Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Budd… Read Full Bio ↴Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer, musician, songwriter, and record producer who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock.
He was born in Lubbock, Texas, to a musical family during the Great Depression, and learned to play guitar and sing alongside his siblings. His style was influenced by gospel music, country music, and rhythm and blues acts, and he performed in Lubbock with his friends from high school. He made his first appearance on local television in 1952, and the following year he formed the group "Buddy and Bob" with his friend Bob Montgomery. In 1955, after opening for Elvis Presley, he decided to pursue a career in music. He opened for Presley three times that year; his band's style shifted from country and western to entirely rock and roll. In October that year, when he opened for Bill Haley & His Comets, he was spotted by Nashville scout Eddie Crandall, who helped him get a contract with Decca Records.
Holly's recording sessions at Decca were produced by Owen Bradley. Unhappy with Bradley's control in the studio and with the sound he achieved there, he went to producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico, and recorded a demo of "That'll Be the Day", among other songs. Petty became the band's manager and sent the demo to Brunswick Records, which released it as a single credited to "The Crickets", which became the name of Holly's band. In September 1957, as the band toured, "That'll Be the Day" topped the US "Best Sellers in Stores" chart and the UK Singles Chart. Its success was followed in October by another major hit, "Peggy Sue".
The album Chirping Crickets, released in November 1957, reached number five on the UK Albums Chart. Holly made his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1958 and soon after, toured Australia and then the UK. In early 1959, he assembled a new band, consisting of future country music star Waylon Jennings (bass), famed session musician Tommy Allsup (guitar), and Carl Bunch (drums), and embarked on a tour of the midwestern U.S. After a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, he chartered an airplane to travel to his next show, in Moorhead, Minnesota. Soon after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing him, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson in a tragedy later referred to by Don McLean as "The Day the Music Died".
During his short career, Holly wrote, recorded, and produced his own material. He is often regarded as the artist who defined the traditional rock-and-roll lineup of two guitars, bass, and drums. He was a major influence on later popular music artists, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Weezer, and Elton John. He was among the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1986. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 13 in its list of "100 Greatest Artists".
He was born in Lubbock, Texas, to a musical family during the Great Depression, and learned to play guitar and sing alongside his siblings. His style was influenced by gospel music, country music, and rhythm and blues acts, and he performed in Lubbock with his friends from high school. He made his first appearance on local television in 1952, and the following year he formed the group "Buddy and Bob" with his friend Bob Montgomery. In 1955, after opening for Elvis Presley, he decided to pursue a career in music. He opened for Presley three times that year; his band's style shifted from country and western to entirely rock and roll. In October that year, when he opened for Bill Haley & His Comets, he was spotted by Nashville scout Eddie Crandall, who helped him get a contract with Decca Records.
Holly's recording sessions at Decca were produced by Owen Bradley. Unhappy with Bradley's control in the studio and with the sound he achieved there, he went to producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico, and recorded a demo of "That'll Be the Day", among other songs. Petty became the band's manager and sent the demo to Brunswick Records, which released it as a single credited to "The Crickets", which became the name of Holly's band. In September 1957, as the band toured, "That'll Be the Day" topped the US "Best Sellers in Stores" chart and the UK Singles Chart. Its success was followed in October by another major hit, "Peggy Sue".
The album Chirping Crickets, released in November 1957, reached number five on the UK Albums Chart. Holly made his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1958 and soon after, toured Australia and then the UK. In early 1959, he assembled a new band, consisting of future country music star Waylon Jennings (bass), famed session musician Tommy Allsup (guitar), and Carl Bunch (drums), and embarked on a tour of the midwestern U.S. After a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, he chartered an airplane to travel to his next show, in Moorhead, Minnesota. Soon after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing him, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson in a tragedy later referred to by Don McLean as "The Day the Music Died".
During his short career, Holly wrote, recorded, and produced his own material. He is often regarded as the artist who defined the traditional rock-and-roll lineup of two guitars, bass, and drums. He was a major influence on later popular music artists, including Bob Dylan, The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton, Weezer, and Elton John. He was among the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, in 1986. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 13 in its list of "100 Greatest Artists".
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Buddy Holly Fifty Favourites
Buddy Holly Lyrics
An Empty Cup and a Broken Date One lonely night - at this drive-in And now I know…
Baby I Don't Care You don't like crazy music, you don't like rockin' bands You…
Blue Days, Black Nights Blue days - black nights blue tears keep on fallin’ -…
Changing All Those Changes I should have reconsidered all those things I said I'd…
Don't Come Back Knockin' Hold me close and tell me how you feel tell me…
Early in the Morning Well- your gonna miss me Early In The Morning one…
Everyday Everyday, it's a gettin' closer, Goin' faster than a roller …
Fool's Paradise Verse one: You took me up to heaven, when you took…
Girl On My Mind Oh, girl on my mind please come back to me I love…
Heartbeat Heartbeat Why do you miss when my baby kisses me? Heartbeat …
I Guess I Was Just A Fool I thought that I could forget Even tried to tell myself…
I'm Going To love You Too Ah ha ha ha ah ha Ah ha ha ha ah Ah…
I'm Looking for Someone to Love Stayin' at home, waitin' for you Just won't get it 'cause…
It Doesn't Matter Anymore There you go and baby here am I Well you left…
It's so Easy It's so easy to fall in love It's so easy to…
It's Too Late It's too late, she's gone It's too late, my baby?s gone Wish…
Last Night Last night as I watched the stars from my window…
Learnin' The Game Hearts that are broken and love that's untrue these go…
Listen to Me Listen to me and hold me tight And you will see…
Little Baby Little baby, baby me Little baby, baby me In my heart you…
Lonesome Tears Lonesome tears, sad and blue I shed lonesome tears for you G…
Look at Me Hey, hey, Look at me and tell me What's goona happen…
Love Is Strange Love - love is strange lot of people take it for…
Love Me Well, love me, love me, love me, oh baby love…
Maybe Baby Maybe, baby, I'll have you. Maybe, baby, you'll be true. May…
Midnight Shift If you see old Annie better give her a lift Cause…
Modern Don Juan Well, I ain't nothin' but a man in love I…
Not Fade Away Bop-bop-bop-bop Bop-bop-bop-bop I'm gonna tell you how it's…
Now We're One Now we're one and I love you so Hold me,…
Oh Boy All of my love All of my kissin' You don't know what…
Peggy Sue If you knew Peggy Sue Then you'd know why I feel…
Peggy Sue Got Married Please don't tell No, no, no Don't say that I…
Raining in My Heart The sun is out The sky is blue There's not a cloud To…
Rave On Well The little things you say and do Make me want to…
Ready Teddy Ready, set, go man go I got a gal that I…
Rock Around With Ollie Vee We-ell, we're gonna rocka To the rhythm and the blues tonigh…
Rock Me My Baby Put your arms around me now And try your best…
Send Me Some Lovin' Send me some lovin', send it I pray How can I…
Take Your Time Take Your Time, I can wait For all the love I…
Tell Me How Tell me how to keep your love You know how I…
That'll Be the Day Well, that'll be the day when you say goodbye Yes, that'll…
Think It Over Think it over what you just said Think it over in…
Ting-a-Ling Well now I…
Valley of Tears I want you to take me where I belong Where hearts…
Well…All Right Well all right, so I'm being foolish Well all right let…
Words of Love Hold me close and tell me how you feel Tell me…
You Are My One Desire You are my one desire You set my heart on fire Your…
You've Got Love You got two lips that look so fine You got…