Buddy Holly & The Crickets
Buddy Holly & the Crickets artist page: interviews, features and/or performances archived at NPR Music
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Buddy Holly's Classmates Remember The Pioneer 60 Years After 'The Day The Music Died'

Lubbock, Texas, hasn't always been fond of its best known son, Buddy Holly. But 60 years after his death, the town has a park with a bronze statue of him, and a street and a museum named after him.

Buddy Holly's Classmates Remember The Pioneer 60 Years After 'The Day The Music Died'

Listen · 4:33 4:33

They Loved You, Peggy Sue: Behind The Name Fused To Rock History

Peggy Sue Gerron, the titular inspiration of Buddy Holly's early hit, became a barrier-breaker in California and, eventually, an unofficial ambassador to Lubbock, Texas.

Buddy Holly At 75: A Tribute To An Unlikely Star

Listen to Me is a pan-generational tribute featuring Natalie Merchant, Ringo Starr and more.

Buddy Holly At 75: A Tribute To An Unlikely Star

Listen · 8:19 8:19

Buddy Holly: At 75, An Icon Gets A Star-Studded Tribute

A new compilation features Holly songs performed by Paul McCartney, Patti Smith and many others. Weekend Edition Saturday speaks with producer Randall Poster and contributing artist Jenny O.

Buddy Holly: At 75, An Icon Gets A Star-Studded Tribute

Listen · 8:55 8:55

Review

Music Reviews

'Rave On Buddy Holly' Pays Tribute To Holly's Soul

Fresh Air

A new tribute album celebrating Buddy Holly has just been released, featuring artists like Lou Reed, Paul McCartney and Cee Lo Green. Rock critic Ken Tucker says Rave On Buddy Holly is the "rare tribute album that, by and large, succeeds artistically."

'Rave On Buddy Holly' Pays Tribute To Holly's Soul

Listen · 7:02 7:02

New Mix: Lykke Li, A Fiery Furnace Goes Solo, More

This week, All Songs Considered starts fresh with brand-new music due out this summer. Hear songs from Eleanor Friedberger, Mates of State, Tinariwen, and others.

New Mix: Lykke Li, A Fiery Furnace Goes Solo, More

Listen · 38:28 38:28

First Listen: 'Rave On Buddy Holly'

Rave On Buddy Holly does more than just throw big names against the wall over the course of a generous 19 tracks. It also adds up to an impressively diverse collection of takes on the innocence of another era.

Hear Patti Smith And Her 'Words Of Love' For Buddy Holly

On June 28, Rave On Buddy Holly, a 19-song tribute to one of America's most enduring and significant recording artists, comes out. Hear Patti Smith's contribution to the album.

Patti Smith performing Buddy Holly's 'Words Of Love'

3:22

Review

Music Reviews

The Lost Promise Of Buddy Holly

Fresh Air

Two albums featuring the late rock 'n' roll icon have been released — Memorial Collection and Down the Line: Rarities. Rock historian Ed Ward considers Holly's music and tragic death.

The Lost Promise Of Buddy Holly

Listen · 7:35 7:35

Buddy Holly And 'The Day The Music Died'

On Feb. 3, 1959, Holly died in a plane crash while on tour. Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, The Beatles and Elvis Costello have all paid tribute to Holly as a major influence.

Buddy Holly And 'The Day The Music Died'

Buddy Holly's Little-Known Encore

A few months before Buddy Holly died in a 1959 plane crash — in what is sometimes referred to as the "day the music died" — he recorded songs in a studio with an orchestra. What many don't know is that Holly made his real last recordings in his apartment shortly before he died. Hear three of the acoustic songs.

Old Audio

'Peggy Sue'

Buddy Holly's legendary song "Peggy Sue" didn't start out as a classic at all.

'Peggy Sue'

Listen · 8:56 8:56

Buddy Holly's Last Concert

It was 33 years ago today a light plane crashed near the Iowa-Minnesota border, killing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, better known as The Big Bopper. They had just finished playing the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.

Buddy Holly's Last Concert

The Story Of Buddy Holly

In July 1957, Buddy Holly left Texas with only one record climbing the charts. Five months later, sporting capped teeth, a sharp suit, and horn-rimmed glasses, Holly debuted live on The Ed Sullivan Show. Like Elvis Presley only a year before, Holly had made it to prime time TV.

The Story Of Buddy Holly