Let the good times roll
Music festival starts Thursday
By: Vanessa Kahin
Issue date: 9/8/09 Section: News
Aside from Memphis, Tenn., Cleveland, or any other city claiming to be the "birthplace of rock 'n' roll," Clovis, New Mexico can claim a piece of music history, too.
The Clovis Music Festival is scheduled to take place Thursday through Sunday at the Curry County Special Events Center, 1900 E. Brady Ave. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the doors will open at 6 p.m., with performances scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. On Sunday there will be a free show at 10 a.m.
The festival commemorates many of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll who came to Clovis in the 1950s to take advantage of the unique recording sound at the Norman Petty Studios.
Lauren Tillman, event coordinator for the music festival, said Norman Petty was a local musician who formed the Norman Petty Trio. Petty built his own studio in Clovis where the trio could record music.
"That's what his focus was, to perfect the sound in the studio," Tillman said. The acoustics at the Norman Petty Studio were so good that it eventually attracted famous artists such as Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison.
"The purpose (of the festival) is to honor the works of Norman Petty," Tillman said, advising members of the community to come to the festival and "enjoy the music that was created right here in our backyard."
Tillman said the tentative schedule for Thursday's performance includes Charlie Phillips, Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs, Johnny Tillotson, Shirley Alston Reeves of The Shirelles, as well as Dave Somerville and The Killer Vees.
Friday's schedule is set to include a tribute to the originators of rock 'n' roll, with Johnny Rogers as Buddy Holly, Darell Croy as Jerry Lee Lewis and Pete Peterkin as Little Richard.
A "Ricky Nelson Remembered" performance is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, featuring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson. Kevin Montgomery and Johnny Rogers are also scheduled to perform.
On Sunday a "Rockin' Gospel Sing-a-Long" is scheduled featuring George Tomsco and Stan Lark of The Fireballs.
The Clovis Music Festival is scheduled to take place Thursday through Sunday at the Curry County Special Events Center, 1900 E. Brady Ave. On Thursday, Friday and Saturday the doors will open at 6 p.m., with performances scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. On Sunday there will be a free show at 10 a.m.
The festival commemorates many of the pioneers of rock 'n' roll who came to Clovis in the 1950s to take advantage of the unique recording sound at the Norman Petty Studios.
Lauren Tillman, event coordinator for the music festival, said Norman Petty was a local musician who formed the Norman Petty Trio. Petty built his own studio in Clovis where the trio could record music.
"That's what his focus was, to perfect the sound in the studio," Tillman said. The acoustics at the Norman Petty Studio were so good that it eventually attracted famous artists such as Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison.
"The purpose (of the festival) is to honor the works of Norman Petty," Tillman said, advising members of the community to come to the festival and "enjoy the music that was created right here in our backyard."
Tillman said the tentative schedule for Thursday's performance includes Charlie Phillips, Jimmy Gilmer and The Fireballs, Johnny Tillotson, Shirley Alston Reeves of The Shirelles, as well as Dave Somerville and The Killer Vees.
Friday's schedule is set to include a tribute to the originators of rock 'n' roll, with Johnny Rogers as Buddy Holly, Darell Croy as Jerry Lee Lewis and Pete Peterkin as Little Richard.
A "Ricky Nelson Remembered" performance is tentatively scheduled for Saturday, featuring Matthew and Gunnar Nelson. Kevin Montgomery and Johnny Rogers are also scheduled to perform.
On Sunday a "Rockin' Gospel Sing-a-Long" is scheduled featuring George Tomsco and Stan Lark of The Fireballs.