The Old Log Theatre was the oldest professional theater in the state of Minnesota . It was sometimes cited as the oldest continuously operating professional theater in the United States. It was located in Excelsior and was funded entirely by ticket sales and income from its restaurant.
151-465: On February 20, 2024, owners Greg and Marissa Frankenfield announced their retirement, and said that the theatre and its associated restaurant would be closing permanently, with its last production consisting of a tribute to Buddy Holly occurring on March 2, 2024. The Old Log Theatre first opened in 1940 in Greenwood , in a dirt-floored log building now used as a scenery shop. Throughout its existence
302-701: A brain tumor ; a planned tour of Germany in the autumn of 1980 was subsequently cancelled. The tour was critically lambasted, but surviving recordings of a performance in Johannesburg show Haley in good spirits and good voice. Nonetheless, according to the Haley News fan club newsletter and the Haley biography Sound and Glory , planned concerts (such as a fall 1980 tour of Germany) and proposed recording sessions in New York and Memphis were cancelled, including
453-520: A "pioneer and a revolutionary [...] a multidimensional talent [...] (who) co-wrote and performed (songs that) remain as fresh and potent today." In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Holly at number 74 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame included Holly among its first class in 1986. On its entry, the Hall of Fame remarked upon the large quantity of material he produced during his short musical career, and said it "made
604-568: A Minnesota information technology firm. The Frankenfields are theater enthusiasts and producers who have been on the boards of several local theatre organizations and invested in West End and Broadway productions. The current theater was reconfigured to seat 560; a remodeling in summer 2014 included a deeper stage and new sound and lighting systems. They renovated the restaurant, which seats 250, and reopened it as Cast & Cru in fall 2014. An estimated 6 million people have attended productions at
755-416: A brain tumor. Haley's British manager, Patrick Malynn, was quoted as saying that "Haley had taken a fit [and] didn't recognize anyone anymore." In addition, a doctor who examined Haley said that the tumor was inoperable. Haley's widow Martha, who was with him in these troubling times, denied he had a brain tumor, as did his close friend Hugh McCallum. Martha and friends related that Haley did not want to go on
906-481: A ceremony also attended by Haley's second wife and youngest daughter. The Comets placed their handprints in cement, leaving a space blank for Haley. More than 100 musicians performed with Bill Haley & His Comets between 1952 and Haley's death in 1981, many becoming fan favorites along the way. Several short-lived Comets reunions were attempted in the 1970s and 1980s, including one contingent (organized by Baltimore -based piano player Joey Welz , who played piano for
1057-577: A country-western song, " Jealous Heart ", on which he was backed by a local mariachi band (similar in style to the earlier "Jimmy Martinez"), and a late-60s-style rocker, "Rock on Baby", backed by a group called Superfine Dandelion. Neither recording would be released for 30 years. In 1968, Haley and the Comets recorded a single for the United Artists label, a version of Tom T. Hall 's " That's How I Got to Memphis ", but no long-term association with
1208-507: A demo of " That'll Be the Day ", a song they had previously recorded in Nashville. In June 1956, Holly along with his older brother Larry as well as Allison and Sonny Curtis had gone to see the film The Searchers , starring John Wayne , in which Wayne repeatedly used the phrase "That'll be the day". This line of dialogue inspired the young musicians. Now playing lead guitar, Holly achieved
1359-447: A demo of " That'll Be the Day ", among other songs. Petty became the band's manager and sent the demo to Brunswick Records , which released it as a single credited to The Crickets , a name chosen by the band to subvert Decca's contract limitations. It became the name of Holly's band. In September 1957, as the band toured, "That'll Be the Day" topped the US and UK singles charts. Its success
1510-789: A demo of one of his last songs "Peggy Sue Got Married"—about Gerron and Allison's marriage. Holly's singing style was characterized by his vocal hiccups , a technique he acquired after hearing Elvis do it in 1955 on the Hayride show, and his alternation between his regular voice and falsetto . Holly's "stuttering vocals" were complemented by his percussive guitar playing , solos, stops , bent notes , and rhythm and blues chord progressions . He often strummed downstrokes that were accompanied by Allison's percussion. Holly bought his first Fender Stratocaster , which became his signature guitar, at Harrod Music in Lubbock. His innovative playing style
1661-473: A demo tape, which Denny forwarded to Paul Cohen , who signed the band to Decca Records in February 1956. In the contract, Decca misspelled Holly's surname as "Holly", and from then on he was known as Buddy Holly, instead of his real name Holley. On January 26, 1956, Holly attended his first formal recording session, which was produced by Owen Bradley . He attended two more sessions in Nashville, but with
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#17327878580231812-501: A fill-in player on live gigs for several years prior to that.) Both these musicians claim trademark ownership of the name "Bill Haley's Comets"; this dates back to Lane and Rappa (during a period when they worked together as one band) winning a trademark infringement lawsuit against the aforementioned Joey Rand group in 1989. Both Rappa's and Lane's bands have, from time to time, recruited other former Comets for their lineups (for example, in 2005, Rappa joined forces with Joey Welz), but for
1963-609: A film short in which she, and Disc Jockey Bill Delzell, played ' Straight Jacket ' and 'Shake Rattle and Roll', which the group are seen playing. In March 1955, the group had four songs in Cash Box magazine's top 50 songs: "Dim, Dim the Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere)"; "Birth of the Boogie"; "Mambo Rock"; and "Shake, Rattle and Roll." Haley's "Shake, Rattle and Roll" never achieved the same level of historical importance as "Rock Around
2114-473: A guitar he had bought from a shipmate while serving in the Pacific. At age 11, at his mother's urging, Buddy took piano lessons but abandoned them after nine months. He switched to the guitar after he saw a classmate playing and singing on the school bus. Buddy's parents initially bought him a steel guitar , but he insisted that he wanted a guitar like his brother's. His parents bought him an acoustic guitar from
2265-562: A local pawnshop, and he learned how to play it from Travis. During his early childhood, Holly was influenced by the music of Hank Williams , Jimmie Rodgers , Moon Mullican , Bill Monroe , Hank Snow , Bob Wills , and the Carter Family . At Roscoe Wilson Elementary, Holly became friends with Bob Montgomery , and the two played together, practicing with songs by The Louvin Brothers and Johnnie & Jack . They both listened to
2416-610: A major and lasting impact on popular music." It called him an "innovator" for writing his own material, his experimentation with double tracking and the use of orchestration ; he is also said to have "pioneered and popularized the now-standard" use of two guitars, bass, and drums by rock bands. The Songwriters Hall of Fame also inducted Holly in 1986, and said his contributions "changed the face of Rock 'n' Roll." Holly developed in collaboration with Petty techniques of overdubbing and reverb , while he used innovative instrumentation later implemented by other artists. Holly became "one of
2567-526: A museum of Holly memorabilia and fine arts gallery. The center is located on Crickets Avenue, one street east of Buddy Holly Avenue, in a building that previously housed the Fort Worth and Denver South Plains Railway Depot. In 2010, the statue was taken down for refurbishment, and construction of a new Walk of Fame began. In 1997, the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences gave Holly
2718-487: A nearly 20-year career with the Comets. Haley continued to tour for the next year with a succession of new sax players, but his popularity was waning again, and his 1976 performance in London was critically lambasted in the music media, such as Melody Maker . That year, the group also recorded an album, R-O-C-K at Muscle Shoals Sound Studio for Sonet Records. According to one source, "he had conflicted feelings about fame,
