Few musicians have influenced the history of music as profoundly as Buddy Holly. Born in Lubboc, Texas as Charles Hardin Holley, his success lasted barely a year and a half, but his short-lived career pioneered rock and roll. Holly's nickname "Buddy" was attributed to him by friends and family for his pleasant and overall kind nature toward everyone he met. He met fellow musician Bob Montgomery in 1952 at Hutchinson Junior High, where they paired up as Buddy and Bob. Influenced early on by bluegrass music, Holly began incorporating a rockabilly style into his music after seeing a performance by Elvis Presley. Holly, along with Montgomery and Larry Welborn, would eventually open for Presley in 1955, catching the attention of Decca Records. The label recorded a few songs for Holly and his band, but after suffering under creative boundaries, the band sought after new management and found Norman Petty. Petty linked Holly to Brunswick Records who signed Holly's band, officially dubbed the Crickets, and released "That'll Be the Day" as a single in 1957. The single quickly topped Billboard charts in the US and the UK, prompting the band's appearances on The Ed Sullivan Show and The Arthur Murray Party. The Crickets helped crossover black audiences into rock and roll and rockabilly after several performances in primarily black neighborhood venues, including New York's Apollo Theater. Holly was simultaneously under contract as a member of the Crickets and as a solo artist, which allowed him to release his self-titled solo debut album in 1958. The Crickets returned home to Texas while Holly remained in New York, fascinated with the music scene in the city, prompting the breakup of the band. Shortly after embarking on a tour of the Midwest, Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Mason City, Iowa. Holly is remembered as one of the legends who popularized rock and roll among a broad audience by bridging gaps between black and white musicians and fans.
