John Mueller plays Buddy Holly in Winter Dance Party tour

If you loved the version of “La Bamba” performed by the band Los Lobos in May at the Historic Everett Theatre, you won’t want to miss this:

John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party Tour — the country’s most respected tribute to Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and the young Chicano rocker Ritchie Valens (who adapted “La Bamba” from a Mexican folk song) — is making a stop at Historic Everett on June 3.

Hear those 1950s classics such as “Not Fade Away,” “That’ll be the Day,” “Peggy Sue,” “Chantilly Lace,” Oh, Boy,” “Rave On,” and, of course, “La Bamba.”

And also recall “the day the music died.”

Holly, 22, The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), 28, and Valens, not quite 18, died in a plane crash in the early morning of Feb. 3, 1959, near Mason City, Iowa. They had just performed at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, as part of their Winter Dance Party Tour and were on their way to Fargo, North Dakota, for his show in neighboring Moorhead, Minnesota. Not on the small chartered plane were Holly’s bassist Waylon Jennings and backup guitarist Tommy Allsup, who lost coin tosses and had to ride the tour bus.

In 1971 singer/songwriter Don McLean wrote the hit “American Pie,” immortalizing the tragedy.

By phone earlier this week from California, Mueller — who portrays Buddy Holly — said Holly’s family has endorsed his Winter Dance Party Tour as the the most authentic tribute to the young rockers.

“It’s been really terrific with this show,” Mueller said. “We’ve worked with some of his original bandmates, and his widow and his brothers have been to see us. The longer I play Holly, the more I respect him because he surrounded himself with great people.”

Mueller looks and sounds a lot like Holly. He plays Holly’s songs true to their original form on a reissued 1957 Fender Stratocaster, the year and make of Holly’s guitar, and uses the same sort of heavy flatwound guitar strings.

A Los Angeles-based professional actor, Mueller first played Holly in the stage premiere of “Be Bop A Lula” in Hollywood, a show produced by Adam Ant and John Densmore of The Doors.

Mueller then won a Drama Desk Award and critical acclaim for his portrayal in the musical theater production of “Buddy — The Buddy Holly Story,” which toured the country and garnered rave reviews.

The Chicago Tribune said, “John Mueller is living proof that Buddy Holly’s legacy lives on. His lovingly detailed portrayal rings as clearly as a chord from a Fender Stratocaster. His performance is flawless.” The Los Angeles Times reported that, “Buddy rocks with the charismatic John Mueller in the title role.”

But acting and singing was hard on Mueller.

“The script for the show was corny but the music was fantastic, so I decided I would just like to play the music,” he said.

Mueller started the Winter Dance Party in 1999 and for many years recreated the original 1959 winter.

“On the 40th anniversary of the original Buddy Holly tour, we sold out our show with a thousand people on a Monday night in Green Bay, Wisconsin,” Mueller said. “At the time, I thought it was a one-off thing, you know? But people kept asking if we were coming back.”

Mueller has been amazed at the longevity of his show.

“The greatest thrill is to turn another generation on to this great music,” he said. “I’ve had people’s grandkids say to me, ‘I had no idea Buddy Holly rocked so hard.’ I hope Everett is ready for a high energy and fun show.”

People can expect to hear all the Holly songs that have gone on to be covered by many bands, including the Grateful Dead, and which influenced the likes of The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan, Elton John and Eric Clapton.

“Back in the 1950s, the rockers of the day would cover each other’s songs as well, so get ready to hear some Little Richard and Chuck Berry, too,” Mueller said. “And we all know that he was a rocker, but Holly also wrote some beautiful ballads.”

Ray Anthony plays Ritchie Valens in Mueller’s show. A veteran of the music industry, Anthony is based in Las Vegas where he performs regularly with the “Legends In Concert” show.

Linwood Sasser plays The Big Bopper, who wrote “Chantilly Lace.” A Florida State University theater graduate, he is based in the Los Angeles area and has worked in film and television.

The band also includes Grammy award-winning saxophonist Mike Acosta.

John Mueller’s Winter Dance Party Tour

This touring tribute to rock ‘n’ roll stars of the 1950s — Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper — visits Everett at 8 p.m. June 3 at the Historic Everett Theatre, 2911 Colby Ave. Tickets start at $32. Call 425-258-6766. More about the tour is at www.winterdanceparty.com.