, from Omaha, Neb.  “I mostly like Buddy Holly’s music, but it’s all good to me.”  Fink said a bonus of the annual celebration is getting together with friends she has made from all over the world.  “It’s probably the best family reunion you can have,” she said.

It’s also a chance to be silly, like the girls from Wisconsin who came Friday night looking like a scene out of “Grease.”   The three, with their hair in curlers,  walked CL Tel’s Red Carpet into the event, proclaiming their allegiance to Rydell High.

“It was a fun, fun four days,” said Clear Lake Mayor Nelson Crabb after the event.  “The work that those at the Surf Ballroom do to make the event a success is amazing, as well as the fact that it is based on primarily the volunteerism and support of the community.”

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