The Day the Music Died
Right about now 50 years ago an airplane crashed killing four people. They were pilot Roger Peterson, J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Richie Valens, and of course Buddy Holly.
In his short career Buddy Holly managed to produce music that influenced pretty much everyone. It's no understatement to say that if you enjoy modern rock music at all, Buddy Holly deserves some of the credit. Bob Dylan was in attendance at a Buddy Holly concert two days before Holly's death. The Beatles were hugely influenced by Holly, even taking their name in part as a tribute to Holly's band The Crickets. The Rolling Stones as well were devotees of Holly, and even had a hit with their cover of Holly's "Not Fade Away".
Of course perhaps the most famously Holly-inspired musical work is Don McLean's "American Pie", where the term "The Day the Music Died" originates. The lyrics to that song are an amazing work of genius, in my mind topping anything even Dylan ever managed. (Not a statement I make lightly, or without awareness that McLean only managed it once, while Dylan's brilliance has spanned nearly 50 years. Nearly as long as Buddy Holly has been gone.)
I only own one Buddy Holly CD. Since it's a greatest hits compilation I have no doubt it's not entirely representative of Holly's sound and genius. Still, listening to it this evening, I could hear bits of other artists in Buddy Holly. A hint of that jangly Tom Petty sound, a vocal thing that John Lennon did on "Dear Yoko". Even the lyrics, which all seemed to be written for a Valentine's Day dance, reminded me of early Beatles lyrics.
Buddy Holly isn't in my musical rotation every day or even every month, but as a fan of rock and roll, I owe him a debt of gratitude for inspiring loads of great artists who are in heavy rotation for me. So here's to a rock pioneer. Here's to Buddy Holly.
In his short career Buddy Holly managed to produce music that influenced pretty much everyone. It's no understatement to say that if you enjoy modern rock music at all, Buddy Holly deserves some of the credit. Bob Dylan was in attendance at a Buddy Holly concert two days before Holly's death. The Beatles were hugely influenced by Holly, even taking their name in part as a tribute to Holly's band The Crickets. The Rolling Stones as well were devotees of Holly, and even had a hit with their cover of Holly's "Not Fade Away".
Of course perhaps the most famously Holly-inspired musical work is Don McLean's "American Pie", where the term "The Day the Music Died" originates. The lyrics to that song are an amazing work of genius, in my mind topping anything even Dylan ever managed. (Not a statement I make lightly, or without awareness that McLean only managed it once, while Dylan's brilliance has spanned nearly 50 years. Nearly as long as Buddy Holly has been gone.)
I only own one Buddy Holly CD. Since it's a greatest hits compilation I have no doubt it's not entirely representative of Holly's sound and genius. Still, listening to it this evening, I could hear bits of other artists in Buddy Holly. A hint of that jangly Tom Petty sound, a vocal thing that John Lennon did on "Dear Yoko". Even the lyrics, which all seemed to be written for a Valentine's Day dance, reminded me of early Beatles lyrics.
Buddy Holly isn't in my musical rotation every day or even every month, but as a fan of rock and roll, I owe him a debt of gratitude for inspiring loads of great artists who are in heavy rotation for me. So here's to a rock pioneer. Here's to Buddy Holly.