2869-585: A performance in Birmingham was videotaped and aired on UK television; it was released on DVD in 2005. During the March tour, Haley recorded several tracks in London for his next album for Sonet, completing the work that summer in Muscle Shoals; the album, Everyone Can Rock & Roll , issued later in 1979, was the last release of new recordings by Haley before his death. On November 26, 1979, Haley and
3020-483: A pony, and holding it over his head – were highlights of the band's live performances during this time. Their music and their act were part of a tradition in jazz and rhythm and blues , but it all came like a thunderclap to most of their audience. In late 1954, Haley and His Comets appeared in a short subject entitled Round Up of Rhythm , performing three songs. This was the earliest known theatrical rock and roll film release. In 1955, Lytle, Richards and Ambrose quit
3171-595: A potential reunion with past members of the Comets. Despite his illness, Haley started compiling notes for possible use as a basis for either a biographical film based on his life, or a published autobiography (accounts differ), and there were plans for him to record an album in Memphis, Tennessee , when the brain tumor began affecting his behavior and he returned to his home in Harlingen, Texas . The October 25, 1980, issue of German tabloid Bild reported that Haley had
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#17327878580233322-426: A recording contract with both labels. Norman Petty reasoned correctly that disc jockeys would be reluctant to play and promote multiple new records by the same artist, but would have no problem playing these same records if they were credited to different performers. Holly himself was unaware of this strategy; in a 1957 radio interview with Dale Lowery, Holly said, "We have three records going out right now. Of course,
3473-590: A recording session. The Comets' association with Orfeon/Dimsa ended later that year. By 1967, as related by Haley in an interview with radio host Red Robinson in that year, the group was "a free agent" without any recording contracts at all, although the band continued to perform regularly in North America and Europe. During this year, Haley—without the Comets—recorded a pair of demos in Phoenix, Arizona :
3624-606: A session in Oklahoma City , where he was performing with his own band. While the band drove to the location, the producer set up a makeshift studio. The rest of the songs needed for an album and singles were recorded; Petty later dubbed the material in Clovis. The resulting album, The "Chirping" Crickets , was released on November 27, 1957. It reached number five on the UK Albums Chart. In October, Brunswick released
3775-465: A shared honeymoon in Acapulco , Mexico. Holly's own marriage to Santiago was distant and tense, and the couple were supposedly headed for divorce. In late 1958, Holly had also encouraged Gerron to divorce Allison over his drunkenly behavior, but she declined. The act of divorce went against her Catholic beliefs (however, Gerron eventually did divorce Allison in 1965). In December 1958, Holly recorded
3926-471: A succession of bizarre, mostly monologue late-night phone calls to friends and relatives toward the end of his life in which he was semi-coherent. His first wife has been quoted as saying, "He would call you and ramble, dwelling on the past..." The biography also describes Haley painting the windows of his home black, but there is little other information available about his final days. Haley died in his sleep of an apparent heart attack on February 9, 1981, at
4077-605: A tour of the mid-western US. After a show in Clear Lake, Iowa , Holly chartered an airplane to travel to his next show in Moorhead, Minnesota . Soon after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing Holly, Ritchie Valens , The Big Bopper , and pilot Roger Peterson in a crash later referred to by Don McLean as " The Day the Music Died " in his song " American Pie ". During his short career, Holly wrote and recorded many songs. He
4228-573: Is considered an exaggeration. Some sources indicate that the recording—a blend of R&B, western and pop music—is a contender for the title of "first rock'n'roll record" while others state that it was merely "the first rock and roll song to be a hit on the pop charts". It was also said to be the first rock'n'roll recording to be played on national television in the United States (in an episode of Omnibus (American TV program) in 1953). On their last release from Essex, new band member Joey Ambrose
4379-536: Is heard on the B-side, "Straight Jacket." In the spring of 1954, Haley and His Comets left Essex for New York-based Decca Records , where they were placed under the auspices of veteran producer Milt Gabler , who would produce all of the band's recordings for the label and who had been involved in creating many proto-rock and roll recordings by the likes of the Andrews Sisters and Louis Jordan dating back to
4530-744: Is now recognized as a rockabilly style. It sold well and was followed in 1952 by a cover of a 1940s rhythm and blues song called " Rock the Joint " for Holiday's sister company, Essex Records . During those years however, Haley was considered one of the top cowboy yodelers in America. Many Saddlemen recordings were not released until the 1970s and 1980s, and highlights included romantic ballads such as "Rose of My Heart" and western swing tunes such as "Yodel Your Blues Away." The original members of this group were Haley, pianist and accordion player Johnny Grande and steel guitarist Billy Williamson . Al Thompson
4681-578: Is often regarded as the artist who defined the traditional rock-and-roll lineup of two guitars, bass, and drums. This was unfounded considering he first saw Elvis with this lineup in Lubbock in 1955 when Holly was strictly a country music band. Holly was a major influence on later popular music artists, including Bob Dylan , The Beatles , The Rolling Stones , Eric Clapton , Brian May , Cliff Richard , The Hollies , Elvis Costello , Jeff Beck , Dave Edmunds , Fiona Apple , Lou Reed , Marshall Crenshaw , Freddie Mercury , The Pixies and Elton John . Holly
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4832-428: Is pointless." She took him home, however, fed him and gave him his first dose. As soon as he felt better, he went back out to his room in the pool house, and the downward spiral continued until his death. Media reports immediately following his death indicated that Haley displayed deranged and erratic behavior in the final weeks of his life. According to a biography of Haley by John Swenson, released in 1982, Haley made
4983-749: The 2008 Universal fire . This is disputed by Chad Kassem of Analogue Productions , who claims to have used the master tapes of Holly's first two albums in Analogue Productions reissues of these albums on LP and SACD in 2017. John Lennon and Paul McCartney saw Holly for the first time when he appeared on Sunday Night at the London Palladium . The two had recently met and begun their musical association. They studied Holly's records, learned his performance style and lyricism, and based their act around his persona. Inspired by Holly's insect-themed Crickets, they chose to name their band "
5134-674: The Big Show with Paul Anka , Jerry Lee Lewis and Jodie Sands . In March, the band toured the United Kingdom, playing 50 shows in 25 days. The same month, his debut solo album, Buddy Holly , was released. Upon their return to the United States, Holly and the Crickets joined Alan Freed's Big Beat Show tour for 41 dates. In April, Decca released That'll Be the Day , featuring the songs recorded with Bradley during his early Nashville sessions. A new recording session in Clovis
5285-851: The CBS television musical variety program The Ed Sullivan Show , or Toast of the Town on Sunday, August 7, 1955, in a broadcast from the Shakespeare Festival Theater in Stratford, Connecticut . They performed a live version of "Rock Around the Clock" featuring Franny Beecher on lead guitar and Dick Richards on drums. The group made a second and final appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show on Sunday, April 28, 1957, performing " Rudy's Rock " and "Forty Cups of Coffee." Bill Haley and
5436-604: The Caterina Valente movie Hier Bin ich Hier Bleib Ich (Here I Am Here I Stay) . Back in the U.S., Haley attempted to start his own record label, Clymax, and establish his own stable of performers, notably Sally Starr (the hostess of a Philadelphia television children's program) and the Matys Brothers . Members of the Comets were commissioned to work as session musicians on many of these recordings, many of which were written or co-written by Haley and members of
