Introduction
In this project I hope to learn about Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly was a very famous singer in the 1950’s/60’s he was famous for his distinctive, hiccuping vocal style. He has had a musical written about him and the TV programme "heartbeat" theme tune was originally sung by him.
Buddy Holly as a Boy
On the 7th of September 1936 Charles Hardin Holley was born to Ella and Lawrence Odell at Sixth Street home in Lubbock. Buddy had two brothers, Larry and Travis, and one sister Patricia. Charles Hardin’s mother soon decided that this name was far too long for such a young boy and so he was called "Buddy".
Buddy Holly was raised in a musical household. His mother Ella was an excellent vocalist, having sung duets with her sister from an early age. Oldest brother Larry studied classical violin, Travis played accordion, and Pat played piano and sang. Buddy’s father was not very musical and so always had the job of listening.
Buddy, however, was quite another story. As a child, he showed a quick talent for music, taking violin and piano lessons, and later steel guitar lessons, before losing interest. It wasn't until brother Travis returned from the Marine Corps with a $15 pawnshop Harmony that Buddy took up guitar. Travis taught him a few basic chords - - G,C,D,A,E, and before long he was telling Travis, "No, Travis, you're playing it wrong, it should go like this." Buddy was very quick to learn. But did not show interest in arithmetic and spelling.
At the tender age of four, Buddy Holly was reported to have sung at a four-year old girl’s birthday party on the 19th of April 1940. This was recorded in the Lubbock newspaper, which stated "Buddy Holley sang a song for the occasion." At the age of five Buddy Holly entered a talent contest with his older brothers. Buddy won a $5 prize for coming first after singing "Down the River Of Memories."
Buddy at School
In 1949 Buddy started at the J.T. Hutchinson Junior High School. He was already an accomplished guitarist, banjo player and mandolinist. At school he met his friend Bob Montgomery. In 1952 Buddy and Bob Montgomery made a home recording of Take These Shackles From My Heart and I'll Just Pretend. The following year they made a home recording of Bill Monroe's Footprints In The Snow. Bob and Buddy formed several country groups with others from the local area and they played at any events: - school functions, talent shows, car dealerships, grand opening promotions, parties -any venue that would give them experience in front of an audience. Bob and Buddy often sat together and listened to the radio were they heard country and western music. This country and western music influenced Buddy and Bob greatly, they were also influenced by Blue and Bluegrass music; this gave them their the unique style. In 1951, Dave Stone booked them for a guest spot on his radio show "Sunday Party". This led to other bookings and finally to their own programme: ‘The Buddy & Bob Show". A local talent spotting DJ. ‘Hipockets’ Duncan heard the boys and realised that they, especially Buddy, had a determination to "get out and get going" which made them special. He encouraged them to add a bass player, Larry Welborn, and as a trio they began to widen their repertoire. By 1954, Buddy had left Lubbock High School and was determined to take up a career in music.
Buddy’s years after school
1955
In 1955 nothing much great happened for Buddy Holly, but he did play several times in the same concert as Elvis Presley.
1956
During 1956 Buddy negotiated a recording contract with Decca and a three-year songwriter's contract with Cedarwood Publishing Company. Throughout 1956, between recording sessions with Decca and practising with his band, Buddy performed for touring shows, dances, and clubs around Lubbock and West Texas. He recorded with Sonny Curtis and Don Guess as Buddy and The Two Tones. Buddy's name was been misspelled, dropping the 'e' in Holley. As a result, Buddy adopted the Holly spelling for his last name.
During the year Buddy recorded the following songs: -
Blue Days Black Nights
and Love MeI'm Changing All Those Changes,
Girl On My Mind,
Rock Around With Ollie Vee
Ting-A-Ling
That'll Be The Day.
Modern Don Juan
You Are My One Desire
.
1957
Buddy recorded I'm Looking For Someone To Love and the hit version of That'll Be The Day. at the Norman Petty Studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Buddy sang and played lead guitar; Larry Welborn played bass; J.I. Allison played drums; and Niki Sullivan, Gary Tollett and Ramona Tollett sang background vocals on That'll Be The Day.
The group needed a name in order to release the new version of That'll Be The Day. J.I. Allison searched through an encyclopedia under "Insects" in order to find a name for the band. They considered briefly, then discarded "The Beetles" before selecting "The Crickets". Over the next months, the band members of The Crickets come together: Buddy Holly, vocals and lead guitar; J.I. Allison, drums; Joe B. Mauldin, bass; and Niki Sullivan, rhythm guitar.
During the year The Crickets recorded the following:-
Last Night
Maybe BabyMailman Bring Me No More Blues
Words Of LoveNot Fade Away Everyday
Peggy Sue Oh Boy,
Listen To Me
I'm Gonna Love You TooIt's too Late Send Me Some Lovin'
An Empty Cup Rock Me My Baby,
You've Got Love
Maybe Baby.Little Baby Look At Me
,Baby I Don't Care
By July, That'll Be The Day has sold 50,000 records, and an additional 28,000 have been produced
That month Buddy signed contracts for The Crickets to perform during the month of August at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C.; the Royal Theatre in Baltimore, Maryland; and the Apollo Theatre in New York City.
