The Day The Music Died: The Last Tour Of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, And Richie Valens

Book Description

Now available in softcover format! The story of the last tour of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Richie Valens—and the fatal air crash that took their lives. Drawing on new documentary information, the author recreates the often grueling conditions of an early rock and roll tour, and provides new facts about "the day the music died." With 50 photos.

Customer Reviews:

Great and Honest Book.......2007-09-04

This is a great book. I have always been interested in "The day the music died" I had read several books and magazine articles about Buddy Holly's life but there was little in the way of the actual Winter Dance Party or the other musicians. I purchased this book and was shocked at how well and detailed the accounts of the musicians lives and the aftermath of the plane crash was. Larry Lehmer did an excelent job and should be commended on telling the truth not just what Buddy Holly's widow wanted or others who are wanting to cover the truth about what life was really like for all those involved. I recommend this to anyone who is interested in rock and roll, Buddy Holly or just 50's style music.

Great Story.......2007-03-04

This book is great because it not only tells of the careers of those involved in the Winter Party Tour, but also tells details leading up the crash (including stops in many small towns along the way). It was quite informative.
Buddy Holly is the best known,yet most elusive and enigmatic of all Rock 'n' Roll legends.This man was a genius.The way he constructed his songs was sensational.

Extraordinarily readable and entertaining rock history.......2005-01-21

Larry Lehmer has crafted one of the better journalistic books about a historical rock 'n' roll event. He brings a newspaperman's observations and senses to the project, which connects all the dots in the tragic last tour for Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper. "The Day the Music Died" is not only entertaining -- somber and occasionally macabre in appropriate moments, and humorous elsewhere -- but it describes the days and weeks leading up to the tragic crash in Clear Lake through the eyes of people who were there. In each case, he paints a vivid portrait of a fallen star, making their stories all the more tragic. To read this book is to understand how American rock 'n' roll evolved from its early, innocent roots toward the fragmented, even chaotic market it encompasses today. I highyl recommend this book.

Superb - get one before they're gone, again.......2004-05-11

The initial first run of this great book was not around very long and people have been begging since for a reprint and here it is! This one is hard to put down, it is intriguing, informative and FACTUAL, which most Buddy book are not (avoid the Amburn book at all costs). What is particularily nice is that it features a great deal of updated info about the last tour & crash, info about Roger Peterson, and a good deal about Ritchie & The Bopper that usually doesn't get included. Lehmer talks to people that were at the shows, helped with the Tour, etc. No wild theories here, just the facts. Top notch in every regard. You see any bad reviews here? 'Nuff said!

The best book I've seen on the subject.......2001-09-10

Lehmer's book is downright exhaustive in the coverage of the fateful Feb. 3 1959 plane crash that killed Holly, Valens, and Richardson.

I appreciated the detail and content of this book a lot. Being from Iowa, I have been interested in the Winter Dance party, and accounts of the crash for a very long time. (In fact, I just visited the Surf Ballroom and Mason City Airport while returning from a recent weekend vacation.)

Lehmer's book is very well-balanced, with chapters devoted to each of the three headliners. And it also has detailed plane crash info as well as analysis of the official CAB report.

Book Description

The final word on the rock-and-roll pioneer, written with the full cooperation of his family and friends and illustrated with hundreds of rare photographs.

Customer Reviews:

buddy holly's the king.......2004-12-11

this is a great book of mr holly' such a shame buddy didnt get to live out the rest of his life, and still be here with us fans makeing many many more great songs. thats how i see it. this is an awsome a book a must have, a must buy. so if you dodnt have any holly' books and you are looking for one this is a great book of his life music and everything in between. there are other good books too. but this you must add to your collection.

BUDDY WAS THE GREATEST!!!!!!!.......2004-01-18

BUDDY HOLLY WAS THE GREATEST ROCK STAR TO HAVE EVER PERFORMED.TOO BAD HIS LIFE ENDED WHEN HE WAS SO YOUNG.I HAVE BEEN A BUDDY HOLLY FAN SINCE 1971 AND HIS SONGS ARE TIMELESS.HE HAS INFLUENCED COUNTLESS OTHER PERFORMERS.THE ROLLING STONES FIRST EVER HIT,NOT FADE AWAY, WAS A SONG WRITTEN BY THE LATE,THE GREAT BUDDY HOLLY.I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK!!!!!!!