5587-779: The Lifetime Achievement Award . He was inducted into the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame in 2000. On May 9, 2011, the City of Lubbock held a ribbon-cutting ceremony for the Buddy and Maria Elena Holly Plaza, the new home of the statue and the Walk of Fame. On what would have been his 75th birthday, a star bearing Holly's name was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame . Groundbreaking was held on April 20, 2017, for
5738-577: The Louisiana languor of the original by Bobby Charles , "Don't Knock the Rock", "Rock-a-Beatin' Boogie", "Rudy's Rock" (the first instrumental hit of the rock and roll era), and "Skinny Minnie." Bill Haley and the Comets performed "Rock Around the Clock" in an a cappella and a lip-synched version on the NBC television program Texaco Star Theater hosted by Milton Berle on May 31, 1955. Berle predicted that
5889-666: The Ray Charles Singers and studio musicians in an attempt to simulate the established Crickets sound. The finished tracks became the first posthumous Holly single, " Peggy Sue Got Married "/" Crying, Waiting, Hoping ." The new release was successful enough to warrant an album drawing upon the other Holly demos, using the same studio personnel, in January 1960. All six songs were included in The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2 (1960). The demand for Holly records
6040-573: The Sunday Party show on KDAV in 1953 and performed live gigs in Lubbock. At that time, Holly was influenced by late-night radio stations that played blues and rhythm and blues (R&B). He would sit in his car with Curtis and tune to distant radio stations that could only be received at night, when local transmissions ceased. Holly then modified his music by blending his earlier country and western influence with R&B. We do know it wasn't until Holly saw Elvis in Lubbock that led him to follow
6191-532: The Twin Cities and became a radio veteran in the area. In 2006, several of Stolz's sons took over theater operations, though Stolz remained active in the productions, including a short speech before and after each night's performance. He died on February 14, 2015, at age 97. Greg and Marissa Frankenfield purchased the theater and restaurant in May 2013. Greg Frankenfield is cofounder and CEO of Magenic Technologies,
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6342-606: The Village Gate , Blue Note, Village Vanguard , and Johnny Johnson's. Santiago later said that Holly was keen to learn fingerstyle flamenco guitar and that he would often visit her aunt's home to play the piano there. Holly planned collaborations between soul singers and rock and roll. He wanted to make an album with Ray Charles and Mahalia Jackson . Holly also had ambitions to work in film and registered for acting classes with Lee Strasberg's Actors Studio . Santiago accompanied Holly on tours. To hide her marriage to Holly, she
6493-451: The 1940s. One of Jordan's records, Saturday Night Fish Fry (1949), is considered to be a contender for the title of "first rock'n' roll record. Gabler later commented that "all the tricks I used with Louis Jordan, I used with Bill Haley". The group's first session, on April 12, 1954, yielded " Rock Around the Clock ", which would become Haley's biggest hit and one of the most important records in rock and roll history. Sales of "Rock Around
6644-472: The Beatles ". Lennon and McCartney later cited Holly as one of their main influences. Bill Haley %26 His Comets Bill Haley & His Comets was an American rock and roll band formed in 1947 and continuing until Haley's death in 1981. The band was also known as Bill Haley and the Comets and Bill Haley's Comets . From late 1954 to late 1956, the group recorded nine Top 20 singles, one of which
6795-650: The British musical charts once again when MCA Records (inheritors of the Decca catalogue) released "Haley's Golden Medley", a hastily compiled edit of the band's best-known hits in the style of the then-popular " Stars on 45 " format. The single reached Number 50 in the UK but was not released in the United States. In 1987, Bill Haley was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame . At that time, supporting bands were not also named to
6946-420: The Clock , a memoir by Comets bass player Marshall Lytle. The new name for the group was adopted in the fall of 1952, before the 1953 release of " Crazy Man, Crazy " which had some elements of rock and roll and rockabilly music. Members of the group at that time were Haley, Johnny Grande, Billy Williamson and Marshall Lytle. Grande usually played piano on records but switched to accordion for live shows as it
7097-408: The Clock" and "Ooh, Look-a There, Ain't She Pretty") and on February 20, 1960 (performing "Rock Around the Clock" and "Tamiami"). In 1956, the group appeared in two of the earliest full-length rock and roll movies with Alan Freed : Rock Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Rock . The Platters were co-stars in the first movie, and Little Richard appeared in the second. Rock Around the Clock
7248-518: The Clock" but it predated it as the first international rock and roll hit. It did not attain the Number 1 position on the American charts, but it became Haley's first gold record. Elvis Presley recorded the song in 1956, combining Haley's arrangement with Turner's original lyrics, but his version was not a substantial hit. Late in 1954, Haley recorded another hit, "Dim, Dim The Lights", which was one of
7399-626: The Clock" started slowly, since it was the B-side of the single, but it performed well enough, that a second Decca session was commissioned. " Shake, Rattle and Roll " followed, a somewhat bowdlerized cover version of the Big Joe Turner recording released earlier in 1954. The single was one of Decca's best-selling records of 1954 and the seventh-best-selling record in November 1954. In 1954, Anita Gordon starred in Round Up of Rhythm ,
7550-404: The Comets appeared on American Bandstand hosted by Dick Clark on ABC television twice in 1957, on the prime-time show on October 28 and on the regular daytime show on November 27. The band also appeared on Dick Clark's Saturday Night Beechnut Show (also known as The Dick Clark Show ), a prime-time TV series from New York on March 22, 1958, during the first season (performing "Rock Around
7701-456: The Comets between gigs and during Haley's retirement. This group rerecorded "Rock Around the Clock" for the television series Happy Days . The Comets , featuring musicians who performed with Haley in 1954–1955, reunited in 1987 and are still touring the world as of 2007, playing showrooms in the United States and Europe. They have also recorded a half-dozen albums for small labels in Europe and
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#17327878580237852-553: The Comets from 1962 to 1965 ) that appeared on The Tomorrow Show , and another run by an Elvis Presley impersonator, Joey Rand (this group later lost a legal action over the right to use the Comets name). Only one group was sent out to perform by Haley himself and his management and production company, consisting of musicians who had played with Haley throughout the 1960s and 1970s—lead guitarist "Nick Masters" (Mathias Nicholas Nastos), bassist Ray Cawley, singer Ray "Pudge" Parsons, and drummer Buddy Dee—and who had continued to perform as
8003-579: The Comets in a salary dispute and formed their own group, the Jodimars . Haley hired several new musicians to take their place: Rudy Pompilli on sax, Al Rex (a former member of the Saddlemen) on double bass, and Ralph Jones on drums. In addition, lead guitarist Franny Beecher , who had been a session musician for Haley since Danny Cedrone 's death in the spring of 1954, became a full-time Comet and Haley's first performing lead guitarist (Cedrone had played
8154-529: The Comets name, all claiming (with varying degrees of authority) to be the continuation of Haley's group. As of the end of 2014, four such groups were still performing in the United States and internationally. In around the mid-1940s, Bill Haley performed with the Down Homers and formed a group called the Four Aces of Western Swing. The group that later became the Comets initially formed as "Bill Haley and
8305-540: The Comets performed for Queen Elizabeth II , a moment Haley considered the proudest of his career. It was also the last time he performed in Europe and the last time most fans saw him perform "Rock Around the Clock". Haley made his final performances in South Africa in May and June 1980. Just before the South African tour commenced, Haley's health was reportedly failing, and he was reportedly diagnosed with
