J.P. McDermott and Western Bop

A Celebration of the Life and Music of Buddy Holly Presented by J.P. McDermott featuring Carl Sonny Leyland & Brian Hogan Secret Island Tiki , 209 Pine Ave Long Beach, CA 8:00 pm $Free A Stellar Shows Presentation Though it’s been 65 years since the world lost Buddy Holly in the first major tragedy of the rock and roll era, his memory and his music live on. To mark the occasion and honor this amazing musical legacy, noted Holly superfan J.P. McDermott will be hosting a series of celebrations of Buddy’s life and music across California at venues from Solvang to San Diego. Holly was only 22 years old on that bitter cold night in February 1959, when the light plane he was traveling in crashed in a corn field outside Clear Lake, Iowa, killing all on board, and putting an end to one of the most creative and prolific careers of the rock and roll era. In a scant three years, Buddy left behind nearly 100 recordings, including at least 40 original songs, among them some of the greatest in the rock and roll canon. Though we lost Buddy, songs like "Peggy Sue", "It's So Easy", "Rave On", and "That'll Be the Day" live on through the years. These celebrations will feature Buddy's exciting, fun, and heartfelt music all night long, with diversions into the careers of Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper who also perished in the same plane crash. J.P. McDermott & Western Bop to Host An award-winning singer and band leader, J.P. McDermott has an abiding love for Buddy's music, and has presented Holly events for many years, including a lecture at the Smithsonian Institution on Buddy's life and musical legacy. His series of YouTube deep-dives into Holly’s songs have been viewed more than 250,000 times. J.P. says, "I’m really happy to be able to bring this celebration to LA, Long Beach and San Diego on the 65th anniversary. While it could be a somber occasion, there is so much joy in Buddy’s music, this really calls for a celebration of all these great songs. “I don’t imitate Buddy – this isn’t a ‘Tribute’ or an impersonation,” says McDermott. “I just love Buddy’s music, and I just try and play it straightforward and from the heart.” McDermott's versatile and hard-rocking combo, Western Bop will back him all night, playing in the many styles that Buddy explored, from real rock and roll, to country, to Tex-Mex, to orchestral ballads. Incidentally, the name of the band comes from Buddy's original business card that touted that he played both kinds of music – Western and Bop. Featured Guest Stars Joining the festivities in LA, Long Beach, and San Diego will be internationally renowned boogie woogie piano player, Carl Sonny Leyland. Keyboards were an integral part of some of Holly’s best-known songs from the rollicking solos on “Rave On” and “Think It Over” to the gentle celeste (a keyboard instrument often mislabeled a glockenspiel) on “Every Day”. McDermott says “Having Carl join us is really a treat, for us, and the audience. He’s a world-class musician and a fantastic entertainer. His featured set will be sure to bring the house down”. Secret Island Tiki is the venue for the show, “a mysterious grotto where fine food and liquid libations merge with the sounds of the islands to create an atmosphere of contentment - and joy”. This show promises to be one of the highlights of the season. Experience some of the greatest rock and roll music ever written at one of the finest tiki bars anywhere!