Buddy Holly

• Born: September 7, 1936
• Birthplace: Lubbock, Texas
• Died: February 3, 1959
• Place of death: Near Clear Lake, Iowa

American singer, guitarist, and songwriter

A talented innovator and one of the originators of rock and roll, Holly excelled as a musician, composer, performer, and arranger. The makeup of his band—lead guitar, rhythm guitar, bass, and drums—became the standard in the 1960’s and is emulated by groups to this day.

Member of Buddy Holly and the Crickets; Buddy Holly and the Three Tunes

The Life

Buddy Holly was born in the west Texas town of Lubbock in 1936, the fourth and final child of Lawrence and Ella Holley. Buddy was gifted in music and won a talent show at the age of five. By the end of his teenage years he had largely taught himself to play a variety of instruments, including the violin, guitar, piano, and drums. While still in junior high school, he formed his first music group with a friend named Bob Montgomery, and they played locally wherever a willing audience could be found. Holly’s musical tastes were eclectic, but he was particularly a fan of country singer Hank Williams and bluegrass and gospel music.

Holly saw Elvis Presley perform live at Lubbock twice in 1955, and they shared a friendly conversation backstage. Presley was impressed with the young Texan and gave Holly the chance to open for him during his second Lubbock concert, an opportunity Holly immediately seized. He now knew that being a professional musician would be his life’s work.

Holly (who by then had dropped the “e” in his surname) formed a new band which he named the Crickets. Other members of the band were Jerry Allison (drums), Joe Mauldin (bass), and Niki Sullivan (rhythm guitar). After an unsatisfactory recording session in Nashville, Holly and the Crickets recorded a series of hits at producer Norman Petty’s studio in nearby Clovis, New Mexico. After a string of successes, Buddy hit a dry spell and his newer recordings did poorly on the charts. His relationship with Petty ended in an acrimonious dispute over royalties. By late 1958 Sullivan had quit the group, but Allison and Mauldin remained loyal to Petty. In August, 1958, Buddy married Maria Elena Santiago, a woman he met in New York, and they settled in Greenwich Village, where Holly hoped to restart his stalled career. By the following year the newlyweds were strapped for money because Holly’s earnings were tied up with Petty in New Mexico. He reluctantly agreed to leave the pregnant Maria and tour with a show called the Winter Dance Party. While on the tour, Holly and fellow performers Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper were tragically killed in a plane crash.

The Music

“That’ll Be the Day.”This song’s title was lifted from a phrase in a John Wayne movie and hit the number-one spot on the record charts in September, 1957. Earlier recordings of this song in Nashville had failed to excite anyone, but when it was rerecorded at Petty’s studio, Holly sang in a different octave and changed the tempo, producing an all-time classic song.

“Peggy Sue.”Originally “Cindy Lou,” the title was changed to honor drummer Allison’s girlfriend. This song features Holly’s unique lyrical styling, extensive studio experimentation, and a driving beat. Released in the fall of 1957, this song topped out at number three on the charts.

“Not Fade Away.”Although significant, this song did not enjoy the commercial success of other Holly tunes. A cover version by the Rolling Stones would be that group’s first release in the United States. The song demonstrated again Holly’s penchant for improvisation, as he had drummer Allison beat on an empty cardboard box rather than his drums.

“Everyday.”Underappreciated at the time, this tune, recorded in 1957, displayed the artist’s creativity by featuring a celesta, an instrument similar to a harpsichord. Allison, not originally scheduled to be on the recording, can be heard keeping rhythm by slapping his hands on his legs, a sound Holly liked and kept in the record.

“Maybe Baby.”Holly’s mother helped write this song, suggesting the title and a few lyrics. It was recorded at Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City and is a great example of 1950’s rock and roll.

“It’s So Easy.”This jubilant song about the power and ease of falling in love was one of Holly’s most successful commercially. It has been rerecorded by many artists since its 1958 composition.

“True Love Ways.”Recorded in 1958, this song indicates Buddy’s musical curiosity was alive and well. He had been in something of a sales slump and wanted to experiment with strings, so this original composition was recorded using an orchestra. Beautiful and haunting, this love song has maintained its appeal for more than five decades.

“It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.”This song was recorded at the same session that produced “True Love Ways” and also features the backing orchestra. It was written by Paul Anka with Holly in mind. Although the song is generally upbeat, its title seemed sadly prophetic when Holly was killed shortly after its release.

Musical Legacy

Holly had a tremendous influence on popular music, with his creative talents as a singer, musician, composer, and arranger. He was one of the first pop singers to record his own compositions, and his masterful playing helped popularize the Fender Stratocaster guitar. The instrumental makeup of his group the Crickets became the standard for countless future groups. Holly sang in various vocal styles, and his recordings appealed to fans across musical genre lines. He defied the musical customs of his time by experimenting with different instruments and sounds, yet his songs were instantly recognizable. Both the Beatles and the Rolling Stones acknowledged a debt to Holly, and his songs have been recorded by artists as diverse as Chad and Jeremy, Waylon Jennings, and Linda Ronstadt. Although he died a half century ago, his musical impact shows no indication of fading away.

Principal Recordings

albums:The “Chirping” Crickets, 1957 (with the Crickets); Buddy Holly, 1958; That’ll Be the Day, 1958 (with the Three Tunes); The Buddy Holly Story, 1959; The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2, 1960; Reminiscing, 1963; Showcase, 1964; Holly in the Hills, 1965; Giant, 1969.

Bibliography

Amburn, Ellis. Buddy Holly. New York: St. Martin’s Press, 1995. Thorough source, covering Holly’s life from cradle to grave. Well researched and containing many interviews of those who knew him best, Amburn’s work provides encyclopedic information.

Brown, Pete, and H. P. Newquist. Legends of Rock Guitar: The Essential Reference of Rock’s Greatest Guitarists. Milwaukee, Wis.: Hal Leonard, 1997. An outstanding reference, this book covers hundreds of guitar players from the beginning of the rock era. There is an informative section about Holly’s technical ability, stressing his open chord playing and reliance on powerful downstrokes.

Goldrosen, John. The Buddy Holly Story. New York: Quick Fox, 1979. Satisfactory telling of the main events in the artist’s life, covering in some detail the historical inaccuracies found in the 1978 motion picture starring Gary Busey as Holly. It also provides the history of every Holly recording session.

Lehmer, Larry. The Day the Music Died. New York: Schirmer Books, 1997. The tragic 1959 Winter Dance Party is the focus, with voluminous information about the stars, the itinerary, and the plane crash.

Norman, Philip. Rave On: The Biography of Buddy Holly. New York: Simon & Schuster, 1996. Another comprehensive biography with an insightful look at Holly’s family history and his widow, Maria Elena.