Expecting Rain

This is a continuation of a thread which I kinda hijacked at:

viewtopic.php?f=6&t=70345

and I was feeling a guilty about doing so, thus the new thread. In the course of discussion I noted...



The "Buddy Holly story" refers to Dylan's claims at various times that he attended the January 31, 1959 "Winter Dance Party" concert at the Duluth Armory, which he may well have done. However, Dylan also has said at least twice that he also saw Link Wray at the same concert and implied during the first episode of Theme Time Radio Hour that The Spaniels were also part of the same show. I did some research at that point and found that neither Wray nor The Spaniels were on the WDP tour, probably one of the better-documented of the rock-and-roll package tours that criss-crossed the country during the `50s. As noted above, I speculated that Dylan might have been remembering the 1957 Irving Feld "Biggest Show of Stars" tour where it appears The Spaniels and Holly were both on the bill.

As often happens, I was wrong as another researcher gently pointed out in an email. First, the 1957 Feld tour never entered Minnesota. It appears Dylan would have had to travel to Nebraska in order to catch the show. Second, while The Spaniels were indeed part of the tour, there's no evidence that Link Wray was there. In fact, again as was gently pointed out, it's unlikely that Wray would have been part of any tour in `57, as "Rumble" was still a year from release.

So again, we're back to the same questions:

Could Dylan have seen Buddy Holly in concert? The answer is "Yes." If Dylan saw him in Minnesota, he could have seen him prior to the Winter Dance Party tour in April 1958 (Alan Freed "Big Beat" tour, Minneapolis) or July 1958 in Duluth (Summer Dance Party - Duluth Armory, much more likely), or for the Winter Dance Party in January 1959 (Duluth and the Armory again).

Did he see Holly with Wray on the same bill? Possible. The best candidate is the Summer Dance Party in Duluth on July 11 1958. I've uncovered no evidence that Wray was on the bill, but the timing feels right. "Rumble" had been released in April of that year and was on the charts. The package tours routinely switched acts in and out based on what was charting. At various times, the Summer Dance Party featured Frankie Avalon and the Tommy Allsup Western Swing Band as well as Holly and were supported by a variety of lesser acts. Wray, who was a one-hit wonder in `58, could have been brought in to fill the bill for one or more shows.

It'll be interesting to see if more can be uncovered.

John Bucklen might be able to provide the definitive answer. Wouldn't he have been at the Holly gig with him? Doesn't he still live up that way?

Someone there would probably remember. I don't think it's out of the question Bob does in fact remember the correct time well enough, but won't let it get in the way of a good "passing the torch to me" story. You know, the "he LOOKED at me" bit.

That said, have you looked into other package tours hitting the area at that time? The genuine misremembered part is probably who was on the same bill at what time.

One thing's for sure, with or without Link Wray and The Spaniels, no-one could confuse seeing Buddy Holly 2 days before he died, with seeing him 6 months or more, earlier. He could have seen both Duluth shows, of course, which may be an excuse for mixing up who else was on the bill. I saw The Beatles, and am still unsure whether Roy Orbison was on the same bill that night.

more to be uncovered? more evidence on the way? what happened to the shelton book? shelton had info on bob wife wrong and bob didnt go off on him or correct him? whats the meaning of that. if i were cynical i thought that bob had some secret plan to throw off
all the important researching dylanists off track.
must be investigated, got my water gun ready send me the sign.

its only a matter of time before all the evidence is gathered and warrants issued against bob for misrepeseting his buddy holly viewing to unspecified persons (john does). crime carries a penalty of 2 years of hard labor consisting or 24/7 reading of bob dylanist ebooks.

Fred, why don't you check with Bill Pagel, who owns and has been restoring Bob's Hibbing home to its 1950's authenticity?

http://expectingrain.com/discussions/viewtopic.php?p=825665

what? restoring bobs home to 50s authenticity? you are kidding right?

^
like they've done to the houses of famous writers, scientists etc.

is this a bob approved project sponsored by the city govt?

Yeah, totally. He's actually converting it into an indoor ski-jumping arena. It's the Duluth home, not Hibbing. Check out the link.

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poor bob.

Bored?

Try reading the link.

I always took it on faith that he was bullshitting us.

just peeked.
i am at a loss for words.

When Holly Looked At Him, the only thing Bob was probably thinking about was asking him the time, because he had to get back home before his old Ma Kettle hit him over the head with a frying pan for being out so late.

That he saw Holly right before he died? Well, John and Paul saw Holly, the year before, in Liverpool. Hundreds of thousands must have seen him in concert. Why wouldn't that include two Beatles and one Bob Dylan?

1959 was a long time ago so the exact details that you remember may change. What I clearly remember is Bob saying one time that he did see Holly on that Winter tour, whether it was the last show or one of the last, I don't recall. I do remember Bob stated that he was in close proximity to Holly when Holly was on stage and they made eye contact. This I fully believe. If I had made eye contact with Buddy Holly on his last tour I would never forget it. It would be etched in my memory forever. And the fact that Bob said that got etched in my memory as well.

Fast forward to 3:40 mins - Bob's 1998 Grammy Awards speech
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5HaGgSJRso

album of the year for bob. big props.

Bingo!
Click ... add to bookmarks.

My worthless and my pointless knowledge!

You are waaay too hard on yourself.

Is that the one where he talks about being defiled and stuff?