Early rock 'n roll offered at Soaring Eagle

Fans of '50s and '60s music have the opportunity to get an earful of favorites when the Summer Dance Party 2000 invades the Soaring Eagle Casino Ballroom, 6800 Soaring Eagle Blvd., July 20.
Summer Dance Party 2000 is a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, three early rock stars whose lives were cut short after a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959.
The event stars actor and musician John Mueller, who has been called the clone of Buddy Holly. In addition, the Oldies But Goodies band from Lansing will perform.
Mueller, who wears black-rimmed glasses and plays a brown sunburst Fender guitar like Holly did, said he loves Holly's music because of its immediate impact on audiences.
"I think it's because it's easy to listen to and to understand the words. There's not a political message behind the songs. It's from back when music entertained people and was more about fun and enjoyment."
Holly's music was also way ahead of its time, Mueller said.
"He could rock out like Chuck Berry but then do a nice, lush orchestrated ballad.
"I can listen to any type of pop song and it's like a Buddy Holly song. It follows a three cord progression and there's a Buddy Holly beat in the background. He still has a huge impact on pop music today."
Holly was one of the first people to write his own songs and tour with an original band, rather than performing songs written by others and playing with a studio band, Mueller said.
The Summer Dance Party 2000 tribute includes four other musicians with Mueller, plus Fernando Vega as Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson Jr. as his father, The Big Bopper. The tour also runs through Grand Rapids and Jackson, then Indiana, Kentucky and Ohio.
Mueller, who was born and raised in Wichita, Kan., now lives in Los Angeles. He said he started his show business career as an actor, which helped him polish his tribute band. For the past five years Mueller has portrayed Holly in the international stage production "Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story," in which he played Holly's songs and also acted in different scenes.
The response to the play has been tremendous, Mueller said, and the show allows him to combine both of his creative talents. In fact, he earned a Drama Desk award for his portrayal of Holly at Kansas City's American Heartland Theatre. The play has also run in cities such as Toronto, Chicago, Miami and San Diego.
"I've developed a fan base from that. People have been really nice and complimentary, and I'm very appreciative of that," Mueller said.
Last year, Mueller headlined the 40th anniversary of the Winter Dance Party tour, a recreation of Holly's, Valens' and The Big Bopper's final touring route. The musicians played at the same ballrooms where the original shows were held.
"Some of the people who saw us were at the original concerts, and there was a very emotional response. Many people had tears in their eyes. Some said thanks for bringing it back to us.
"There were also people who have never seen us before. I try to make it as authentic as possible. I use old amplifiers and the same type of guitar as Buddy. I'm a stickler for details."
In Mount Pleasant, Mueller said he and his band will perform Holly hits like "Rave On" and "That'll Be The Day" as well as some more obscure, personal favorites.
Although he hadn't been born when Holly died, Mueller said Holly has had a profound impact on not only his professional career, but on his outlook on life.
"He had such a laser-like ambition and focus. He had a professional career of only 18 months, but he put out a very big body of work. The impression left on me is that you may only have a short time in life, so do what you want to do now. You don't know if tomorrow will arrive."
In 1997, Mueller and his band created their own CD of tunes, influenced by many of Mueller's favorite musicians, such as Holly and Berry, with a country/rockabilly sound. Mueller said he would like to make a CD of original songs and go on tour with his own material in the future, rather than continue playing the part of Buddy Holly.
"He's got to be kept as a young image," he said.
Before and after the Summer Dance Party show, the audience will get to hear the Oldies But Goodies band, from Lansing.
Guitarist and vocalist Larry Vance said he and the other members of the band grew up with the music they now play.
"I started the band eight years ago. I tried to get some experienced musicians in the area, guys who enjoyed the same kind of music that I did.
Other members of the band include lead singer Glen Lopez; keyboard player and vocalist Steve Cook; bass player and vocalist Pete Hall; drummer Gary Shall and saxophonist Tommy Vale.
Vance said the band built up interest by playing more than half of their shows at classic car shows.
"It's kind of surprising that we developed a kind of a fan base. In any genre of music there's somebody who likes it no matter what it is. There are lots of different people who follow us at car shows, and they buy our t-shirts and CDs."
Vance said he cherishes "oldies" because of its unique sound.
"There's good vocals in '50s and '60s music, with doo wop harmonies, and it uses more vocals than most bands do."
The Oldies But Goodies band plays many fan favorites at their shows, including songs like "Rock Around the Clock," "Pretty Woman," "In the Still of the Night," "Shout" and "Runaround Sue."
"It surprised us a little bit that this music is still liked. We found out a lot of college people will dance to it, especially when we put some swing into it," Vance said.
The band looks forward to playing at the Soaring Eagle, he added.
"It's great to have that opportunity because a lot of national acts have played there before. We've also opened up for groups like The Platters and The Classics Four. So we're used to that, but we enjoy it."
The event, scheduled from 7:30 to 10 p.m., is sponsored by Carson City Hospital, Central Michigan Community Hospital, Clinton Memorial Hospital and WMMI 830 AM/WCZY 104.3 FM. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. with open seating. General admission tickets cost $20, and a cash bar will be available.
All proceeds will benefit the three hospitals for medical equipment. For more information, call 772-6858 or 772-6773.