Heritage Auctions is pleased to present what many are calling the most valuable concert poster in existence… the Buddy Holly & the Crickets “Winter Dance Party” concert poster from February 3, 1959, which is truly, exactly “the day the music died,” as anointed by Don McLean’s legendary “American Pie” song. It’s chilling, it’s sad, it’s poignant, and it’s historic. And as rare as can possibly be.
As music historians know, Buddy played his last show ever on Monday night, February 2, 1959, in Clear Lake, Iowa. He then chartered a plane to fly himself, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper (the story is actually much longer than that) to the tour’s next stop in Moorhead, Minnesota on Tuesday night, February 3. Well, as we all know, they never made it. Their one-propeller plane went down after midnight, so the date on Mr. Holly’s death certificate reads February 3, 1959.
This is the only concert poster, aka advertising window card, known to still exist from that ill-fated show on February 3. It’s stunningly rare, beautiful, and historic, and many pundits feel it has a strong chance to beat the world record for any concert poster ever sold, a record presently held by the Beatles’ 1966 Shea Stadium poster. Heritage proudly sold that poster for $275,000 on April 16 of this year; some are predicting a half-a-million dollars or more for this one.
We do love the way the venue box up top was so informally and casually written in red crayon or grease pencil. We also love the story of how it was found… which we’ll share with you when the official listing goes up soon.
It was 50 years ago (1972) that Don McLean’s “American Pie” topped the Billboard magazine Hot 100 singles chart, giving additional luster to this museum piece. This cardboard window card is in completely untouched and unrestored condition and comes from The Jim Cook Collection, one of America’s greatest concert-poster collections. This poster for what’s called “rock ’n’ roll’s first tragedy” will find an amazing new home come auction time, on Friday, November 11. I’ll be in the room taking phone bids; see you there.
Pete Howard
Director, Concert Posters
Heritage Auctions