Can someone explain to me who Buddy Holly is/was?

Answer 1

"Buddy Holly

Charles "Buddy" Hardin Holley was born September 7, 1936 in Lubbock, Texas to Laurence and Ella Holley. By age 13, Holly and his friend Bob Montgomery were playing a kind of music they called "Western Bop," as well as mainstream country songs which they performed at local clubs.

Holly's first opportunity in the music industry came when a scout from Decca Records saw the duo opening a local rock show for Bill Haley and the Comets. Decca signed Holly, alone, to produce a few singles. Afterward, however, Decca decided Holly wasn't quite ready yet, and they advised him to return to Lubbock and keep working on his music.

Holly followed the advice, and with the help of some friends formed his own band, "The Crickets." Holly was the group's guitarist and vocalist. Much of the band's music was produced by Norman Petty's studios in Clovis, New Mexico. Among the songs they recorded was a lively version of "That'll Be the Day," which caught Decca's attention once again. From that moment on, the group's songs were released on Decca's subsidiary, the Brunswick label.

The group's musical talent, together with Holly's unique "excited" style of singing, quickly made them a success. Songs such as "Maybe Baby," "Oh Boy!" and Holly's solo hit "Peggy Sue" became extremely popular, especially among teenagers.

Holly and the Crickets also entered areas of music such as rhythm and blues, which until then had been exclusive to black artists. Once they were even mistaken for a black group and booked to perform at the Apollo Theater. Although at first the band was booed, by their third day of performing they had become a hit.

The Crickets were also extremely successful abroad. In March of 1958, they toured Great Britain, and eventually became more popular there than in the United States. Later that same year, Holly met Maria Elena Santiago, a receptionist for a New York City music publisher. Two weeks later, they were married. After a short honeymoon, the couple returned to Lubbock, Holly's home town. Feeling that the Crickets could produce their own music, Holly broke relations with Petty. However, the rest of the group didn't agree, and this caused Holly to leave the group. Soon afterwards, Holly and Maria Elena moved to New York where he performed with a new group of musicians.

In 1959, as part of a rock show, Holly toured with Ritchie Valens and "The Big Bopper," J.P. Richardson. They began the tour riding from performance to performance in buses, which kept breaking down. One day, after a concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, Holly chartered a small plane to get the musicians to the next town. He had hoped to get them there with extra time to rest. On the morning of February 3rd, the plane carrying Holly, Valens and Richardson took off from Mason City, Iowa. Sadly, the plane crashed after traveling eight miles, and everyone on board was killed.

Maria Elena, pregnant at the time of Holly's tragic death, miscarried shortly after hearing the news. Years later, she remarried and raised three children. Maria Elena now lives in Texas and is a vibrant grandmother who tours the world promoting her first husband's legacy.

Despite a rather short career on the charts, Holly's innovative style, as well as his enthusiastic and energetic performances, made him one of the most popular singers in music history."

Answer 2

Here ya go! One of the most enigmatic songs of all times is Don McLean’s “American Pie”. Until recently it was also the longest song available on karaoke. In most KJ libraries, including mine, it is still the longest song. Is this another long-winded desultory philippic or did Don just have a lot to say. And what’s it all mean? Well let's look at one interpretation of that song....mine. Don dedicated the album "American Pie" to Buddy Holly. Why?....Don refuses to explain it, (speculation is good for sales). Don did license the movie “American Pie” to use his copyrighted title though it has nothing to do with his song. Don has often said "what American Pie really means is that I will never have to work again if I don't want to". The symbols used by McLean often have more than one meaning, and have had many interpretations. At this late date no interpretation is totally original, nor is this one. The comments on Rock and Roll are all mine. This may be as close as anyone’s idea of what the song means (and is not sanctioned by Don McLean). This interpretation suggests that the song is a tribute to Buddy Holly, one of the original pioneers of rock and roll, and a commentary on how rock and roll music has changed in the years since his death. It also describes Don’s personal search for truth, justice and the American way, in the music of that time. .......... (Verse 1) .......... A long, long time ago... Once upon a time...kinda’ like a fairytale. Buddy Holly died in 1959. The album "American Pie" was released in 1971; the song reached number one in the U.S. in 1972. McLean has acknowledged the connection between his song and Holly, and seems quite pleased that people have recognized that, and for all the speculation and publicity it has created. .......... I can still remember how .......... That music used to make me smile. 50’s rock was happy upbeat (flappy) music that Don loved. .......... And I knew if I had my chance, .......... That I could make those people dance, .......... And maybe they'd be happy for a while. Early rock and roll provided dance music for various social events. It would seem that his life up to that point had been happy and simple but this is no longer the case. McLean expresses his desire to become a successful rock musician and singer, and alludes to a life-long search for happiness. .......... But February made me shiver, Buddy Holly died on February 3, 1959 in a plane crash in Iowa during a snowstorm. ........... With every paper I'd deliver, Don McLean's job before becoming a full-time singer/songwriter was being a paperboy, which he was in 1959 at the age of 13. .......... Bad news on the doorstep... .......... I couldn't take one more step. The news was a shock to him when he cut open a bundle of papers and saw the headline. Buddy Holly had been his idol. .......... I can't remember if I cried .......... When I read about his widowed bride Holly's recent bride was pregnant at the time. Not long after this, she had a miscarriage. Holly never had any children. .......... But something touched me deep inside, .......... The day the music died. The same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly also took the lives of Richie Valens ("La Bamba") and The Big Bopper ("Chantilly Lace"). Since all three were so prominent in popular music at the time, February 3, 1959, became known as "The Day The Music Died". This had a major influence on McLean’s life and this song has shaped who and where he is today professionally and financially. .......... So... .......... (Refrain) .......... Bye bye Miss American Pie, Miss American Pie is rock and roll music. But also refers to the simple innocent and uncomplicated American way of life in the 50’s before drugs, cold war, Vietnam and protests. Also Don McLean dated a Miss America candidate (unconfirmed...and I don’t know if he got any “pie”). .......... Drove my Chevy to the levee but the levee was dry The Levee was a bar near Don McLean’s home town. This can also refer to middle America and the loss of its value system. Chevy is an all American car that rhymes with levee. .......... Them good ol' boys were drinkin' whiskey and rye What good ol’ boys drink! And rye rhymes with die. .......... Singing "This'll be the day that I die, .......... This'll be the day that I die." Holly's biggest hit was "That'll be the Day"; containing the line "That'll be the day that I die". This is a main theme in Don’s song. .......... (Verse 2) .......... Did you write the book of love, .......... And do you have faith in God above, .......... If the Bible tells you so? "The Book of Love" by the Monotones was a hit in 1958. Also the Bible is sometimes referred to as “The book of love.” In 1955, Don Cornell wrote a song entitled "The Bible Tells Me So". And There's also an old Sunday School song that goes: "Jesus loves me this I know, for the Bible tells me so" These line

Answer 3

he was one of the first pioneers of rock and roll in the 50's that died in a light airplane crash at a young age with several other up and coming rock stars like Richie valens and the big bopper. i hope chubby checker does not read the above.

Answer 4

first off chubby checker is still alive. he died in a plane crash w/ richie valens and the big bopper his name wa jay something anyway he was one of three young and rising rock and rollers from the fifties and b/c of a cold bus on their tour they rented a charter plane that attempted for some strange reason. there's a movie starring gary busey called the buddy holly story made in the 80's it was sad time. the song american pie is was written a/b there deaths the day the music died. i hope that helped.

Answer 5

He was the greatest rock and roll star ever who died in a tragic plane crash in 1959 at the age of 23!

Answer 6

Buddy Holly, was an American singer, songwriter, and a pioneer of rock and roll.

Answer 7

oh puhlease,really,he was one of the first rock and rollers

Answer 8

We was a young rock start that died in a small plane crash.

Answer 9

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buddy_Holley

Answer 10

He was a rock singer in the 1950's who died in a plane crash in 1959 with Big Bopper and Richie Valens. He sang the song "Everyday":

"Everyday, it's a gettin' closer, going faster than a roller coaster..."

EDIT: Changed "chubby checker" to Big Bopper... I got my names mixed up.