February 7, 2009 10:16 AM
Buddy Holly: February 3, 50 years later
I was 10 when Buddy Holly died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. He was only 23 and eighteen months into his singing career. But he was poised to become - and in fact did posthumously prove to be - a pivotal person in the evolution of rock music.
Looking back it all seems very tame:
But check out this recording of Fade Away by the Crickets (lead singer Buddy Holly) in 1957:
And consider its cover by the Rolling Stones in 1964:
And note that in 1964 even the Rolling Stones still wore jackets on Ed Sullivan!
According to music critic Bruce Eder, Holly was "the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll." In 2004, Rolling Stone ranked Holly #13 on their list of the 100 Greatest Artists of All Time.
One can only wonder where he would have taken his music if he hadn't died so young. . . .
It is assumed that February 3 was The Day the Music Died referred to in Don McLean's American Pie:
Just a little music history from Momma C :)
Comments
My husband would be cheering if he read this! Any time music history comes up, he's quick to point out the influence Buddy Holly had on the musical world. I tend to agree. Thanks for the reminder, Barbara.
Posted by: lauren | February 7, 2009 11:01 AM
Thank you for this walk down memory lane. I was born over a decade after Buddy Holly tragically died but loved his music and Don McLean's (anybody remember Starry Starry Night?). I will have to use that last YouTube video to prove to my kids that that song is not about Star Wars!
Posted by: Charlotte (Matilda) | February 7, 2009 11:52 AM
My fave is "Every Day." Lots of covers on youtube but I haven't found the real thing yet.
Thanks!
Posted by: Jill | February 8, 2009 7:16 PM