8456-416: The Comets' "Rock the Joint". No one had scored an American Top 20 hit with anything that could really qualify as rock'n'roll before their single "Crazy Man Crazy" in 1953". In 1953, Haley scored his first national success with his original song, "Crazy Man, Crazy", a phrase Haley said he heard from his teenage audience, again released on Essex. Haley later claimed the recording sold a million copies, but this
8607-435: The Comets. The Clymax experiment only lasted about a year. In 1959, Haley's relationship with Decca collapsed; after a final set of instrumental-only recordings in the fall, Haley announced he was leaving Decca for the new Warner Bros. Records label, which released two more albums in 1960, which were moderately successful. In 1960 Franny Beecher and Rudi Pompilli left the Comets to start their own record label. Replacing Beecher
8758-481: The Crickets performed "Peggy Sue" on The Arthur Murray Party . On January 8, 1958, Holly and the Crickets joined America's Greatest Teenage Recording Stars tour. On January 25, Holly recorded " Rave On "; the next day, he made his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show , singing "Oh, Boy!" Holly departed to perform in Honolulu , Hawaii, on January 27, and then started a week-long tour of Australia billed as
8909-548: The Crickets. Holly appeared on American Bandstand , hosted by Dick Clark on ABC , on August 26. Before leaving New York, the band befriended The Everly Brothers . "That'll Be the Day" topped the US "Best Sellers in Stores" chart on September 23 and was number one on the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in November. Three days prior, Coral released " Peggy Sue ", backed with " Everyday ", with Holly credited as
9060-774: The Everly Brothers, Don Everly took the band to Phil's Men's Shop in New York City and introduced them to Ivy League clothes . The brothers advised Holly to replace his old-fashioned glasses with horn-rimmed glasses , which had been popularized by Steve Allen . Holly bought a pair of glasses made in Mexico from Lubbock optometrist Dr. J. Davis Armistead. Teenagers in the United States started to request this style of glasses, which were later popularly known as "Buddy Holly glasses." While Holly's other belongings were recovered immediately following his fatal plane crash, there
9211-671: The George Jones Show), and others) to make a full band. Rappa performed his Upright Bass show before thousands in audiences all over the country. Members of Rappa's "Comets" went on to form the LocoMotion Showband and continued touring the United States without Rappa adding Galen Deig (Drums) and Jimmy Baze (Bass) before eventually disbanding. Esarey went on to graduate from Cedarville University and Luther Rice Theological Seminary. He has since pastored churches and produced his own saxophone instrumental albums. Several of
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#17327878580239362-607: The Hall of Fame. This policy was subsequently changed, and in 2012 a special committee of the Hall of Fame inducted the Comets. Bill Haley and His Comets were also inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame . In June 2005, Bill Haley And His Comets were inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. In July 2005, the surviving members of the 1954–55 Comets (see below) represented Haley when Bill Haley and His Comets were inducted into Hollywood's Rockwalk ,
9513-430: The Morning ." During a visit to the offices of Peer-Southern , Holly met María Elena Santiago . He asked her out on their first meeting and proposed marriage to her on their first date. The wedding took place on August 15. Norman Petty had tried to dissuade Holly from marriage; he felt that it would disappoint Holly's public and damage his career. Holly and Santiago frequented many of New York's music venues, including
9664-479: The Old Log Theatre. Theater alumni include actor Charles Nolte , who spent three years with the theater, Loni Anderson , actor Nick Nolte , Julia Duffy , Steve Zahn , and long-time Twin Cities news anchor and actor Dave Moore . 44°54′38.18″N 93°33′27.57″W / 44.9106056°N 93.5576583°W / 44.9106056; -93.5576583 Buddy Holly Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly ,
9815-486: The Orfeon label and its subsidiary, Dimsa. They hosted a television series, Orfeon a Go-Go , and made cameo appearances in several movies, lip-synching some of their old hits. Haley, who was fluent in Spanish, recorded a number of songs in the language, but most of the band's output during these years was instrumental recordings, many utilizing local session musicians playing trumpet. There was also some experimentation with Haley's style during this time; one single for Orfeon
9966-454: The Presley example. By 1955, after graduating from Lubbock High School , Holly decided to pursue a full-time career in music. He was further encouraged after seeing Elvis Presley perform live in Lubbock, whose act was booked by Pappy Dave Stone of KDAV. In February, Holly opened for Presley at the Fair Park Coliseum, in April at the Cotton Club, and again in June at the Coliseum. By that time, Holly had incorporated into his band Larry Welborn on
10117-417: The Saddlemen" c. 1949 –1952, and performed mostly country and western songs, though occasionally with a bluesy feel. The group was also the first to record a cover version (in July 1951) of Rocket 88 , originally a jump blues song by Jackie Brenston and his Delta Cats, who were actually Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm . He did so for the Philadelphia -based Holiday Records label, in what
10268-712: The Three Tunes. The label later released Holly's second single "Modern Don Juan", backed with "You Are My One Desire". Neither single made an impression. On January 22, 1957, Decca informed Holly his contract would not be renewed, but insisted he could not record the same songs for anyone else for five years. Holly was unhappy with the results of his time with Decca, and inspired by the success of Buddy Knox 's " Party Doll " and Jimmy Bowen 's " I'm Stickin' with You ", he visited Norman Petty , who had produced and promoted both records. Together with Allison, bassist Joe B. Mauldin , and rhythm guitarist Niki Sullivan , he went to Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico . The group recorded
10419-437: The United States. This version of the group has also been credited as Bill Haley's Original Comets and, in circumstances in which the use of the Comets name is in dispute, A Tribute to Bill Haley and The Original Band . The basic lineup of this group from 1987 to May 2006 was Marshall Lytle (bass), Joey Ambrose (sax), Johnny Grande (piano), Dick Richards (drums) and Franny Beecher (guitar). British singer Jacko Buddin augmented
10570-418: The aforementioned "Rock Around the Clock", "Dim, Dim the Lights", " Rock-A-Beatin' Boogie ", "Razzle-Dazzle", " See You Later, Alligator ", " The Saints Rock 'N' Roll " and " Rip It Up ". In 1956, the group appeared in two early rock and roll movies with disc jockey Alan Freed : Rock Around the Clock and Don't Knock the Rock . Though the group was considered to be at the forefront of rock and roll during
10721-487: The age of 55, at his home in Harlingen, Texas. He was discovered lying motionless on his bed by a friend who had stopped by to visit him. The friend immediately called the police, and Haley was pronounced dead at the scene. Haley's death certificate gave "natural causes, most likely a heart attack" as the cause of death. Following a small funeral service attended by 75 people, Haley was cremated in Brownsville, Texas . In April 1981, Bill Haley & His Comets returned to
10872-434: The band members flew to Lubbock to visit their families. Holly's high school girlfriend, Echo McGuire, had left him for a fellow student. Aside from McGuire, Holly had a relationship with Lubbock fan June Clark. After Clark ended their relationship, Holly realized the importance of his relationship with McGuire and considered his relationship with Clark a temporary one. Meanwhile, for their return to recording, Petty arranged
11023-649: The band was known in Hispanic America) signed with the Orfeón label of Mexico and scored an unexpected hit with "Twist Español", a Spanish-language recording based on the twist dance craze, which was sweeping America at the time. Haley followed up with "Florida Twist" (#3 MEX, according to Billboard Hits Of The World 04.21.62), which was for a time the biggest-selling single in Mexican history. Although Chubby Checker and Hank Ballard were credited with starting
11174-582: The band was never credited on records as "Buddy Holly and the Crickets" until 1962, when a compilation album was released. "That'll Be the Day" was released on July 27, 1957. Petty booked Holly and the Crickets for a tour with Irvin Feld , who had noticed the band after "That'll Be the Day" appeared on the R&;B chart. He booked them for appearances in Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and New York City. The band
