Every year near Labor day there are free concerts all day long at the Buddy Holly Festival The festival takes place at the Buddy Holly Center, which was named for Lubbock's rock pioneer.

We arrived late and watched a concert by Patricia Vonne that made us feel that we "really" were in Texas. She had a nice cowgirl dress and she spoke and sang both in English and Spanish. The audience consisted of local people, some dressed in cowboy boots, hats and shirts. After Patricia Vonne's concert ended we toured inside of the Buddy Holly Center. There was a big copy of Buddy Holly's trademark black horn-rimmed glasses at the entrance, and the pair recovered from the crash site was exhibited inside. Although the regular entry to the center is $3 for adults, it was free during the festival. We toured the general exhibits, read about his life, saw artifacts such as his speeding tickets, plane tickets, hotel receipts, as well as various pictures. What I was most impressed by was when he was 4 years old he attended a birthday party and the Lubbock newspaper reported that he sang for the occasion. He must have had such a nice voice and a good ear to be mentioned in a newspaper at such a young age.

In a little theatre we watched a 20-minute documentary on his life. It was sad to recognize that he died at such a young age--23--in a plane crash with other young and talented rock-and-roll singers: Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper." We visited the gift store, the Lubbock Fine Arts museum and the Texas Musicians Hall of Fame. Buddy Holly's wife and his friends were attending the festival. My brother and his wife met one of his girlfriends whose dresses and pictures were in display.

That night I wanted to watch the movie on Buddy Holly's life, but my husband, my brother and his wife were already saddened about his tragic accident; they vetoed my decision.