He also signed a contract for a 67-day tour package beginning in September.
In August Buddy Holly and The Crickets began their first major tour at the Howard Theatre in Washington, D.C. where That'll Be The Day is number two on the charts.
In September Buddy Holly and The Crickets joined the Biggest Show of Stars for 1957 in Norfolk, Virginia. The tour travelled throughout the United States and Canada over the next three months.
On the 23rd of September That'll Be The Day
is the No. 1 Best Seller in Stores.In November the album, The Chirping Crickets was released with songs, That'll Be The Day, Oh Boy, Not Fade Away, You've Got Love, Maybe Baby, It's Too Late, Tell Me How, I'm Looking For Someone To Love, An Empty Cup, Send Me Some Lovin', Last Night, and Rock Me My Baby.
On the 29th of November Buddy and the crickets were voted them "Most Promising Vocal Group of 1957" by the Juke Box Operators of America.
1958
Buddy Holly and The Crickets toured in Australia, beginning January 30.
Buddy began to gain recognition as a solo artist while continuing to work with The Crickets. Buddy Holly was presented with a gold record for Peggy Sue.
Buddy and The Crickets flew from New York to Honolulu, then from Hawaii to Sydney, Australia for a six-day tour. Buddy Holly and The Crickets returned to Hawaii after the Australian tour and performed at Scofield Barracks.
Buddy's singles recorded this year were: -
I'm Gonna Love You Too/Listen To Me
My DesireRave On
Love me Maybe Baby/Tell Me How Well...All Right Think It Over Fool's ParadiseIt's So Easy
Lonesome TearsHeartbeat
Early In The MorningNow We're One
True Love WaysIt Doesn't Matter Anymore Raining In My Heart
Moondreams
That's What They SayWhat To Do Peggy Sue Got Married That Makes It Tough Learning The Game
Crying, Waiting, Hoping
The album, Buddy Holly was released, which included the songs: I'm Gonna Love You Too, Peggy Sue, Look At Me, Listen To Me, Valley Of Tears, Ready Teddy, Everyday, Mailman Bring Me No More Blues, Words Of Love, (You're So Square) Baby I Don't Care, Rave On, and Little Baby.
Buddy Holly and The Crickets arrived in London to begin the 25-day tour of the United Kingdom.
The album, That'll Be The Day, was released with the songs: You Are My One Desire, Blue Days Black Nights, Modern Don Juan, Rock Around With Ollie Vee, Ting-A-Ling, Girl On My Mind, That'll Be The Day, Love Me, I'm Changing All Those Changes, Don't Come Back Knockin' and Midnight Shift.
Buddy met Maria Elena Santiago at Peer Southern Music, in New York. He proposed marriage the first day they met, and they were wed within two months.
On July 21st J.I. Allison and Peggy Sue Gerron apply for a marriage license from the county courthouse in Lubbock. They were married the next day in Honey Grove, Texas.
On August 15th Buddy and Maria Elena Santiago were married at the Holley home in Lubbock. Buddy and Maria Elena then spent Christmas with Buddy's family in Lubbock.
1959
It is believed that Buddy recorded three more songs, Slippin' And Slidin', Smokey Joe's Cafe, and Wait 'Till The Sun Shines Nellie, in January 1959. Buddy also began rehearsing for the upcoming tour, the Winter Dance Party.
The Buddy Holly single It Doesn't Matter Anymore/Raining In My Heart was released.
From January 20th to 22nd Buddy travelled by train to Chicago and met with the other artists on the Winter Dance Party tour. From Chicago, the artists were scheduled to travel by bus on the tour route. Other performers included: Ritchie Valens, J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Dion and The Belmonts, and Frankie Sardo.
On January 23rd The Winter Dance Party tour started with performances in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The tour was scheduled in Minnesota, Iowa, Illinois, Kentucky and Ohio, ending on February 15th.
On February 1st The Winter Dance Party was stranded en route to Appleton, Wisconsin, when the bus broke down. The temperature was minus-30-degrees. When the Sheriffs’ cars picked up the freezing entertainers, Carl Bunch was admitted to hospital suffering from frostbite. With one performance cancelled, the Winter Dance Party continued and performed at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, Wisconsin.
The next day, on February 2nd, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa Buddy Holly performed and served as a back-up musician during the performance
That’ll be the day
On February the 3rd, shortly after the performance in Clear Lake, Buddy Holly with others J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson and Ritchie Valens boarded a small aircraft to take them to their next performance. Soon after take-off, the plane crashed killing all aboard. Buddy died at the young age of 22.
Bibliography
Internet: - &nbbsp; http://www.idm.co.uk/buddy/buddy.htm
http://www.cmgww.com/music/holly/holly.html
CD-ROM’s: - Encarta Encyclopaedia
Oxford Interactive Encyclopaedia
Hutchinson Educational Encyclopaedia
Books: - The Buddy Holly Story Program.