The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum dedicated the Surf Ballroom as
a historic rock and roll landmark as part of the Museum’s ongoing Landmark
Series, which identifies locations in America that are significant to the origins
and development of rock and roll.
Los Lonely Boys kicked the night into overdrive with their Texican
blues that owes much to the road Ritchie Valens paved and Los
Lobos widened. Here JoJo Garza plays his Hohner B Bass 6-string
that allows him to play three and four note chords high on the neck
to fill out the trio’s sound.
Kevin Montgomery kicked the night off with his version of Buddy Holly’s
“Wishing.” His father, Bob Montgomery, was close friends and teenage
band mates with Buddy Holly. Here Montgomery plays a Gibson J- 185.
Los Lonely Boys’ Henry Garza brought his customized MIM Strat, but also paid
tribute to Valens by playing a few songs on this reissue Harmony Ritchie Valens
Stratotone, given to him at the event by Harmony president Charlie Subecz.
The company brought several and also gave one to Los Lobos, the Surf
Ballroom and the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
One of the stars of the show was this handwired Tweed Twin that was shipped to
the event directly from the Fender Custom Shop. According to Nate Westgor of
Willie’s American Guitars in St. Paul, MN, who provided guitars and backline for
the show, after soundcheck the guitarists were wrangling with each other to play
one of the two Tweed Twins Fender had sent. This, despite the fact that Nate had
a ’ 58 Tweed Super and two ’ 59 Bassmans on the stage.
