Local musician, firefighter plays for Richie Valens Family Luncheon

Local musician and Montgomery Fire Department firefighter Sean Benz and his band The Misfits were approached with a special opportunity last July. “I was asked to play the Richie Valens Luncheon after my band and I were done playing at the Iowa Rock n’Roll Music Association’s ‘Rock the Roof’ event, something we’ve done for many years now,” said Sean Benz. “Connie Valens approached me and said, ‘Hey, I’d love to have you play the Richie Valens Luncheon,’ and she invited us as their special guest for the Winter Dance Party (as well).”

Benz and The Misfits played for the Richie Valens Family Luncheon on Saturday, Feb 1, inside the Diamond Ballroom at the Best Western Diamond Lodge in Clear Lake, Iowa. It is a part of the three-day event “Winter Dance Party,” which is a celebration and remembrance of the three rock and roll legends, Buddy Holly, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Richie Valens.

The three rock icons lost their lives in a small plane crash just a few miles north of Clear Lake, Iowa, on Feb. 3, 1959, after playing a stop on their “Winter Dance Party” tour at the historic Surf Ballroom the night before. It became known as “The Day the Music Died.”

The Experience

As Benz and the Misfits took the stage within the ballroom at the Best Western, they were approached by Mario Valens, Richie Valen’s youngest brother. Benz said, “He just mosied up to the stage and said, ‘Hey, can I come play with you?’ You’re Mario Valens, of course you can!” Mario Valens proceeded to play a couple songs with them on harmonica.

“He, without a doubt, was one of the greatest...

To see more on this story pickup the February 20, 2025 print edition of the Montgomery Messenger.