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Buddy Holly - was he the greatest rock n roll star?
?
Born: Charles Hardin Holley, 7th Sept’36, Lubbock, Texas, USA.
In the late 40’s the young BUDDY HOLLY formed a C&W duo with schoolmate, BOB MONTGOMERY. As BUDDY & BOB they become regulars on a Saturday afternoon TV show (around 1953/53), and the pair subsequently putting together a number of demos, later issued as ‘HOLLY IN THE HILLS’
IRejecting MONTGOMERY (who went on to become a successful producer etc), the bespectacled HOLLY formed backing band, The THREE TUNES, retaining JERRY and recruiting SONNY CURTIS on guitar, DON GUESS on bass.
Following two flop singles BUDDY and JERRY left the label, travelling to New Mexico in search of producer, NORMAN PETTY, who was soon to become their manager.
Early in 1957, the pair were joined by NIKI SULLIVAN (rhythm guitar) and JOE B. MAUDLIN (bass), becoming The CRICKETS. Their debut single, ‘THAT’LL BE THE DAY’, hit the top of the charts on both sides of the Atlantic, selling a million in the process.
As a solo artist (with CRICKETS backing) BUDDY HOLLY set up a deal with ‘Coral’, who released ‘PEGGY SUE’, another transatlantic Top 10 smash. The single introduced BUDDY HOLLY’s idiosyncratic vocal mannerisms, his exaggerated hiccupping framed by simple but effective arrangements and infectious looks which influenced many of the biggest 60’s rock/pop stars, including DYLAN, The BEATLES and The ‘STONES.
Over the course of the following year, he balanced a series of CRICKETS hits (‘OH BOY’, ‘MAYBE BABY’ and ‘THINK IT OVER’) with his own solo classics (‘LISTEN TO ME’, ‘RAVE ON’ and ‘EARLY IN THE MORNING’).
His partnership with The CRICKETS was eventually severed in August ’58, BUDDY HOLLY
married Maria Elena Santiago and moved to New York. His first CRICKETS-
This was certainly a transitional period, things looking promising early the following
years when the singer set out as headliner on a winter-
Tragically, on the morning of the 3rd of February 1959, BUDDY HOLLY, along with fellow
pop stars, RICHIE VALENS and the BIG BOPPER were killed when their chartered plane
crashed just after take-
A posthumous release (written by PAUL ANKA), ‘IT DOESN’T MATTER ANYMORE’ – backed by ‘RAINING IN MY HEART’ – became one of is biggest UK hits, while climbing the US Top 20.
With a bulging vault of BUDDY HOLLY material at his disposal, NORMAN PETTY proceeded to keep the legend’s name alive via a series of hit releases during the early 60’s.
Although fans might have disagreed on what direction BUDDY HOLLY’s career might have taken, there was no disputing the fact that the 22 year old surely still had a wealth of music inside him.
Songwriters: BUDDY HOLLY wrote most himself, except EARLY IN THE MORNING + NOW WE ARE ONE (Bobby Darin) / BABY I DON’T CARE ( Elvis Presley) / etc. His songs were later covered by Rolling Stones (NOT FADE AWAY) / Mud (OH BOY) / Showaddywaddy (HEARTBEAT) / Loe Sayer (RAINING IN MY HEART) .
Trivia: In Sept. ’58 BUDDY HOLLY produces his bass player’s (WAYLON JENNINGS) debut single ‘JOLE BLON’
My Favourites :
Single :
‘Brown Eyed Handsome Man’ issued July 1963 on Coral, Record Number 62369 (b-
'Peggy Sue' issued November 1957 on Coral, Record Number -
LP :
‘20 Golden Hits; first issued March ’78 on MCA.
‘The Complete BUDDY HOLLY’ 6 LP boxed set issed in March ’79 on Coral. (re-
Copyright: Unless specifically stated Intellectual property rights and web design Vinyl Records Still Live
Interested to learn more about Buddy Holly? .... ask Google
With the additional on bass-
After a gig supporting BILL HALEY & HIS COMETS, and through agent Eddie Crandall, BUDDY HOLLY was signed up by ‘Decca’ early the following year.
Hi David
In the late 50's your Dad built us our first Record Player which could play
78's, 45's and 33's. The first Vinyl LP I bought in late 1957 was "The Chirping Crickets"
featuring Buddy Holly. As it was the only one we had Mum, Dad and my sister Theresa
soon knew all the tracks off by heart. It would get played everynight after we had
listened to The Archers on the radio, Yes we had no TV in those days. The LP is full
of classics but if I had to pick my three favourite tracks they would be Tell Me
How, Oh Boy and It's Too Late. Or should I say That'll be the day, Maybe Baby and
Not Fade Away? Sorry I cheated that's six but you gotta admit that that is some brilliant
record. I still have the LP today and although it has a few scratches it still sounds
great, I'm actually listening to it now could I make it 9? Writing this I remember
an old school friend of mine, from Staines, called Peter Gordge. He bought every
record that Buddy released as soon as it was available and we spent many a day during
the summer holidays just listening to his music. Tragically we lost Buddy in 1959
but his music lives on and he still remains as one of my favourite artists.
Cousin
Michael
