Canadian coming to learn more 1959 music tour

Sevan Garabedian will be traveling to Coshocton to research a very famous rock ‘n’ roll tour from 1959 that was called the Winter Dance Party Tour. It became infamous for the plane crash that killed some of its headliners on Feb. 3, 1959. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” were killed in a plane crash after their show on Feb. 2, 1959 at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA. It became known as “The Day The Music Died,” coined famously in Don McLean’s song American Pie.

The tour, incredibly, continued without missing even one show as Jimmy Clanton and Frankie Avalon joined in the spirit of “the show must go on” and as a tribute to their fallen friends and musicians. The tour played the Coshocton Armory on Feb. 12, 1959.

“I have had the pleasure of interviewing many of the teenagers that were there that night, many of whom took pictures, have autographs, etc.,” Garabedian said.

He plans on visiting the armory during his stop in Coshocton Sunday and Monday, June 8-9.

“I would like anyone that was at the show or knows anybody that was there to please email and/or text me as soon as they see the article,” Garabedian said. “That way, if they were there, I can speak to them and also give them information about the time and day we’ll be visiting the armory.”

He can be reached at sevan1@sympatico.ca or 514-970-1959. Garabedian is Canadian and from Montreal.