Holly, Buddy (1936-1959), was an American singer, composer, and electric guitarist . Holly became one of the first major performers of rock music . Holly and his band, the Crickets, developed an energetic style that combined elements of country music with a strong rock ‘n’ roll rhythm. This style influenced many American and British rock performers.
Holly gained fame in 1957 with his recording of “That’ll Be the Day.” That same year, he recorded his first solo hit, “Peggy Sue.” Holly’s other hits with the Crickets included “Oh, Boy!” (1957), “Everyday” (1957), “Maybe Baby” (1958), “Rave On” (1958), and “Think It Over” (1958). After Holly left the Crickets in October 1958, he recorded the hits “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” (1959) and “Raining in My Heart” (1959). Holly wrote or co-wrote many of the songs he performed.
Holly was born on Sept. 7, 1936, in Lubbock, Texas. His full name was Charles Hardin Holley. He began playing the piano when he was 11 years old but soon turned to playing the guitar. He performed as a country singer during the early 1950’s. Holly died in a plane crash near Mason City, Iowa, on Feb. 3, 1959, at the age of 22. Also killed in the crash were rock stars Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson, known as the Big Bopper. Holly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. The Crickets were inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.
