Three Stars remembered at park

   The families of Ritchie Valens and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson were in Clear Lake last week to attend the dedication of a new park just west of the Surf Ballroom which honors the memory of their loves ones, along with rock and roll icon Buddy Holly.
    The centerpiece of “Three Stars Plaza” is a large record spindle with three stacked records; the bottom record displays the names of Valens, Richardson and Holly, who died in a tragic plane crash just north of

Clear Lake after playing a concert at the Surf Ballroom in 1959.
    Holly’s widow, Maria Elena, had planned to attend the dedication, but was forced to cancel due to illness.
    In the hours leading up to the unveiling of the park centerpiece the Big Bopper’s son, J.P. Richardson Jr., presented the Surf Ballroom with a briefcase belonging to his dad.  The briefcase, recovered from the 1959 plane crash, included a notebook of songs the artist was working on, as well as a hotel receipt for $3.75 from Ironwood, Mich., dated Feb. 1, 1959.  The briefcase and its contents are now on loan to - Read More Via e-Edition