The "The Day The Music Died" Story

It was an ordinary day. Just finished watching "The Buddy Holly Story" on TBS. They had a day long marathon, showing the same movie over and over. This is one movie I could have watched more than once, but didn't know it was on until late in the evening. In 2000 Carol and I went to the Dutch Apple Theatre in Lancaster to see the acclaimed musical, Buddy: The Buddy Holly Story". It recreated his life from his humble beginnings to his eventual superstar status. Performing the role of Buddy was Billy McGuigan. He made me feel as if I was watching the real Buddy. Unbelievable job! The real Buddy Holley, Charles Hardin Holley, was born September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas. One of the true pioneers of rock and roll. His works influenced the Beatles, Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Eric Clapton. In 1955 Holly saw Elvis Presley sing in Lubbock and began to incorporate a rockabilly style into his music. On October 15 of that year he opened for Presley and caught the eye of a Nashville talent scout. He then opened for Bill Haley & The Comets and following this performance, signed with Decca Records in 1956. He formed his own band, called "The Crickets" consisting of Holly (lead guitar and vocalist), Niki Sullivan (guitar), Joe B. Mauldin (bass), and Jerry Allison (drums). On May 27, 1957, "That'll Be The Day" was released as a single and by September 23 topped the Best Sellers List. On August 16, 1957, "The Crickets" played the all-black Apollo Theater in New York and won over the audience with their songs. On December 1 of that year, "The Crickets" performed "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue" on The Ed Sullivan Show. "That'll Be the Day", written by Buddy, was recorded by various artists other than himself, including The Quarrymen who eventually became "The Beatles". It is my favorite Buddy Holly song. Eventually in 1958, Holly and his band broke up and he signed a solo contract, releasing such songs as "True Love Ways" and "Oh, Boy". In June of that year he also met Maria Elena Santiago and got married on August 15, two months later. In early 1959, Holly was offered a spot in the Winter Dance Party, a 3 week tour across the Midwest, with other notable performers such as Dion and the Belmonts, Richie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Following a performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, on February 2, 1959, he hopped on a small airplane to take him to the next stop on the tour. One of his bandmates, Waylon Jennings, gave uphis seat so Buddy could fly with Valens and Richardson. The plane crashed soon after taking off from nearby mason City in the early hours of February 3, killing the three artists and the pilot. He was 21 years old at the time of his death. He had been perceived as music's rising star. His untimely death and the subsequent loss on the music world has since been immortalized in Don McLean's hit, "American Pie," a tune which proclaims the day of the accident as simply, "the day the music died." What more can be said? It was another extraordinary day in the life of an ordinary guy. PS - pixs from the top are: Poster for the Buddy Holly Story from the Dutch Apple Theater, Billy McGuigan performing during the show, early photo of the real Buddy Holly, "The Crickets" featuring Niki Sullivan, Jerry Allison, Holly, and Joe B. Maulldin, Buddy performing in concert at the Apollo Theater in New York, and his tombstone in Lubbock, Texas.