Cannon Connections photo: Liliana Castillo Johnny Rogers, a Buddy Holly impersonator, took the stage Saturday with Kevin Montgomery to play their music, rather than Holly’s.
Liliana Castillo
The Clovis Music Festival drew more than 6,000 people over the course of four days.
The festival was started in 1987 by Vi Petty in honor of her husband Norman Petty’s recording accomplishments. The festival continues 23 years later as a celebration of Petty and Buddy Holly, who recorded some of his biggest hits at Petty’s studio.
Chief Ray Clark, retired, and his wife Vicki have attended the festival every year they’ve been in Clovis.
“We’ve been to six or seven,” he said. “It’s the Clovis sound. Most music has roots here.”
Clark said he is a big rock ‘n’ roll fan.
“It’s great. It’s keeps the sound going and keeps the music alive,” he said.
Clark said he enjoyed Bobby Vee, the Killer Vees and the Originators of Rock and Roll.
“I like it all,” he laughed.
Col. Stephen Clark, wing commander, and his wife Cynthia attended for the second year.
“It’s nice that the city is able to put this level of entertainment on,” he said. “This is pretty special. Most people don’t realize all the history behind it.”
Clark said several military members attended the festival and had told him they enjoyed it.
“This is a wonderful event for families,” he said.
This was the first year airmen were included in the festival with Cannon Idol participants Senior Airman Tawny Foreman and Airman 1st Class Jennifer Bodie performing before headliners The Originators of Rock and Roll.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity for them (airmen) to show what they do and how talented they are,” Clark said.
1st Lt. Mitchell Wills and 1st Lt. Clay Ten Eyck attended Saturday night for the first time.
“It’s a good time,” Wills said.
The friends said they were surprised at the size of the festival.
“You don’t usually associate a festival with a town this size,” Wills said. “That’s nice.”
The airmen said they learned about Clovis’ history with music at the festival.
“The festival shows that the city has really strong roots to the past,” Ten Eyck said. “I grew up with the oldies so this has brought back some memories.”
The post A rockin’ good time appeared first on Clovis News Journal.
