Known as “Wild Bill” Hickok (James Butler Hickok)  

                                  (May 27, 1837 – August 2, 1876)

Hickok was a folk hero of the Old West because of his expertise as a 
gunfighter and scout along with his reputation as a lawman. 

He was born and raised on a farm in Illinois and headed west at the age
age of 18 as a fugitive from the law. He first worked as a stagecoach 
driver, before becoming a lawman in the frontier territories of Kansas
and Nebraska. 

                  
This pair of Colt pistols are said to be Wild Bill’s. They were raffled off after  
his death to pay the funeral expenses.          

Rare photo of “Wild Bill” 

,

The song was written after a trip to the movies by Buddy Holly, Jerry 
Allison and Sonny Curtis in June 1956. The John Wayne film The
Searchers was playing. Wayne’s frequently-used, catchphrase,
"that’ll be the day" inspired the young musicians. The song was
recorded eight months later, at the Norman Petty studios in Clovis,
New Mexico, on February 25, 1957, and was released  on Decca’s
Brunswick label. Producer Norman Petty credited The Crickets as
the artist to prevent possible legal action against Buddy do to a
contractual agreement with Decca.
 

 John Wayne from The Searchers