(September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959)

Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley, was a singer-songwriter and a pioneer of
rock and roll. His success lasted only a year and a half before his tragic death in a
plane crash along with Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson. Critic
Bruce Eder described Buddy Holly as “the single most influential creative force in
early rock and roll”. He has been a big influence with many musicians such as The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, and Bob Dylan. Holly was among the first inductees to
the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. He was ranked number thirteen on Rolling Stones list of “The Fifty Greatest Artists of All Time in 2004.

Street sign in Buddy’s home town of Lubbock, Texas

Statue of Buddy Holly in Lubbock

 

“You Send Me" broke nationally in October and reached #1 for a
two week stay in December 1957, with sales estimated at a 1.5
million copies.