a tribute to

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Big Bopper

John Mueller’s “Winter Dance Party” ® is the official live and authentic re-creation of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper’s final tour and the only show endorsed by the Holly, Valens and Richardson estates.  Each live concert performance includes over two hours of unbridled, high voltage entertainment featuring all the hit songs of the 50’s era: That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Oh, Boy, Rave on, La Bamba, Chantilly Lace, and many, many more.

John Mueller, the critically acclaimed former star of the U.S. touring version of the London/Broadway hit musical “Buddy..the Buddy Holly Story,” performs as Buddy Holly with Linwood Sasser as the Big Bopper and Ray Anthony as Ritchie Valens. The very authentic and energetic four piece band (guitar, drums, stand up bass and sax) includes Grammy award winning Mike Acostaon saxaphone.

The Winter Dance Party show has performed in front of over 2 million people on national TV for the Jerry Lewis Telethon, has toured extensively throughout the United States and Canada at theatres, performing arts centers, ballrooms, corporate events, casinos and even for the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame along with John Mellencamp, Marshall Crenshaw and others.

It is the only show endorsed and honored by Buddy’s widow Maria Elena Holly.

Highlights over the years have included performing with Grammy winner Peter Nero and the Philly PopsOrchestra, receiving the keys to the city of Green Bay, WI from the Mayor, playing in the legendary Surf ballroom on the same day Buddy, Ritchie, and the Big Bopper did 50 years prior and performing on stage with Maria Elena Holly (Buddy’s widow), Niki Sullivan (an original Cricket band member) and Tommy Allsup (original Winter Dance Party guitarist and legendary Nashville producer.)

The show also performs with full orchestration for symphonic pops concert presentations and has performed with the Detroit Symphony, the Columbus Ohio Symphony, the Jacksonville Florida Symphony, the Grand Rapids Michigan Symphony, the Philly Pops Orchestra and many more.

“Flawless….rings as clear and true as a chord from a Fender Stratocaster.”  
-The Chicago Tribune

“An air tight band with energy-packed execution of a long string of classics. Rather
  than museum pieces or mere fodder for oldies radio, these songs had all the vitality 
  and punch that they carried 50 years ago.”
-Springfield State Journal Register

“Winter Dance Party captures Holly era…a dead-on re-creation of the ’59 show.”
-Kalamazoo Gazette

“John Mueller(as Buddy Holly) gives a stunning portrayal. Highly recommended.”
-Chicago Sun Times 

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