11325-706: The construction of a new performing arts center in Lubbock, the Buddy Holly Hall of Performing Arts and Sciences , a downtown $ 153 million project expected to be completed in 2020. Thus far, the private group, the Lubbock Entertainment and Performing Arts Association, has raised or received pledges in the amount of $ 93 million to underwrite the project. According to a June 2019 article in The New York Times Magazine , "virtually all" of Holly's masters were lost in
11476-711: The county moved courthouses. The glasses frames were returned to Santiago a year later, after a legal contest over them with his parents. They are now on display at the Buddy Holly Center in Lubbock, Texas. Buddy Holly left behind dozens of unfinished recordings — solo transcriptions of his new compositions, informal jam sessions with bandmates, and tapes demonstrating songs intended for other artists. The last known recordings, made in Holly's apartment in late 1958, were his last six original songs. In June 1959, Coral Records overdubbed two of them with backing vocals by
11627-580: The crash while the others were found in or near the wreckage. However, an autopsy done at the request of Richardson's son in 2007 found no evidence to support the rumors. Dr. Bill Bass, a forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, stated that "There was no indication of foul play," and that Richardson "died immediately." Holly's funeral was held on February 7, 1959, at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock. The service
11778-566: The days prior to a meeting scheduled at the headquarters of the General Artists Corporation , which organized the tour. They then traveled by train to Chicago to join the rest of the band. The Winter Dance Party tour began in Milwaukee, Wisconsin , on January 23, 1959. The amount of travel involved created logistical problems, as the distance between venues had not been considered when scheduling performances. Adding to
11929-502: The demo, the label's executives released it without recording a new version. "I'm Looking for Someone to Love" was the B-side; the single was credited to The Crickets . Petty and Holly later learned that Brunswick was a subsidiary of Decca, which legally cleared future recordings under the name Buddy Holly. Recordings credited to the Crickets would be released on Brunswick, while the recordings under Holly's name were released on another subsidiary label, Coral Records . Holly concurrently held
12080-672: The direction of Dick Jacobs . The four songs recorded during the 3 + 1 ⁄ 2 -hour session were: These four songs were the only ones Coral ever mixed in stereo, but only "Raining in My Heart" was released that way (in 1959, on an obscure promotional LP titled Hitsville ). All four records otherwise received releases in mono. The original stereo mixes were consulted many years later for compilation albums. Holly ended his association with Petty in December 1958. His band members kept Petty as their manager and split from Holly. The split
12231-412: The family members except L.O. were able to play an instrument or sing. The elder Holley brothers performed in local talent shows; on one occasion, Buddy joined them on violin. Since he could not play it, his brother Larry greased the bow so it would not make any sound. The brothers won the contest. During World War II, Larry and Travis were called to military service. Upon his return, Larry brought with him
12382-483: The first R&B songs recorded by a white group to cross over to the R&B charts. Johnnie Ray had reached Number 1 with " Cry " in 1952. The belated success of "Rock Around the Clock" is attributed to its use in the soundtrack of the film Blackboard Jungle , which was released on March 19, 1955. The song was re-released to coincide with the film and shifted to the single's A-side. Haley's recording became an anthem for rebellious 1950s youth and reached Number 1 on
12533-411: The first one was 'That'll Be the Day', the first one released. Then we have a new one out by The Crickets, called 'Oh Boy!' and 'Not Fade Away', and then there's one out, it's the same group but it's under my name -- I don't know why they did it that way, but it went out under my name -- called 'Peggy Sue' and 'Everyday'." Holly's records were released with labels reading "Buddy Holly" or "The Crickets";
12684-519: The first time I've ever won anything in my life." Allsup later opened a restaurant/bar in Fort Worth, Texas , called Heads Up Saloon. Waylon Jennings voluntarily gave up his seat to J. P. Richardson (the Big Bopper) , who had influenza and complained that the tour bus was too cold and uncomfortable for a man of his size. The pilot, Roger Peterson, took off in inclement weather, even though he
12835-546: The following year he formed the group Buddy and Bob with his friend Bob Montgomery . In 1955, after opening for Elvis Presley as part of the Louisiana Hayride's habit of seeking out local bands to add to the show, Holly decided to pursue a career in music. Subsequently, he played with Presley three times that year and his band's style shifted from country and western to entirely rock and roll. In October that year, when Holly opened for Bill Haley & His Comets , he
12986-434: The fuselage upon impact, sustained severe head and chest injuries. Holly was 22 years old. The report did not mention a gun belonging to Holly that was found by a farmer two months after the crash. Newspaper accounts of the gun discovery fueled rumors among fans that the pilot was somehow shot, causing the crash. Another curious finding at the crash was that Richardson's body was discovered nearly 40 feet (12 metres) away from
13137-456: The genre's formative years, the arrival of more risqué acts such as Elvis Presley and Little Richard by 1956 led the more clean-cut Haley and his Comets to decline in popularity. Haley would remain popular in Europe and go on to have a comeback as a nostalgia act in the 1970s, along with many of his contemporaries. Following Haley's death, no fewer than seven different groups have existed under
13288-572: The group on vocals during most of their European tours, with Lytle taking over on vocals for US and Canadian tours beginning in 2000 and full-time in Europe in the mid-2000s. Since they connected with Klaus Kettner's Rock It Concerts (Germany) in 1991, they have played hundreds of shows all over Europe and have appeared on dozens of television shows. In March 2007 they opened the Bill-Haley-Museum in Munich, Germany. Two additional groups claim
13439-432: The guitar solo on the original recording of "Rock Around the Clock" and died shortly after the recording session for "Shake, Rattle and Roll" in the summer of 1954). This version of the band became more popular than the earlier manifestation and appeared in several motion pictures over the next few years. Other hits recorded by the band included " See You Later, Alligator " in which Haley's frantic delivery contrasted with
13590-520: The increasingly incongruous Saddlemen name. It soon became apparent that a new name for the group was needed to fit the new musical style. A friend of Haley's, making note of the common mispronunciation of the name Halley's Comet to rhyme with Bailey , suggested that Haley call his band the Comets. This event is cited in the Haley biographies Sound and Glory by John Haley and John von Hoelle; Bill Haley by John Swenson; and in Still Rockin' Around
13741-535: The label over the next decade. In the United States in 1969, promoter Richard Nader launched a series of rock and roll revival concert tours featuring artists of the 1950s and 1960s. At one of the first of these shows, held at the Felt Forum at Madison Square Garden in New York City, Haley received an eight-and-a-half-minute standing ovation following his performance, as Nader related in his recorded introduction to Haley's live album Bill Haley Scrapbook , which
13892-490: The label resulted. In order to revive his recording career, Haley turned to Europe. By the late 1960s, Haley and the Comets were considered an "oldies" act. The band's popularity never waned in Europe. The group signed a lucrative deal with Sonet Records of Sweden in 1968 and recorded in a new version of "Rock Around the Clock", which hit the European charts that year. The band recorded a mixture of live and studio albums for
14043-527: The media dubbed the "Second Battle of Waterloo ". The group also toured Australia in 1957, and in 1958 enjoyed a successful (if riot-dominated) tour of the European mainland. Bill Haley & His Comets were the first major American rock and roll act to tour the world in this way. Elvis, who was on military duty in Germany, visited them backstage at some shows. On a free day in Berlin they performed two songs in
