The Northwest premiere of the smash hit musical “Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story”is having a very successful run at the 5th Avenue Theatre. (It runs through March 4.)

Audiences bopped and rocked the night away to the tunes of the late, great Buddy Holly, in a tribute to one of the giants of popular music.

The show is a journey into American rock ‘n’ roll history and charts the rapid rise of this legendary singer/songwriter from his country roots in Texas to his groundbreaking debut at Harlem’s Apollo Theatre, ending with that fateful concert in Clear Lake, Iowa in 1959.

Holly was 22, in the prime of his life, when he tragically died in a commuter plane crash, along with the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. His sensational career lasted only 18 months.

The essence of “Buddy” is its music and the show is a hit parade of Holly’s most memorable songs, including “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll Be The Day,” “Maybe Baby,” “Everyday,” and more.

But the key to the 5th Ave’s production is its talented Seattle-based cast, led by Billy Joe Huels in the title role. Huels, a singer/songwriter/musician by trade and front man for the local rockabilly/Americana roots band, the Dusty 45’s, is a dynamo as was Holly. He’s full of passion and enthusiasm and has a fresh-faced naiveté that’s charming. And he captures the unique mixture of innocence, determination and goofy humor that was Buddy. Most importantly, he has the pipes to successfully carry off the demands of this role. Huels sings his heart out, complete with Holly’s trademark inflections and tones, while playing a mean guitar.

He is accompanied by Matt Weiner on bass and Mike Daugherty on percussion; both well-known musicians in their own right, with the local group, Casey MacGill’s Blue 4 Trio. On stage, Weiner and Daugherty make up the Crickets, Buddy’s band.

The trio does wonders in bringing Holly’s music to life, along with several other gifted performers, including Kelly Van Camp, as the Big Bopper, Brandon O’Neill, as Ritchie Valens, and Lisa Estridge, as a hot R&B singer at the Apollo Theatre.

With each hit number, the production values become more elaborate and by the final scene, Holly shares the stage with an impressive big band and a bevy of glamorously attired backup singers who perform synchronized choreographed movements.

The crowd, by this time, has embraced this walk down memory lane with gusto and people are unabashedly singing along, tapping their toes, bobbing their heads and participating en masse in this love fest for the young man from Texas who changed the face of music.

“Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story,” is packed with high-octane energy and an infectious beat, making it terrific, top-quality entertainment for all ages.

Up next at The 5th Ave. is the enchanting, bittersweet love story, “Camelot,” opening March 20. For ticket information, call (206) 625-1900 or visit: www.5thavenue.org.