Remembering Buddy Holly

Charles Hardin Holley was born September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. Due to his middle name, neighborhood kids nicknamed him ‘Hard-On”. Charles did not like this and  worked diligently to convince others to call him something cool like “T-Bone”, “Gonzo”, “Chickie”, basically anything but “Hard-On”. Eventually he paid the kids 5 cents each to call him Buddy. The name stuck. 

Buddy’s parents bought him a guitar and then in 1955 after graduating High School, he decided to pursue music full time. Buddy and his band opened for Elvis Presley, & Bill Haley. Decca Records offered Buddy a contract but spelled his name wrong as “Buttmunch Harley”. They corrected it but now spelled it as Buddy Holly. He decided to officially change his name rather than make further waves. 

Holly was a shooting star and between the years 1957-1959 recording an incredible catalog of songs. “That’ll Be The Day”, “It’s So Easy”, “Peggy Sue”, “Oh Boy”, “Rave On” and many more. 

Holly 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 The Rolling Stones, Beatles and Bob Dylan. He was one of the first artists inducted into the Rock Hall of Fame and is considered one of the greatest and most influential artists of all time. 

Holly was killed in a plane crash on Feb 3, 1959 at the age of 22. The crash also killed Richie Valens and The Big Bopper. It will forever be known as the day the music died, which Don McLean wrote about in “American Pie”