Blue Grass to Rockabilly
Biography (1936 – 1959)
Buddy Holly, born Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas, in 1936, learned various instruments from his brothers and began performing at talent shows and clubs in High school.
He later performed country and bluegrass music on live radio shows from the studio of the Lubbock country radio station, KDAV.
After seeing Elvis perform in January of 1955, Buddy’s musical direction changed.
He captured the attention of Nashville agents and record producers when he performed with Bill Haley and Elvis Presley at a KDAV radio-sponsored show in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas.
Soon Holly incorporated Rockabilly and Rock into Bluegrass style, after being influenced by Elvis Presley and Bill Healy and the Comets.
Performing with Bill Haley and Elvis Presley at a KDAV radio-sponsored show in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas, he captured the attention of Nashville agents and record producers
After a few unsuccessful Decca Record singles, Holly and his band “The Chirping Crickets” had their first smash with 1957s “That will be the Day”, and the rest, as they say, is history.
“That’ll be the Day” shot to the top of the national pop chart and launched Buddy Holly’s meteoric rise to fame.
Despite the bands’ eventual breakup, Holly continued recording profusely and because of this, new material was released for years after his untimely passing.
Buddy Holly left a rich legacy of Rockabilly hits in the short 18 months he was in the national spotlight. He was an incredibly gifted songwriter and arranger and took chances with new sounds and rhythms.
Just months after the Nashville disaster, the magic of the Buddy Holly dynasty was born, nurtured and forever solidified. His amazing musical impact and influence will live on forever.
Excerpt from The Rockabilly Legends DVD Documentary 2-DVD Set.
