Buddy Holly’s winter dance party

Burlington - Nearly 60 years after their tragic deaths, Burlington Civic Music Association will honor the legend and music of Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper with John Mueller's Winter Dance Party. The show is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Jan. 11, at Burlington Memorial Auditorium, 200 Front St., Burlington, Iowa.

John Mueller's Winter Dance Party is the official live and authentic re-creation of Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper's (Jiles Richardson) final tour. All three performers died in a plane crash Feb. 3, 1959, shortly after performing at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Mueller's re-creation is the only show endorsed by the performers' estates.

The performance will include more than two hours of unbridled, high-voltage entertainment featuring hit songs of the 1950s, including 'That'll Be the Day,” 'Peggy Sue,” 'Oh, Boy,” 'Rave On,” 'La Bamba” and 'Chantilly Lace.”

Mueller, the critically acclaimed star of the U.S. touring version of the London/Broadway musical 'Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” performs as Holly and Linwood Sasser plays The Big Bopper. Ray Anthony, a star of the 'Legends of Rock ‘n' Roll” show in Las Vegas, performs as Valens. Their authentic four-piece band includes Grammy Award-winning saxophonist Mike Acosta.

The Winter Dance Party has performed on the Jerry Lewis Telethon, toured throughout North America and played at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw and others.

Single tickets are $35 ($10 for students). They may be bought on Ticketmaster or through Burlington Civic Music by calling 319-752-0336. Tickets also will be available at Memorial Auditorium the night of the show.