The day the music… lives

GREEN BAY, Wis. (WGBW) – The outside temperatures may be brutally cold, but things are heating up at the Riverside Ballroom. The historic venue is set to host the annual Winter Dance Party, a high-energy tribute celebrating the enduring legacy of rock-n-roll legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper.

A Trip Back to 1959

For many in Green Bay, the Riverside Ballroom isn’t just a venue—it’s a piece of music history. In early 1959, Holly, Valens, and the Big Bopper performed on its stage just days before the tragic plane crash that claimed their lives.

John Mueller, who performs the lead role as Buddy Holly, says the show is designed to be a time machine for the audience. According to Mueller, fans will be transported back to that “magical night” when the icons were at the height of their powers.

“ Green Bay is our favorite place to go. We’ve been coming there for over 20 years and it’s just been great,” Mueller shared. “I think the people there really get into the history of this event. The original tour played at the Riverside Ballroom, so it’s just really makes it very, very special for us,” Mueller said, noting the unique weight of performing this music in the very room where the legends once stood.

From Tragedy to Celebration

The loss of these three performers was famously immortalized as “the day the music died“ in Don McLean’s classic anthem, “American Pie.” However, the atmosphere at the Riverside this weekend will be anything but somber.

For Mueller, his fellow performers, and the fans heading out to the ballroom, the event serves a different purpose: ensuring it remains the day the music lives.

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Event Details

• Location: Riverside Ballroom, Green Bay
• Occasion: John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party
• Featuring: The music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper