A Clovis surprise: Buddy meets Fred

Nick Gerlich , a fellow road-a-holic and road sign geek and I headed west.

After leaving Amarillo and traversing the lethargic I-40 for a half an hour he geared southwest onto US 385 heading towards Hereford. At which point, his green machine (mini van equipped with various road trip items, including a 10 speed) turned right onto US 60. The midst of cool breezes and an ambiguous mix of sun and clouds placed us in a state of an automotive stupor, a condition known to make people drive further than they anticipated. About an hour later, we found our way at a cross roads in the Land of Enchantment.

 

After passing a Westward Ho in Clovis, we were both pondering where to go. Nick made a right a couple blocks north and stopped the vehicle. "Let me get the map," he says. Opens the Rand McNally with an urgency comparable to a ambulance attempting to rush a bleeding patient to the emergency room. "There is one state that is out of order," he adds," New Mexico." Map slaps the seat and the buckle connects into the contraption. The vehicle methodically crawls several yards, makes a left by the Hotel Clovis, then turns right onto a blood red brick road.

Instead of traveling 82 miles north to Tucumcari, the van halts. "Wow!" Ooohs and ahhs dominate the scene for the next few minutes as road sign geeks unite.

 

 

However, after a few minutes, the name "Buddy Holly!"  flies out of nowhere, sending curiosity down my spine. From there we took a whirlwind journey to W. 7th St. until we began hearing guitar riffs.  We found Norman Petty Studio!

 

The mouths began to water as this came into our minds, That'll Be The Day

 

"Buddy Holly was here!"  From February 1956 until September 1958 Buddy and the Crickets performed at the studio. Buddy Holly at Norman Petty

Drool slowly trickles down the left bottom lip. "He was a huge influence on The Beatles," the other star struck roadie says, but who is Norman Petty?

Petty, according to the museum's website, began his career in music at the age of five when he learned to play the piano. Several years later, as a teenager, he created a group known as "The Torchy Swingsters." As he attempted to improve their sound, he developed a love affair with recording music.

After returning from the military in 1946, he resumed his position as staff announcer for KICA radio in Clovis. Two years later, after marrying high school sweetheart Violet Brady, he formed "The Three Musical Tones" (later the "Norman Petty Trio) with guitarist Jack Vaughn. Their success eventually landed them a contract with ABC-Paramount Records, which included the hit "Mood Indigo." This enabled Petty to expand the studio to its current format.

The rhythm continues to pound the heart as we head onto US 84 until...

 

Immediately, the heavens began to open our eyes to the unraveling of more American History.

 

The Clovis Depot is currently a model trains museum, which was closed. Then just behind it...a Harvey House! Today it is used for storage, but boy, its history is packed with memories of Fred Harvey's catering service, the Clovis Harvey House and the days where the Atchison, Topeka and Santa Fe was among the major railroads that reigned supreme in the country.

 

 

Guitar riffs and locomotives begin to fade away as the van heads back into 2014.