Many comments about a striking similarity between an 18 year old King and a geek called Holly...

www.kingofhits.co.uk/component/option,co...d,54/?g2_itemId=1017

Quite intentional. I worshipped the guy; still do.
The greatest influence on music as far as I was concerned until Dylan came along.
JK musically derives from Buddy and Bob - with a pinch of Noel Coward thrown in.

Buddy died 50 years ago today. A genius who left us far too young. May he rest in peace and may his music never die.

God bless you Buddy if you're reading this.

It might be that I'm the only person on this site who was never impressed by Buddy Holly. I didn't found his music inspiring, or even very good. I wonder if he would have become such a legend if he had lived, or would he have faded as quickly as many of the other stars of his era? We'll never know.

Well for me he was an inspiration.
Others loved Elvis. I loved Buddy, Roy Orbison and Gene Pitney.

Putting the music aside, I think Buddy's biggest impact was the fact he wore those glasses. Until then, no pop rock star wore glasses and there was a stigma about glasses in the late 50's which I guess went well into the 60's - look at Sandie Shaw and Dusty - both were almost as blind as bats!

A lot of youngsters of JK's age saw Buddy and I believe, loved him immediately because he was not afraid to wear the glasses. It went against the showbiz ethic and grain and I believe helped put many youngsters at ease with wearing them and also gave out a message that bespectacled pop stars COULD make it.

Freddie and the Dreamers didn't mind wearing glasses. Their music wasn't bad either, despite the embarrassing little dances they used to do.

Buddy Holly was ok, but I didn't come along until the 60s so I was too late to witness him first hand. I was more a Bill Haley fan re. 50s music.

Al wrote:
Freddie and the Dreamers didn't mind wearing glasses. Their music wasn't bad either, despite the embarrassing little dances they used to do.



Freddie and The Dreamers! A band looking like that would never get signed today.

I like their comedy dances... enables one to enjoy them when the music isn't much cop. Very lightweight but they did do a handful of good singles... 1965's "A Little You" being the best for me. As a live band, they were far more entertaining than most live acts around today! Their performance at the 1964 NME Pollwinners is a gem and the crowd really lapped it up.

Freddie Garrity actually had a good voice - very individual too... you could always spot his voice - but the way he looked meant he was doomed to mainly singing novelty flavoured material.

I loved Freddie too and he had I Understand on UK Records - sweet guy.
I'm Telling You Now was superb.

Hey I'd sign a 2009 Freddie on the spot. Great voice.

By the way Elliott, your point about glasses is very good; I hadn't thought of it before.
Mind you, we did have dear old Hank Marvin!

JK2006 wrote:
By the way Elliott, your point about glasses is very good; I hadn't thought of it before.
Mind you, we did have dear old Hank Marvin!

And who inspired Hank with the glasses? Yep - Buddy. He and Bruce Welch idolised Buddy! They also noted the guitar Buddy was playing looked amazing and had Cliff Richard order one from Fender direct... and so Hank ended up with the first Fender Stratocaster in the UK. Buddy sure had a lot to answer for!

To this day my most played CDs as I cruise Europe in the Rolls in the summer are by Buddy, Roy and Gene!

So the question is - why is Buddy so remembered whilst others fade away? I suggest his songs were far better than many (especially Americans) realised at the time.

I attended the opening of "Buddy" here is Sydney 2 weeks ago. It's been back 3 times. I love the music-no story to speak of (poor lad was only on earth for a minute:( ). The original Peggy Sue attended...now in her 60's.

What is amazing and something you forget is just how prolific Buddy Holly was. He wrote so many songs in his short time. If he had lived I think he would have been one of the world's greatest songwriters.