My twin sister Sherry and I are honored to be included in the 50th edition of Vintage Rock magazine! The four-page feature "The State of Rock 'n' Roll" covers our work in Iowa (The Surf Speaks: Voices of a Living History and Everly Brothers Childhood Home projects) and is included in this content-rich milestone publication available now in print and digital formats. Special thanks to our Iowa rock 'n' roll family and to Vintage Rock visionary Steve Harnell, Julie Burns, Leah Fitz-Henry and the entire VR team for their interest and support! We are grateful for this unique opportunity to reach a wider audience of rock 'n' roll fans while shedding some (spot)light on the importance of place in shaping and stewarding our collective music history and heritage!
The Vintage Rock feature continues the history of warm acceptance and support I've received from the UK regarding my work with popular music landmarks. It began with my first professional opportunity after graduation with the Circle G Foundation, an international grassroots effort to save and revitalize Elvis Presley's former Circle G Ranch in Horn Lake, Mississippi, followed by my US ambassadorship with the now-former Music Heritage UK.
When Sherry and I attended our first Winter Dance Party commemorative event at the Surf Ballroom for The Surf Speaks project, we were introduced to the British Buddy Holly Society and Bopper & Me film project from the UK contingent of the "February Family." Both groups became integral to the choir of voices we recorded for their stewardship to sustain the spirit of an era captured by the final performance venue of "The Three Stars" Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the "Big Bopper" JP Richardson in Clear Lake, Iowa.
More recently, prior to the pandemic, the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation generously loaned us Everly Brothers artifacts from the UK as part of our Everly Brothers Childhood Home traveling exhibit premiered at the Surf Ballroom's 60th anniversary Winter Dance Party commemorative event and our second annual Everly Heritage Day in Shenandoah, Iowa, where they currently remain on display.
We are thankful for our growing transatlantic camaraderie with UK friends and colleagues who continue to inspire us more each day with their impassioned dedication to the people, places and events that defined the art form of rock 'n' roll!