14194-477: The members are now active in a very popular Southern Indiana 50's / 60's band called The Duke Boys. In March and July 2005, the members of the 1954–55 group, now billed as simply the Comets after decades of controversy over the use of the name, made several high-profile concert appearances in New York City and Los Angeles organized by Martin Lewis as part of celebrations marking the 50th anniversary of rock and roll,
14345-503: The most influential pioneers of rock and roll" who had a "lasting influence" on genre performers of the 1960s. In 1980, Grant Speed sculpted a statue of Holly playing his Fender guitar. This statue is the centerpiece of Lubbock's Walk of Fame, which honors notable people who contributed to Lubbock's musical history. Other memorials to Buddy Holly include a street named in his honor and the Buddy Holly Center , which contains
14496-454: The most part the bandleaders are the only regular members who have worked with Bill Haley directly. Lane died in 2007, but his group continues to perform, led by bandleader Lenny Longo, who has no direct connection with Bill Haley. Rappa incorporated numerous professional musicians from the southern Indiana area (Guitarist Warren Batts, Joe Esarey, Dave Matthews, Joe Denton, saxophonist John Urbina, bassist Jody Hamilton Miley (previous bassist with
14647-415: The name Bill Haley's Comets and have extensively toured in the United States since forming in the 1980s: one originally led by Haley's 1965–68 drummer John "Bam-Bam" Lane, the other run by Al Rappa, who played bass for Haley off and on between late 1959 and early 1969. (The 1959 album "Strictly Instrumental" on Decca was Rappa's first recording session with Bill Haley & His Comets. Haley had used Rappa as
14798-528: The original). After "Skinny Minnie" hit the charts in 1958, Haley had little further success in the United States, although a spin-off group made up of Comets musicians dubbed The Kingsmen (no relation to the later group of " Louie, Louie " fame) had a hit with an instrumental, "Weekend", that same year. Overseas, however, Haley and his band continued to be popular, touring the United Kingdom in February 1957, when Haley and his crew were mobbed by thousands of fans at Waterloo station in London at an incident which
14949-487: The other would retire. The Comets continued to tour on their own during this period. In 1979, Haley was persuaded to return to performing with the offer of a lucrative contract to tour Europe. An almost completely new group of musicians, mostly British, including saxophonist Pete Thomas , were assembled to perform as the Comets. Haley appeared on numerous television shows and in the movie Blue Suede Shoes , filmed at one of his London concerts in March 1979. A few days later,
15100-470: The performer. By October, "Peggy Sue" had reached number three on Billboard ' s pop chart and number two on the R&B chart; it peaked at number six on the UK Singles chart. As the success of the song grew, it brought more attention to Holly, with the band at the time being billed as "Buddy Holly and the Crickets" (although never on records during Holly's lifetime). In the last week of September,
15251-408: The plane moves, it works just backwards. He [the pilot] could have been reading this backwards... they were going down, they thought they were still climbing." Shortly after 1:00 a.m. on February 3, 1959, Holly, Valens, Richardson, and Peterson were killed when the aircraft crashed into a cornfield five miles northwest of Clear Lake shortly after takeoff. The three musicians, who were ejected from
15402-402: The pop charts, remaining there for eight weeks, and went to Number 3 on the R&B chart. According to The Guardian , the group was "the first rock'n'roll band" and the song was particularly "important because it was the first rock'n'roll record heard by millions of people worldwide". Ambrose's acrobatic saxophone playing, along with Lytle on the double bass – literally on it, riding it like
15553-529: The problem, the unheated tour buses twice broke down in freezing weather, with dire consequences. Holly's drummer, Carl Bunch, was hospitalized for frostbite to his toes (sustained while aboard the bus), so Holly decided to seek other transportation. On February 2, before their appearance in Clear Lake, Iowa , Holly chartered a four-seat Beechcraft Bonanza airplane for Jennings, Allsup, and himself, from Dwyer Flying Service in Mason City, Iowa . Holly's idea
15704-476: The producer selecting the session musicians and arrangements, Holly became increasingly frustrated by his lack of creative control. In April 1956, Decca released " Blue Days, Black Nights " as a single, with "Love Me" on the B-side. Denny included Holly on a tour as the opening act for Faron Young . During the tour, they were promoted as Buddy Holly and the Two Tones, while later Decca called them Buddy Holly and
15855-487: The radio in Lubbock, Texas, screamed and collapsed. Because of Elena's miscarriage, in the months following the accident, some government authorities implemented a policy against announcing victims' names until after families are informed. Santiago did not attend the funeral and has never visited the gravesite. She later told the Avalanche-Journal , "In a way, I blame myself. I was not feeling well when he left. I
16006-472: The radio programs Grand Ole Opry on WSM , Louisiana Hayride on KWKH , and Big D Jamboree . At the same time, Holly played with other musicians he met in high school, including Sonny Curtis and Jerry Allison . In 1952 Holly and Jack Neal participated as a duo billed as Buddy and Jack in a talent contest on a local television show. After Neal left, he was replaced by Bob Montgomery, and they were billed as Buddy and Bob. They soon started performing on
16157-442: The recommendation of the Everly Brothers, Holly hired lawyer Harold Orenstein to negotiate his royalties. The problems with Petty were triggered after he was unable to pay Holly. At the time, New York promoter Manny Greenfield reclaimed a large part of Holly's earnings; Greenfield had booked Holly for shows during previous tours. The two had a verbal agreement; Greenfield would obtain 5% of the booking earnings. Greenfield later felt he
16308-732: The release of Blackboard Jungle , the 50th anniversary of "Rock Around the Clock" hitting Number 1, and the 80th birthday of Bill Haley. During a concert at the Viper Room in West Hollywood on July 6, 2005, the Comets were joined on stage for one song by Gina Haley , the youngest daughter of Bill Haley; at a similar appearance in March they were joined by Haley's eldest son, John W. Haley. The 1954–55 Comets were also joined on stage by Bill Haley Jr. during several appearances in 2005 at Bubba Mac's in Somers Point, New Jersey, and at
16459-418: The road anymore and that ticket sales for that planned tour of Germany in the fall of 1980 were slow. McCallum said, "It's my unproven gut feeling that that [the brain tumor] was said to curtail talks about the tour and play the sympathy card." Haley returned to his home in Harlingen, Texas . At this time, Haley's alcoholism appeared to be worsening. According to Martha, by this time, she and Haley fought all
16610-399: The role. During this time (and as late as the fall of 1955), Haley did not have a permanent lead guitar player, choosing to use session musicians on records and either playing lead guitar himself or having Williamson play steel solos. Even before the release of more successful records, the group had achieved greatness in some respects: "No one had blended country and R&B on a single before
16761-443: The second single by the Crickets, " Oh, Boy! ", with " Not Fade Away " on the B-side. The single reached number 10 on the pop chart and 13 on the R&B chart. Holly and the Crickets performed "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue" on The Ed Sullivan Show on December 1, 1957. Following the appearance, Niki Sullivan left the group because he was tired of the intensive touring, and wished to resume his education. On December 29, Holly and
16912-753: The session, he ventured into producing by recording Lubbock DJ Waylon Jennings . Holly produced the single "Jole Blon" and "When Sin Stops (Love Begins)" for Jennings. Holly became increasingly interested in the New York music, recording, and publishing scene. Holly and Santiago settled in Apartment 4H of the Brevoort Apartments, at 11 Fifth Avenue in Greenwich Village , where he recorded a series of acoustic songs, including " Crying, Waiting, Hoping " and "What to Do." The inspiration to record
