Buddy Holly was born on September 7, 1936. Then, on February 3, 1959, American rock and roll lost one of its most innovative early voices when Buddy Holly died in a plane crash, alongside The Big Bopper and another legendary pioneer, Richie Valens. Holly hailed from Texas and was born in the middle of the Great Depression, perhaps explaining why his music so seamlessly blended Gospel, country and rock. He opened for Elvis and Bill Haley, and his bass player was the great Waylon Jennings! He was an influence on hundreds of rockers from the 1960s all the way to now–yet most kids today have barely even heard of him.
To make sure we don’t forget the embarrassingly bountiful array of singles he left behind, I’m posting a G.O.A.T. tribute to the man, starting after the break…
