The “Day the Music Died” didn’t kill rock ‘n’ roll — and people like Denny Charnecki are seeing to it that old-time rock continues to live on.

The Austin rocker will be one of hundreds of performers heading to Clear Lake, Iowa, this week to commemorate the lives and times of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, who all died in a plane crash Feb. 3, 1959 — a date later dubbed “The Day the Music Died” by Don McLean in his famous tune, “American Pie.”

Charnecki’s exact destination — Clear Lake’s Surf Ballroom — is the site of the legendary musicians’ last show before their plane went down in a corn field on the way to their next performance in Moorhead, Minn.

“It’s a shrine” the 60-year-old musician said of the Surf Ballroom. “It’s a museum.”

Charnecki, who fronts Denny and the D.C. Drifters, will be playing Friday afternoon in the Surf’s lounge. Their performance is part of the annual “Winter Dance Party,” which was the name of the tour Holly and crew were on in February of 1959. This year, the event runs Wednesday through Saturday.

The Austin musician said playing in the show has been a dream of his.

“It’s a big deal,” he said. “To me, it’s like the Super Bowl of music.”

The D.C. Drifters is an apt name for Charnecki’s band — as the name suggests, musicians come and go from show to show. But for the “Super Bowl of music,” Charnecki is bringing a local crew — Doug Bathke, Ann Hemann, Amanda Corey and David Townsend, all from Austin, will be rocking the lounge on Friday.

Corey, 26, originally from Brownsdale, said she’s excited to bring her mom and dad — both big Buddy Holly fans — to his de facto shrine in Clear Lake.

“My mom said, ‘Are you kidding me? That’s so cool,’” Corey said.

Corey, a singer, also said she’s looking forward to learning — and being part of — rock ‘n’ roll history herself.

“It’ll be something I remember,” she said.

Charnecki said his band will do some originals, but they will also pay homage to Holly with hits such as “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll be the Day.”

Holly, Charnecki said, was one of the most innovative musicians of all time. Born Charles Hardin Holley in 1936, the Texan grew up influenced by Elvis Presley and the “rockabilly” sound, which he incorporated into his music.

Nicknamed Buddy as a child, he took on the Holly misspelling when a record executive made a mistake on his contract in 1956. He soon formed the Crickets and went on to a successful, albeit brief, career.

Despite his short time in the music industry, Holly is often cited as one of the most influential musicians from the era. In fact, four young performers from Liverpool, England, were so impressed by Holly and the Crickets that their name — The Beatles — was chosen partly in homage to Holly.

Charnecki said Holly’s influence didn’t end in the 1960s or ‘70s — the Austin rocker noted that even modern pop acts like Lady Gaga borrow from his sound and style.

“It all stems from that,” he said.

So, playing on Holly’s last stage — with acts like the original Crickets also scheduled to appear — is quite the honor for Charnecki.

“For us to go back and represent that, it’s a great feeling,” he said. “Not only do I do (rock ‘n’ roll), I love it.”

2010 Winter Dance Party

Where: Surf Ballroom; Clear Lake, Iowa

When: Feb. 3-6

Tickets: Prices vary. Go to www.surfballroom.com for more information

But if you can’t make it to that…

Denny and the D.C. Drifters (two shows)

Where: Riverview Greens Golf Course; 1800 NE Clubhouse Drive

Stewartville, Minn.

When: Feb. 13

Tickets: $25 for 6 p.m. show (includes steak dinner); $10 for 9 p.m. show. Call 507-533-9393 for more information