17063-423: The song would go to Number 1, calling the band "A group of entertainers who are going right to the top." Berle also sang and danced to the song, which was performed by the entire cast of the show. This was one of the earliest nationally televised performances by a rock and roll band and provided the new musical genre a much wider audience. Bill Haley and the Comets were the first rock and roll performers to appear on
17214-601: The songs is sometimes attributed to the ending of his relationship with McGuire. On October 21, 1958, Holly's final studio session was recorded at the Pythian Temple on West 70th Street (now a luxury condominium). Known by Holly fans as "the string sessions", Holly recorded four songs for Coral in an innovative collaboration with an 18-piece ensemble composed of former members of the NBC Symphony Orchestra (including saxophonist Boomie Richman ) under
17365-436: The sound he desired. Petty became his manager and sent the record to Brunswick Records in New York City. Holly, still under contract with Decca, could not release the record under his name, so a band name was used; Allison proposed the name "Crickets." Brunswick gave Holly a basic agreement to release "That'll Be the Day", leaving him with both artistic control and financial responsibility for future recordings. Impressed with
17516-420: The stand-up bass and Allison on drums, as his style shifted from country and western to rock and roll due to seeing Presley's performances and hearing his music. In October, Stone booked Bill Haley & His Comets and placed Holley as the opening act to be seen by Nashville scout Eddie Crandall. Impressed, Crandall persuaded Grand Ole Opry manager Jim Denny to seek a recording contract for Holley. Stone sent
17667-406: The still-touring Winter Dance Party. Holly's body was interred in the City of Lubbock Cemetery, in the eastern part of the city. Holly's headstone carries the correct spelling of his surname (Holley) and a carving of his Fender Stratocaster guitar. Santiago watched the first reports of Holly's death on television. The following day, she suffered a miscarriage. Holly's mother, who heard the news on
17818-476: The theater has focused mostly on screwball comedy , contemporary plays and British farces, though in its early years it operated as a summer stock company. The original building seated 270 people and during its summer season the theater presented a show a week. During the 1950s the theater's popularity grew and late in that decade it found a need for larger quarters. Herb Bloomberg, a builder in Chanhassen ,
17969-430: The time, and she told him to stop drinking or move out. Eventually, he moved into a room in their pool house. Martha still took care of him and sometimes, he would come in the house to eat, but he ate very little. "There were days we never saw him," said his daughter Martha Maria. In addition to Haley's drinking problems, it was becoming evident that he was also developing serious mental health issues. Martha Maria said, "It
18120-533: The twist craze in America, in Mexico and Latin America, Bill Haley and His Comets were proclaimed the Kings of the Twist. Thanks to the success of "Twist Español" and "Florida Twist", among others, the band had continued success in Mexico and Latin America over the next few years, selling many recordings of Spanish and Spanish-flavored material and simulated live performances ( overdubbed audience over studio recordings) on
18271-525: Was 23 and a graduate student in theater at Northwestern University . Hired to direct, he also performed in The Taming of the Shrew starting on his second day. The first show he directed that year was Sidney Howard 's Ned McCobb's Daughter ; he bought the theater in 1946 and continued to produce/direct the majority of shows and oversaw 600 productions. Stolz was instrumental in the growth of television in
18422-544: Was a 20-year-old guitarist, Johnny Kay , from Chester, Pennsylvania. Beecher later returned briefly to play with the Comets, when his record label failed to take off, sharing guitar duties with Kay. Kay left the band in 1966 but returned in the early 1970s for an aborted world tour. He appeared in the Wembley show, which was filmed and released as the London Rock and Roll Show. In 1961–1962, Bill Haley y sus Cometas (as
18573-458: Was a folk ballad, "Jimmy Martinez", which Haley recorded without the Comets. In 1966, the Comets (without Bill Haley) cut an album for Orfeon as session musicians for Big Joe Turner, who had always been an idol to Haley; no joint performance of "Shake, Rattle and Roll" was recorded, however. In a 1974 interview with BBC Radio , Haley said Turner's career was in a slump at this time, so he used his then-considerable influence with Orfeon to get Turner
18724-403: Was also acting as Holly's manager and deserved a higher payment, which Holly refused. Greenfield then sued Holly. Under New York law, because Holly's royalties originated in New York and were directed out of the state, the payments were frozen until the dispute was settled. In September, Holly returned to Clovis for a new recording session, which yielded "Reminiscing" and "Come Back Baby." During
18875-466: Was also kept busy in the studio, recording numerous albums for Sonet and other labels in the 1970s, several with a country music flavor. In 1974, Haley's original Decca recording of "Rock Around the Clock" hit the American sales charts once again, thanks to its use in the film American Graffiti and for two years, on the television program Happy Days . In February 1976, Haley's saxophone player and best friend, Rudy Pompilli , died of cancer after
19026-673: Was amicable and based on logistics: Holly had decided to settle permanently in New York, where the business and publishing offices were, and the Crickets preferred not to leave their home state. Holly vacationed with his wife in Lubbock and visited Jennings's radio station in December 1958. For the start of the Winter Dance Party tour, he assembled a band consisting of Waylon Jennings (electric bass), Tommy Allsup (guitar), and Carl Bunch (drums). Holly and Jennings left for New York City, arriving on January 15, 1959. Jennings stayed at Holly's apartment by Washington Square Park on
19177-588: Was among the first artists inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame , in 1986. Rolling Stone magazine ranked him number 13 in its list of 100 Greatest Artists in 2010. Charles Hardin Holley (spelled "-ey") was born in Lubbock, Texas , on September 7, 1936, the youngest of four children of Lawrence Odell "L.O." Holley (1901–1985) and Ella Pauline Drake (1902–1990). His elder siblings were Larry (1925–2022), Travis (1927–2016), and Patricia Lou (1929–2008). Holly
19328-508: Was an American singer, songwriter, and musician who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll . He was born to a musical family in Lubbock, Texas , during the Great Depression , and learned to play guitar and sing alongside his two siblings. Holly's style was country and western music which he performed in Lubbock with his friends from high school. Holly made his first appearance on local television in 1952, and
19479-412: Was arranged in May; Holly hired Tommy Allsup to play lead guitar. The session produced the recordings of " It's So Easy " and " Heartbeat ." Holly was impressed by Allsup and invited him to join the Crickets. In June, Holly traveled alone to New York for a solo recording session. Without the Crickets, he chose to be backed by a jazz and R&B band, recording "Now We're One" and Bobby Darin 's " Early in
19630-456: Was booked to play at New York's Apollo Theater on August 16–22. During the opening performances, the group did not impress the audience, but they were accepted after they included " Bo Diddley ." By the end of their run at the Apollo, "That'll Be the Day" was climbing the charts. Encouraged by the single's success, Petty started to prepare two album releases; a solo album for Holly and another for
19781-514: Was characterized by its blending of chunky rhythm and high string lead work. Holly played his first 1954 Stratocaster until it was stolen during a tour stop in Michigan in 1957. To replace it, he purchased a 1957 model before a show in Detroit. Holly owned four or five Stratocasters during his career. At the beginning of their music careers, Holly and his group wore business suits. When they met
19932-567: Was extremely private, suffered chronic alcoholism, and troubled relationships". Having admitted to an alcohol problem in a 1974 radio interview for the BBC , Haley continued to battle alcoholism into the 1970s. In early 1977, Haley announced his retirement from performing and settled down at his home in Mexico. According to the John Swenson biography of Haley, the musician was quoted as saying that he and Pompilli had an agreement that if one died,
