Buddy Holly
By Ragib Arnab
How did Buddy Holly change Rock and Roll/Rhythm and Blues forever?
Buddy Holly was one of the central figures of the 1950's Rock and Roll. He changed Rock and Roll by bringing his own unique, legendary status to the floor, shaping popular music in an extraordinary way.
Why was Buddy Holly so Appealing in the 1950's?
Like I said before, he had an unique and legendary way of performing. Since he was born in Texas, he has been singing Country and Western music. But when he made a switch to Rock and Roll at his youth, it all got blended in together, making Buddh Holly an exceptionally different and attention-grabbing musician.
The Roots of Rock “n” roll/Rhythm and Blues
To simply put it, Rhythm and Blues is a genre of music that is a precursor of Rock and Roll. It is a form of popular music of African-American origin that arose during the 1940s from blues, with the addition of driving rhythms taken from jazz.
Rock and Roll is a form of popular music that evolved in the 1950's from rhythm and blues, characterized by the use of electric guitars, a strong rhythm with an accent on the offbeat, and youth-oriented lyrics.
What are some of Buddy Holly's top songs?
- Peggy Sue (1958) - by Buddy Holly
- That'll Be the Day (1957) - by The "Chirping" Crickets
- Everyday (1958) - by Buddy Holly
Today, what makes him still popular?
Well, let's face it, the only reason he is well-known is because of his reputation in shaping 1950's Rock and Roll and his hit songs. Nobody really listens to them anymore but he is still a revolutionary figure in Rock and Roll.
Short Timeline of Buddy Holly
- 1937 - Sep. 17: “Buddy Holly” is born Charles Hardin Holley to Ella and Lawrence Odell “L.O.” Holley on Labor Day at the family’s Sixth Street home in Lubbock.
- 1949: Buddy’s first recording is “My Two-Timin’ Woman,” a Hank Snow song, which he sings into a wire recorder.
- 1957: Holly wrote and recorded his breakthrough hit, "That'll Be the Day," with The Crickets.
- 1958 - Jan. 25: Bob Thiele of Coral presents Holly and Petty with the gold record for "Peggy Sue." "Rave On" and "That's My Desire" are recorded at Bell Sound Studios in New York.
- 1959 - Feb. 3: Shortly after the performance in Clear Lake, Holly, J. P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and Ritchie Valens board a small aircraft chartered to take them to their next performance. Soon after take-off, the plane crashes, killing all aboard.