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Gary Busey covering Buddy Holly songs at the Parkway tonight

by Andrea Swensson

February 03, 2012

I've been searching high and low for the most spectacularly random, can't-miss thing happening in town this weekend, and I think I've finally found it. As part of an ongoing rock 'n' roll film series at South Minneapolis's Parkway Theater, organizer Rob Chapman will be screening the 1978 biopic The Buddy Holly Story -- and the event will be feature an appearance and performance by none other than Gary Busey, who portrayed Holly in the film. His performance earned him an Academy Award nomination and is considered his breakout role as a professional actor.

Following the screening, Busey will share stories about the film and perform a brief set of Buddy Holly covers backed by a trio of students from McNally Smith College of Music. The three students, Josh Bourdon (upright bass), Brandon Petron (guitar), and Zach Spicer (drums), recently performed the part of Holly's band, the Crickets, in a History Theater production of Buddy, which is how they were chosen for the gig.

For a warmup to tonight, here's a clip of Busey performing as Holly in the film (Busey was really singing and playing guitar in the film, making the performance all the more impressive):

The Parkway Theater's doors will open at 6:15 p.m. tonight, and the event starts at 7 p.m. Advance tickets and more info here.

 

Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment
This activity is made possible in part by the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund.