The late Great Buddy Holly

[DougF]

I was reading in another news group how it was 50 years ago this month that Buddy Holly made his last recordings in his New York apartment with just him and his guitar. In my mind Holly ranks right up there with Chuck Berry and Elvis as one of the true founding fathers of rock. Remember, he was the first famous musician to prominently play a Fender guitar. If you ever get a chance to listen to the raw apartment tapes with out overdubs and you can't help but be impressed how talented an artist he was. I think his music was going to another direction and unfortunately it never got a chance to come to fruition. A lot of great music died with those three guys in that Iowa cornfield, it's too bad when you think of what might have been.

 

[beep.click]

I didn't know for the longest time that I was born the day Buddy Holly died.

Something I've been thinking about lately: of course, he played a Strat. I don't know if it had a whammy bar or not, but I can't think of a SINGLE B.H. song that has a whammy bit in it.

Anyone else???

 

[Brad Pittiful]

i just looked up some photos of buddy and his geetar and i couldnt find one with the bar on it

 

[pchilson]

Is there somewhere to hear those tapes?

 

[pengipete]

I love Buddy Holly. He was the stepping stone from the 50's rock and roll to the 60's beat music and if he hadn't died I reckon that 60's music would have been a lot less British. He'd certainly have given Lennon a run for his money.

 

[Brad Pittiful]

I love Buddy Holly. He was the stepping stone from the 50's rock and roll to the 60's beat music and if he hadn't died I reckon that 60's music would have been a lot less British. He'd certainly have given Lennon a run for his money.

i bet you wouldve seen a holly/lennon song at some point since buddy was some of the beatles idol

 

[Dirty Steve]

Is there somewhere to hear those tapes?

Yessir. They are available for download from this (link removed).

 

[pchilson]

Yessir. They are available for download from this (link removed).

Cool, thanks. Bookmarked

 

[steve gibson]

He crashed about 80 miles from here and his recovered and restored strat is on display at the Surf Ballroomin Clear Lake. The Surf is still a great place and I will be there in feb when they have his annual tribute. Do you ever wonder what could have been if all those greats didn't die so young.

 

[DMace]

Buddy Holly was just ridiculously talented: years ahead of his time. He created the template for the melodic rock of the 60s and beyond, and wrote dozens of timeless songs. And all before the age of 23. If a 'legend' can still be under-appreciated, it is Buddy Holly.

 

[Johnny Isaacs]

Buddy Holly is the #1 reason I play guitar today.
Photo's of Buddy with his tremolo bar in place are pretty rare. I have several I've collected over the years. Here's a few I scanned just for this thread. They were taken in July 1958. This is Buddy playing his second Strat. His original 1954/5 was stolen just prior to this. Buddy got this guitar from Manny's music on tour and didn't take out the tremolo bar just yet. He played with all 5 springs in. As far as recordings using it, Buddy didn't - BUT Tommy Allsup did. He played on all of Buddy's 1958 recordings playing most of the lead. It's So Easy is what he's best known for. Anyway, on two of my favorite Buddy songs, Heartbeat and Wishing, Tommy uses the tremolo bar to great effect. Jimmy Wilsey told me Tommy's playing on Heartbeat changed his life and I can't disagree!

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Buddy will always be the well I go back to.

Johnny Isaacs

 

[3 Chord Hippie]

I would have never driven my Chevy to the levy, and Don McClain would have been Sc%$#ed. I'd have gladly made the trade. RIP Buddy, Richie, and JP.

 

[Robbie W]

Buddy is buried in Lubbock, I have visited the grave site a few times. Not a fancy or closed off area of the cemetery. His head stone is right there in the public area among all the others. His parents are buried on each side of him if I recall.

 

[Oster]

I didn't know for the longest time that I was born the day Buddy Holly died.

Something I've been thinking about lately: of course, he played a Strat. I don't know if it had a whammy bar or not, but I can't think of a SINGLE B.H. song that has a whammy bit in it.

Anyone else???

Heartbeat comes to mind. Listen to the solo. Buddy does a nice 'tremolo' dip.

 

[pengipete]

Thanks Johnny - those photos are wonderful especially the one that shows the speaker balanced on a chair. It's just so right and so far removed from the publicity shots that we normally see.

 

[casadyrocks]

He crashed about 80 miles from here and his recovered and restored strat is on display at the Surf Ballroomin Clear Lake. The Surf is still a great place and I will be there in feb when they have his annual tribute. Do you ever wonder what could have been if all those greats didn't die so young.

I live in Northern Colorado and have wanted to get up for this event in February for years. I got some info from the Clear Lake Chamber of Commerce about it, and I'm not sure I can afford it; nevertheless, the 50th anniversary (2009) has been on my list for a while. The closert airports seem to be Des Moines or St. Paul. My wife (who is the best) would really hate the weather, but I really hope I can manage it financially.

 

[woodman]

Buddy Holly taught me to play guitar before i ever picked one up. when i did, his licks just flowed out like water. he took what the guitar gave him and made it brilliant.

 

[tele0053]

Johnny,
Holy Moly, those snapshots... especially the bottom two in color have the same look as family Kadaks right out of a family album...very powerful...and extremely personal, and easy to relate to on that level.
Thanks for sharing!

 

[olewichita]

As far as recordings using it, Buddy didn't - BUT Tommy Allsup did. He played on all of Buddy's 1958 recordings playing most of the lead. It's So Easy is what he's best known for. Anyway, on two of my favorite Buddy songs, Heartbeat and Wishing, Tommy uses the tremolo bar to great effect. Jimmy Wilsey told me Tommy's playing on Heartbeat changed his life and I can't disagree!

+1000... tj

 

[Johnny Isaacs]

Yes Buddy is amazing! Anytime you plug a Strat with fresh strings into a Fender tube amp and hit an A chord, Buddy is there.

Honest music!

Johnny Isaacs