20083-615: Was followed in October by another major hit, " Peggy Sue ". The album The "Chirping" Crickets , released in November 1957, reached number five on the UK Albums Chart . Holly made his second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in January 1958 and soon after toured Australia and then the UK. In early 1959, he assembled a new band, consisting of future country music star Waylon Jennings (bass), famed session musician Tommy Allsup (guitar), and Carl Bunch (drums), and embarked on
20234-499: Was hired to design and build the new theater on 10 acres (40,000 m) adjacent to the original theater in 1965. The new building could seat 655 and was designed to look like a barn with a large lobby featuring a fireplace and a high ceiling. Herb Bloomberg went on to build and operate the Chanhassen Dinner Theatres. For 73 years the theater was owned by Don Stolz, who joined a year after its inception, when he
20385-487: Was like sometimes he was drunk even when he wasn't drinking." After being picked up by the police in Harlingen several times for alleged intoxication, Martha had a judge put Haley in the hospital, where he was seen by a psychiatrist, who said Haley's brain was overproducing a chemical, like adrenaline. The doctor prescribed a medication to stop the overproduction, but said Haley would have to stop drinking. Martha said, "This
20536-410: Was more portable than a piano and easier to deal with during musical numbers that involved a lot of dancing around. Soon after renaming the band Haley hired his first drummer, Earl Famous. Displeased with the lineup, Haley sought out Dick Boccelli (also known as Dick Richards), who turned down the job but recommended a young drummer Charlie Higler. Soon after, Haley asked Richards again, who then accepted
20687-527: Was no record of his signature glasses being found. They were presumed lost until, in March 1980, they were discovered in a Cerro Gordo County courthouse storage area by Sheriff Gerald Allen. They had been found in the spring of 1959, after the snow had melted, and had been given to the sheriff's office. They were placed in an envelope dated April 7, 1959, along with the Big Bopper's watch, a lighter, two pairs of dice and part of another watch, and misplaced when
20838-488: Was not certified to fly by instruments only . Buddy's brother Larry Holley said, "I got the full report from the Civil Aeronautics – it took me a year to get it, but I got it – and they had installed a new Sperry gyroscope in the airplane. The Sperry works different than any other gyro. One of them, the background moves and the plane stays like this [stationary], and in the other one the background stays steady and
20989-556: Was number one and three that were Top Ten. The single " Rock Around the Clock " was the best-selling rock single in the history of the genre and maintained that position for several years. Band leader Bill Haley had previously been a Western swing performer; after recording a rockabilly version of Ike Turner and his Kings of Rhythm 's " Rocket 88 ", one of the first rock and roll recordings, Haley changed his band's musical direction to rock music. They went on to record hit versions of " Crazy Man, Crazy ", " Shake, Rattle & Roll ",
21140-535: Was of mostly English and Welsh descent and had small amounts of Native American ancestry as well. From early childhood, Holly was nicknamed "Buddy." During the Great Depression, the Holleys frequently moved residence within Lubbock; L.O. changed jobs several times. Buddy Holly was baptized a Baptist, and the family were members of the Tabernacle Baptist Church. The Holleys had an interest in music; all
21291-479: Was officiated by Ben D. Johnson, who had presided at the Hollys' wedding just months earlier. The pallbearers were Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin, Niki Sullivan, Bob Montgomery, and Sonny Curtis . Some sources say that Phil Everly, one half of The Everly Brothers , was also pallbearer, but Everly said that he attended the funeral but was not a pallbearer. Waylon Jennings was unable to attend because of his commitment to
21442-426: Was pregnant with their first child, but suffered a miscarriage immediately after Holly's death. They had only been married for six months. Peggy Sue Gerron was the inspiration behind Holly's hit song "Peggy Sue". Holly and Gerron had a flirtatious relationship, and Gerron had known Holly since her schooldays when she was dating drummer Jerry Allison. Gerron married Allison on July 22, 1958. The two newlywed couples had
21593-659: Was presented as the Crickets' secretary. She took care of the laundry and equipment set-up and collected the concert revenues. Santiago kept the money for the band instead of its habitual transfer to Petty in New Mexico. She and her aunt Provi Garcia, an executive in the Latin American music department at Peer-Southern, convinced Holly that Petty was paying the band's royalties from Coral-Brunswick into his own company's account. Holly planned to retrieve his royalties from Petty and to later fire him as manager and producer. At
21744-461: Was produced by Sam Katzman (who would produce several Elvis Presley films in the 1960s) and directed by Fred F. Sears. The band's popularity in the United States began to wane in 1956–57 as sexier, wilder acts such as Elvis Presley , Jerry Lee Lewis and Little Richard began to dominate the record charts (although Haley's cover version of Little Richard's " Rip It Up ", released in direct competition with Little Richard's original recording, outsold
21895-607: Was recorded a few weeks later at the Bitter End club in New York. The band appeared in several concert films in the early 1970s, including The London Rock and Roll Show (for which Haley's 1960–66 lead guitarist, John Kay, briefly rejoined the band) and Let the Good Times Roll . After 1974, tax and management problems prevented Haley from performing in the United States, so he performed in Europe almost exclusively, though he also toured South America in 1975. The band
22046-409: Was released in 1969; the single chosen from the album was " Love Is Strange ." Encyclopædia Britannica stated that Holly "produced some of the most distinctive and influential work in rock music." AllMusic defined him as "the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll." Rolling Stone ranked him number 13 on its list of "100 Greatest Artists." The Telegraph called him
22197-505: Was so great (although none saw much chart success on the US billboards), and Holly had recorded so prolifically, that his record label was able to release new Holly albums and singles for the next 10 years. Norman Petty produced most of these new editions, drawing upon unreleased studio masters, alternate takes, audition tapes, and even amateur recordings (some dating back to 1954 with low-fidelity vocals). The final "new" Buddy Holly album, Giant ,
22348-455: Was spotted by Nashville scout Eddie Crandall, who helped him get a contract with Decca Records . Holly's recording sessions at Decca were produced by Owen Bradley , who had become famous for producing orchestrated country hits for stars like Patsy Cline . Unhappy with Bradley's musical style and control in the studio, Holly went to producer Norman Petty in Clovis, New Mexico , and recorded
22499-406: Was the group's first bass player, followed by Al Rex and Marshall Lytle . During the group's early years, it recorded under several other names, including Johnny Clifton and His String Band and Reno Browne and Her Buckaroos (although Browne, a female matinee idol of the time, did not actually appear on the record). "Rocket 88", "Rock the Joint", and their immediate follow-ups were released under
22650-560: Was to depart following the show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake and fly to their next venue, in Moorhead, Minnesota , via Fargo, North Dakota , allowing them time to rest and launder their clothes and avoid an arduous bus journey. Immediately after the Clear Lake show (which ended just before midnight), Allsup agreed to flip a coin for the seat with Ritchie Valens . Valens called heads; when he won, he reportedly said, "That's
22801-433: Was two weeks pregnant, and I wanted Buddy to stay with me, but he had scheduled that tour. It was the only time I wasn't with him. And I blame myself because I know that, if only I had gone along, Buddy never would have gotten into that airplane." Holly married María Elena Santiago , a New York record company receptionist, on August 15, 1958, at Tabernacle Baptist Church in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas. In 1959, Santiago
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