People have been in the Clovis area for at least 10,000 years as is evidenced by the “Clovis-man” finds at the nearby Blackwater Draw archaeological site. The town itself came much later, in 1906 in fact, when the Atchison Topeka and Santa Fe Railroad was making its way across the country. It’s the first town of any size you’ll find coming from Texas and the town has some Texas tendencies to be sure. It’s grown to a population of nearly 40,000 people and is the county seat of Curry County. For all it has to offer, it was a man named Norman Petty that brought me to Clovis. Petty started playing piano at an early age and in his mid-twenties had a hit record with his wife, Vi, and guitarist Jack Vaughn when they recorded the great DC born Duke Ellington’s Mood Indigo. The record’s success gave Norman enough money to open his own recording studio and in 1954 the Norman Petty Recording Studio was born. Petty recorded local artists and plenty from nearby Texas as well. In 1957, he produced a hit called Party Doll for Happy, Texas’ Buddy Knox. It was another Buddy though, Buddy Holly, who would really put Petty and Clovis on the music map. Norman would go on to produce records for Roy Orbison, Bobby Vee, The Fireballs and many others and their distinct style would be remembered as the Clovis Sound. I had a great time in Clovis and found a lot to like about it from its art deco buildings to its wonderful Vi and Norman Petty Museum. The downtown wind art was both beautiful and appropriate. Sadly it was cloudy for much of my visit, but it did manage to clear up right before I left so I did grab a few photos under sunny skies. Who knew New Mexico played such an important role in music history. If you’re ever in the area, stop in and check it out. I hope you enjoy these photos from musical Clovis, New Mexico.
