Buddy, Ritchie & The Bopper

Honoring The Day the Music Died
This tribute pays respect to three entertainers who were taken from us way too early in their young musical careers. Backed up by five professional musicians, this show will prove to be one that will keep your toes tapping and make you want to dance in the aisles. Honoring the Day the Music Died will transport you to the late 1950’s when this music was fresh and new!

Ryan Coleman - "Buddy"

After a bit of a break Ryan is pleased to be once again bringing you the music and experience of rock & roll pioneer, Buddy Holly. Ryan has worked in the music and performing arts arena throughout the greater Puget Sound region for the past 20 years. With organizations such as Tacoma Little Theatre, Theatre Northwest Group and The Admiral Theatre he worked mostly behind the scenes as a sound and light engineer, designer, Technical Director and Production Manager. He has also appeared on stage in several productions including A Few Good Men, The Cripple of Inishmaan, and Of Mice and Men.

Aside from his tribute to Buddy, Ryan also spent a decade with the band Igneous Rocks playing top 40 hits around the south Puget Sound. In 2009 Ryan first portrayed Buddy Holly in the play ‘Buddy!” at Tacoma Little Theatre. It was there where he met his future wife, Stephanie and fell in love with her! Ryan would like to thank Stephanie for her years of support and dedication and for her ‘True Love Ways’!

Paul Eddy - "Ritchie"

Paul is from Tacoma, WA and a graduate from Stadium High School and also attended Tacoma community College. Paul loves performing (which includes singing, acting and playing guitar and bass) He has spent a lot of time acting at Tacoma Little Theater and has played several roles such as Ito in “Auntie Mame”, as Tommy Keeler in “Annie get your Gun”, in T.L.T.’s “85th Anniversary Gala”, as the Scarecrow in “The Wizard of Oz”, as Mowgli in “The Jungle Book”, and Ritchie Valens in “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story” which is why he is portraying Ritchie in Buddy, Ritchie and The Bopper.

He loves to bring the music and charisma of Ritchie Valens. When Paul is not performing as “Ritchie” he grows one of the nicest beards this side of the Mississippi. He also love spending time with his daughter.

Jim Kleinbeck - "The Bopper"

Jim was raised in Kent, WA and later moved to Auburn. Jim has been singing, acting and playing bass for many years. He started singing and playing string bass in elementary school and continues still to this day. His love of the song “Chantilly Lace” came from a K-Tel record his mom brought home (Hits of the 50”s & 60’s) and instantly it was one of his favorite songs. From lip syncing to actually performing the song with Karaoke tracks and live musicians, he has lost track how many times he as actually performed the song.

Jim enjoys being a part of a tribute show, especially performing as “The Big Bopper”. He loves the fact that some people in the audience get transformed to the time this music was in its hay day. Jim’s love of music and performing doesn’t just stop with portraying The Big Bopper. He has been in many musical theater productions and reviews. He stared as the Cowardly Lion in the Auburn Community Players production of the Wizard of Oz. He also plays bass in The Fabulous Murphtones, one of the Northwest best rock n roll cover bands.

Frank Murphy – Acoustic Guitar and Rhythm Guitar
Jim Abernethy – Sax
Ponce Bautista – Drums
Dave Luke – Bass
Bryce Lockard – Back-up Vocals
Dayla Walker – Back-up Vocals