Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly may have only been recording for around 18 months when he died in 1959, but that short career had one of the greatest impacts on the Rock and Roll world.
He was born Charles Hardin Holley in Texas 1936 and from a very young age learned how to play the guitar, the piano and fiddle, plus he won a singing contest at just five years old. At thirteen he teamed up with another musician and started playing at school talent shows and well as clubs in the area. By the time he was nineteen he was already doing the same gig as Elvis and also opening for Bill Haley & His Comets. He was then signed to Decca Records and released three albums, his first one when he was twenty one. Although an unlikely star by today's standards with his thick rimmed glasses and nerdy looks, Buddy quickly shot to fame and earned a wealth of fans in the U.S. and became even more popular in England. He was a hero that people realised they could realistically attain to, he was a normal guy unlike Elvis who had the looks and charisma of a big icon. Holly's charm and politeness also shone through i interview and at shows, warming him to those who watched. His vocal style made him stand out from his peers, employing what has been nicknamed the 'hiccup' technique when emphasising certain words.
Then, famously, during a three-week tour Holly died in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens and 'The Big Bopper' J.P Richardson. He was twenty two years old.
Despite his short career, Buddy Holly holds a lot of influence on music, especially Rock and Roll. He became one of the first to write, perform and produce his own songs, something that gradually became the standard among the greats. His band The Crickets set the standard for what a rock band should be: drums, a bass and two guitars. His is one of the main reasons why the Fender Stratocaster became so popular, using it in almost every song he performed influencing Hank Marvin to own the first one in the UK. He also influenced Hank's look by not being afraid of wearing his glasses whilst performing, a look that also influenced Elvis Costello later on. The very name of his band was a huge factor in influencing the name of The Beatles, a group who were heavily influenced by his music. He also had a big impact on The Rolling Stones, they also had a hit with his song 'Not Fade Away' after Keith Richards saw him play live. Buddy's live shows also greatly affected Bob Dylan when he was a teenager, who went to a show two days before Holly died.
Suggested Listening
Buddy Holly - 20 Golden Greats
Trivia
Nirvana's In Bloom music video pays tribute to Buddy Holly
Was the first rock star to have a career-spanning box set.
Paul McCartney bought the song rights in 1975 and ensured his wife got all the money she was owed (manager Norman Petty previously had the rights after adding his name to the writing credits, though not having any writing input, and made more money than Buddy, the group, or the family after the death).