While Elvis made black music more acceptable to whites, Holly won over an all-black audience when the Crickets were accidentally booked at New York's Apollo Theater (though, unlike the immediate response depicted in the 1978 movie The Buddy Holly Story, it actually took several performances for his talents to be appreciated).Īfter the release of several highly successful songs, Holly and the Crickets toured the United Kingdom in 1958. Holly managed to bridge some of the racial divide that marked rock n' roll music. The initial, unsuccessful version of 'That'll Be The Day' played more slowly and about half an octave higher than the hit version. Before 'That'll Be The Day' had its nationwide release, Holly played lead guitar on the hit-single 'Starlight', recorded in April, 1957, featuring Jack Huddle. This put Holly in the unusual position of having two record contracts at the same time. Coral Records, a subsidiary of Decca, signed Buddy Holly and The Crickets. Norman had music industry contacts and believing that 'That'll Be the Day' would be a hit single, he contacted publishers and labels. Among the tracks recorded for Decca was an early version of 'That'll Be The Day', which took its title from a phrase that John Wayne's character said repeatedly in the 1956 film, The Searchers.īuddy Holly statue on the Lubbock Walk of FameBack in Lubbock, Holly formed his own band, The Crickets and began making records at Norman Petty's studios in Clovis, New Mexico. 45), his public name changed from 'Holley' to 'Holly' on February 8, 1956, when he signed the Decca contract. As a result of this performance, Holly was offered a contract with Decca Records to work alone, which he accepted. Holly's transition to rock was finalized when he opened for Bill Haley & His Comets at a local rock show organized by Eddie Crandall, who was also the manager for Marty Robbins. A few months later, he appeared on the same bill with Presley, also in Lubbock. ![]() Holly turned to rock music after seeing Elvis Presley sing live in Lubbock in early 1955. His musical interests grew throughout high school while singing in the Lubbock High School Choir. They shared a common interest in music and soon teamed up as the duo 'Buddy and Bob.' Initially influenced by bluegrass music, they sang harmony duets at local clubs and high school talent shows. During the fall of that year he met Bob Montgomery in Hutchinson Junior High School. In 1949 Buddy cut a demo of Hank Snow's 'My Two-Timin' Woman' on a home tape recorder, his first known recording. ![]() The Holleys were a musical family and as a young boy Holley learned to play piano, guitar, fiddle and the violin (his brothers oiled the strings so much that no one could hear him play). In 2004, Rolling Stone Magazine ranked Holly #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.Ĭharles Hardin Holley was born in Lubbock, Texas to Lawrence Odell Holley and Ella Pauline Drake in 1936. ![]() That spelling was then adopted for his professional career.Īlthough his success lasted only a year and a half before his death in an airplane crash, Holly is described by critic Bruce Eder as 'the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll.' His works and innovations were copied by his contemporaries and later musicians, notably The Beatles and The Rolling Stones, and exerted a profound influence on popular music. The change of spelling of 'Holley' to 'Holly' came about because of an error in a contract he was asked to sign, listing him as Buddy Holly. Charles Hardin 'Buddy' Holley (Septem– February 3, 1959) was an american singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll.
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