Ticket feature: Bobby Vee returning to Clovis Music Festival

Bobby Vee is returning to play the Clovis Music Festival this year.

Vee has played the festival, slated for Sept. 9-12 at the Curry County Events Center, seven times he said and calls the experience “an absolute joy.”

“The festival is full of grassroots kind of fun, nice people,” he said. “I love being in Clovis.”

Vee and The Killer Vees, made up of his sons, will perform 7 p.m. Sept. 10 at the Curry County Events Center.

Vee said he recorded his first album in Clovis in 1960 and that Buddy Holly is the biggest influence on his music.

“I love Elvis and his music but there was something that appealed to guys and gals. It wasn’t about his (Holly’s) great looks but his great music,” Vee said.

Since getting into music 51 years ago, Vee has recorded several tribute albums to Holly.

“Clovis must have been a great place to record. Not a lot of distractions in a quiet little town,” Vee said. “Buddy was a writer. He did a lot of material in a couple of years. That sets it apart. I loved the way Norman (Petty) made records. He didn’t charge by the hour.”

Vee recalled a recording session at Norman Petty Studios where he started at 8 p.m. and didn’t record until 11 a.m. the next morning.

Vee said he is excited about the Clovis Music Festival and will be in town early to visit with friends.

“There are festival that are a lot bigger but the people that come into Clovis seem like they’re very genuine. They want to chat. You get a chance to actually talk to people,” Vee said.

Randy Petty, festival chair, said that Vee has fans in Clovis.

“We do try to mix the lineup up just for the sake of bringing in something fresh,” Petty said. “But he’s a big hit here. He always has a good quality show.”

The festival is an annual celebration of Norman Petty and Buddy Holly and their history in Clovis.

Clovis Music Festival schedule

Sept. 8

7 p.m.— Buddy! The Buddy Holly Story, Marshall Auditorium, $20 general admission

Sept. 9

8 a.m.-5 p.m. — Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum tours, $5 admission

10 a.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

2 p.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

7 p.m. — Blackwater Ban, Kevin Montgomery, Johny Rogers and Starship Featuring Mickey Thomas, Curry County Events Center, $20 general admission

Sept. 10

8 a.m.-5 p.m. — Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum tours, $5 admission

9 a.m. — “Kids Rock” rock ‘n’ roll assembly, Mesa Elementary School

9 a.m. — Rockin’ Motorcycle Rally, High plains Harley-Davidson

10 a.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

12 p.m. — Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Norman Petty Studios Symposium, Business Enterprise Center, $5 admission, includes admission to the rock and roll museum

2 p.m. — tour of the Normal Petty Studio

7 p.m. — Will Banister and the Mulberry Band, Brian Hyland, The Coasters and Bobby Vee, Curry County Events Center, $20 general admission

Sept. 11

8 a.m.-3 p.m. — Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum tours, $5 admission

8 a.m. — Desert Cruzers 13th annual run to Hillcrest Car Show, Hillcrest park

9 a.m. — Rockin’ Motorcycle Rally, High Plains Harley-Davidson

10 a.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

12 p.m.-2 p.m. — Back to the 50s at Foxy’s Celebration, Foxy’s Drive-in

2 p.m. — tour of the Norman Petty Studio

7 p.m. — Kevin Montgomery and Johnny Rogers, The Originators of Rock and Roll featuring Johnny Rogers as Buddy Holly, Bobby Brooks as Little Richard, Darrel Crowy as Jerry lee Lewis and Donny Edwards as Elvis backed by the Killer Vees, Curry County Events Center, $20 admission

Sept. 12

8 a.m. — Rockin’ Motorcycle Rally, High Plains Harley-Davidson

10 a.m. — Rockin’ Gospel Sing-a-long, Norman and Vi Petty Rock ‘n’ Roll Museum

Tickets and information: www.clovismusicfestival.net and Clovis and Curry County Chamber of Commerce at 763-3435