August 27, 2002:  John Pickering and Bob Lapham were interviewed in Lubbock for a TV documentary.

August 28, 2002:  John and Vicky Pickering visited the Petty studios in Clovis, NM where John and The Picks recorded the Holly music in 1957 and John recorded 3 albums in 1987.

August 29, 2002:  John and Vicky Pickering attended a luncheon with her Lubbock High School Class of ‘55 grads. In attendance were friends and acquaintances of Buddy Holly and associated musicians.

August 29, 2002:  John and Vicky Pickering attended the Walk of Fame induction of two soap opera stars - Helen Wagner and Brad Maul.

August 31, 2002:  In Lubbock, Texas, John Pickering performed at the "Legends of West Texas Rock & Roll" concert at the Fair Park Coliseum. The show was taped for TV viewing and a documentary due out in 2003. The concert was preceded by a Fan Fare (Meet The Stars!) and the Caprock Classic Club Car Show. Other artists and special guests performing in the concert along with John Pickering, lead singer for The Picks, included:

Þ      The Tolletts - Gary and Ramona - The Crickets' first vocal backup group (along with Niki Sullivan) on "That'll Be The Day" and "I'm Looking For Someone To Love". Gary Tollett is also "Gary Dale" of Rollercoaster Records.

Þ      Sonny West - Writer of The Crickets' hit song "Oh Boy" and Buddy Holly's "Rave On". Singer/guitarist/artist/songwriter.

Þ      The Roses - David Bigham and Ray Rush - Holly & The Crickets vocal backup group on four 1958 releases: "It's So Easy", "Think It Over", "Lonesome Tears" and "Fool's Paradise".

Þ      Tommy Allsup - successful artist/musician/producer. Guitarist on five of Holly 1958 songs and for fateful "Winter Tour."  Tommy was married during the weekend.

Þ      Carl Bunch - "Crickets" drummer for the Buddy Holly (& The Crickets) fateful Winter Tour.

Þ      George Tomsco and The Fireballs - overdubbed Instrumental backup for many Buddy Holly solos from late 1958-1960s. Recording artists for many "Fireball" hit records recorded at Clovis, NM. Inducted into the "Buddy Holly Walk of Fame" in 2001.

Þ      Terry Noland - Rockabilly recording artist/songwriter - "Hypnotized" and others. Brunswick album: "Terry Noland".

Þ      Charlie Phillips - singer and songwriter of monster hit "Sugartime". Great all-around musician/singer/entertainer.

Þ      Jack Neal - Musician/singer with "Buddy and Jack" and various Holly radio groups from 1951 to 1955.

Þ      Peggy Sue Gerron - former wife of J.I. Allison and namesake of the hit song "Peggy Sue".

Þ      Echo McGuire - high school girl friend of Buddy Holly.

Þ      Alan Clark - archivist/performer. Fronts for Eddy Cochran Band in California.

Þ      Hope Griffith - Recording artist/singer with Petty Studio background.

Þ      The Shackshakers - Singers/artists/band featuring Shawn Nagy, promoter of "Legends of West Texas Rock & Roll" show. Stage band for the “Legends” show.

Þ      Richard L. Porter – Member of The Poor Boys Band

August 29-31, 2002: John Pickering was in attendance at “Not Fade Away: The 2nd Buddy Holly Music Festival and Symposium” in Lubbock, Texas.

September 2002:  The September issue of the "Houston (Texas) Geological Bulletin" magazine contained an article entitled “Rockin’ Rockhound” detailing John Pickering's ongoing musical and geological careers. John graduated from Texas Tech University in 1957 with a degree in Petroleum Geology - the same summer he recorded vocal harmonies on "The Chirping Crickets" album - nine songs behind Buddy Holly and The Crickets. This album is "now considered one of the five greatest rock 'n roll LPs of the 50s."

An interview with John Pickering was in the Houston Chronicle “Faces In The Crowd” column.

Vicky had a “hint” in “Hints to Heloise” in newspapers in the USA September 17th and a letter in Texas Highways October 2002 issue concerning the Pickering Family Singers.

Bob Lapham was honored at a reception honoring Abilene authors with books published in the last year (September 2001-September 2002) on September 22, 2002, at the Abilene Texas Public Library. Bob's book is titled "What Made Wyatt Urp" - The life and time of Toad Leon as told by his family, his friends, and the man himself.

A brick was placed in the Buddy Holly Center Courtyard in memory of Bill Pickering of The Picks.