Biography of Buddy Holly

An enormously important and influential performer, Holly started in his native Texas doing country music with boyhood friend Bob Montgomery, eventually adding R&B numbers to the set list after meeting Elvis Presley. He recorded early rockabilly sides in Nashville, but success didn't come until he formed The Crickets and recorded in Norman Petty's studios, producing the #1 hit "That'll Be the Day" in 1957. Holly and Petty continued to experiment in the studio, utilizing different forms of echo ("Peggy Sue"), double-tracking ("Words of Love"), and close-miking techniques, now commonplace in the industry. After his death, much of Holly's earlier pre-Crickets music was overdubbed by Petty, using The Fireballs to keep up with the fan demand for more product. Though his moment in the spotlight lasted barely eighteen months, and the movie version of his life story only got it about half right, Buddy Holly's music still sounds fresh and continues to influence to this day. ~ Cub Koda