Charles Hardin Holley was known professionally as Buddy Holly. He was an American singer-songwriter, guitar player and a pioneer of rock and roll. As hard as it is to believe, his success lasted only a year and a half before his death in an airplane crash. Buddy Holly is described by music critics world wide as "the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll." Buddy's works inspired and influenced the music of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Eric Clapton, Elton John, Elvis Costello and the list goes on.

After terminating his partnership with The Crickets, Buddy Holly assembled a new band consisting of Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup, and Carl Bunch to play on the Winter Dance Party tour. The tour also featured rising artist Ritchie Valens and JP "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who were promoting their records as well. The distance between venues, extreme cold and the poorly equipped buses, affected the performers. Cases of flu and frostbite spread among them. Frustrated by these conditions, Buddy Holly decided to charter a plane to reach their next show. On February 2, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson performed at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. The plane crash that occurred hours later claimed the lives of all three artists and changed music history forever. Using information gathered from documentaries, news archives, biographers, and the memories of musicians and fans that attended the February 2, 1959 show, this concert will recreate Holly's last show with utmost accuracy and attention to detail.

The Night The Music Lived cast members: Buddy Holly - Todd Meredith - guitar and vocal Ritchie Valens - Zachary Michael Barnett - guitar and vocal The Big Bopper - Tim Reilly - vocal Tommy Alsup - Jeremy Renner - lead guitar Waylon Jennings - Bill Morey - electric and upright bass Carlo Mastrengelo - Joe Cohen - drums Dennis Michael Keefe - saxophone and piano Robert AK Gonyo - trumpet