Clovis
Clovis Celebrates their musical historyEvents
The Clovis Music Festival in September celebrates Clovis’ role in music history with a 3 day festival paying special tribute to 50’s and 60’s rock ‘n roll.
Every autumn, the Clovis MainStreet Annual Downtown Gala features wine and cheese tasting. For more information, call 505- 309-8370.
Buddy Holly recorded his biggest hits in ClovisHistory
Originally know as Riley’s Switch, the town started around 1907 as a collection of shacks by the side of the new railroad. A division point for the railroad was planned for Portales, but problems there led to moving it to Riley’s Switch. The town name was deemed unacceptable by the railroad, and the daughter of a railroad official, who had been studying French history, suggested Clovis, the King of the Franks who converted to Christianity in 496. Clovis was primarily a cattle and agricultural until 1942, when Clovis (now Cannon) Air Force Base opened nearby, doubling the towns population in less than 15 years. In the 1950’s, Clovis became known for its music, especially Buddy Holly, who would travel from West Texas to record at Norman Petty Studios. “That’ll Be the Day”, “Not Fade Away” and “Peggy Sue” are just a few of the standards Holly recorded there.
The WPA in Clovis
The Curry County Courthouse (700 N. Main) was originally built in 1936. At Hillcrest Park (10th Street and Sycamore) you’ll find a sunken garden and an arch from that era.
The Curry County CourthousePaul Lantz’s large untitled oil mural can be found in the Old Post Office Building (the Eldon Smith Architect Office on 4th and Mitchell). The painting takes us back to turn of the century main street Clovis.
2 paintings, “Aspen and Oak” and “Ochre Hills,” by Howard Schleeter are on display at the Clovis Community College (417 Schepps).
Culture
The Norman Petty 7th Street Studios (1313 W. 7th) are an essential piece of rock and roll history. Buddy Holly and Roy Orbison helped create the “Clovis Sound,” and other artists like the Fireballs (“Sugar Shack”) and Waylon Jennings recorded inside. The studio remains much like it was in the 1950’s, and is filled with memorabilia and equipment from that era. Tours are by appointment only, call 505-356-6422 well ahead of time to book your tour.
Legendary Norman Petty StudiosIn October 2008, Clovis opened the Norman and Vi Petty Rock & Roll Museum highlighting Clovis’ distinctive rock and roll history. The museum includes recording equipment that came from the 7th Street studio, including the mixing board used by Norman Petty to record Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Other artifacts include numerous photographs, musical instruments, an extensive radio collection and other memorabilia. This memorabilia is housed in the Clovis/Curry County Chamber and is already a very special place to be.
The Clovis Depot Model Train MuseumThe Clovis Depot Model Train Museum (221 W. First St) contains great displays and memorabilia of railroad development in the American Southwest, as well as overseas. Built in 1907, the museum also offers a chance to see the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway up close.
For more information on your visit to Clovis, check out the Clovis Chamber of Commerce website.
Contact:
Robyne Beaubien
Clovis MainStreet
215 Main Street
Clovis, New Mexico 88101
Phone: 575.309.8370