The best biography of Buddy...and best balanced..........2001-12-31

I've been a fan of Buddy's since he was still alive. This is the best biography available. The authors do not deal in sensationalism and wacko explorations of Buddy's sex life or possible contributions to the crash of the plane. He died at 22, and was only famous for two years, and never was wealthy. He can be expected to have had moments of immaturity, and to have made mistakes in judgement. But the overwhelming evidence is that he was a nice, normal young adult with abnormal talent for singing, songwriting, guitar-playing and record-producing. He's been gone for more than 40 years, and he left about 80 recordings behind. Those performances are still wonderful, and this book tells you a lot about how they were created and captured and preserved. Who needs anything else?

Rave On!.......2000-10-25

This is, hands down, the best biography of Buddy Holly available. I have read them all and though others have their moments (mainly rare photos) they are spoiled with proven factual errors and unsubstantiated rumors. John Goldrosen's book is the standard by which all others are judged.

Goldrosen is a stickler for accuracy and his research is meticulous. He also keeps close to all things Buddy Holly. I first met him at the dedication of the Buddy Holly statue in Lubbock in 1986. Bill Griggs (founder of the sadly discontinued Buddy Holly Memorical Society) thinks highly of Goldrosen and there is no higher compliment for a historian of Buddy Holly.

The updates keep making the book better (and more accurate) but I will always keep my first copy which I've had signed by Buddy's parents, his brothers, Jerry Allison, Niki Sullivan, Joe Mauldin, and, of course, the author John Goldrosen. If you only read one biography of Buddy Holly, this should be the one. If you have read others and would like to know what Buddy was really like, get the latest edition of this book. You will not be disappointed.

Update 2005: Sad to note that this book is out of print. So is the earlier version titled "The Buddy Holly Story" by the same authors. It's still worth reading if you can find a copy. Check your local library or used book store. Hopefully another publisher will pick up the book and it will be available again.

Best one of all.......2000-08-13

This is the book to buy if you want an accurate, well-written biography of Buddy Holly, the greatest rocker of them all and the most influential person in the genre's history. If it were possible, I would give this book ten stars. It is absolutely the best biography of Buddy Holly. I got my first copy in August 1975 and have gotten updated versions as they came out. I've read it several times. John Goldrosen spent a year or so of his life (circa 1972) researching this book and talking to the people involved.

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Warts and all, this is Buddy
who needs this kind of book?
BUDDY HOLLY A BIOGRAPHY
A Strong Five Star Book
It's a Crock

Buddy Holly: A Biography
Ellis Amburn
Manufacturer: St Martins Pr
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0312134460

Customer Reviews:

Warts and all, this is Buddy.......2002-02-14

A very well-written book, meticulously researched, and logically paced. OF COURSE, Buddy's sex life needs to be discussed to fully understand one of the roots of his brilliance. For anyone who has ever pondered the origin of the words "rock 'n' roll," it should be obvious why some of these details are included. (If you want a pious, fictionalized recollection, go watch "The Buddy Holly Story.")

If your perception of Buddy was that of a nerdy, goody two-shoes hillbilly who hiccuped his way through a few catchy songs, you're about to have a wake-up call. Ambrose's portrait of Buddy as an explosively confident creative visionary and street-wise "ladies' man" makes for a fascinating and entertaining read.

who needs this kind of book?.......2001-12-19

I don't really need to know about Buddy's sex life. Really, I think this is a waste of time. Yes, he is not perfect, but people should focus on his music rather than his sex life. Obviously this author has a dirty mind to say this is true. I did, however, like the pictures! I don't want to know the man who has a sex life, I just want to know about him. His personality, his life, his music. I strongly dislike this book. I call it, a Liar, Liars book! That's what it is to me. Up to you to read it. Don't say I didn't warn you!

BUDDY HOLLY A BIOGRAPHY.......2001-01-03

I HAVE BEEN A BUDDY HOLLY FAN SINCE THE AGE OF 3 IN 1970.HIS MUSIC HELPED ME DISCOVER THE BEATLES AND EVERYTHING SINCE.THIS BOOK IS ABOUT 60-40 ON AN ACCURACY SCALE.I HAVE MET MANY OF BUDDYS CONTEMPORARIES INCLUDING JERRY ALLISON AND NIKI SULLIVAN.THIS BOOK WOULD BE MUCH BETTER WITHOUT THE SENSATIONALISM(SEX AND ALCOHOL)THAT IS OF QUESTIONABLE VALIDITY.WHAT MADE THE MAN GREAT WAS HIS MUSIC AND THAT SHOULD BE THE FOCUS OF ANY DISCUSSION ON HIS LIFE.STILL WRTH PICKING UP BUT DONT PAY TOO MUCH ATTENTION TO THE TABLOID STUFF

A Strong Five Star Book.......2000-07-24

This book brought back a lot of musical memories from the late 1950's and provided a lot of information regarding this period of time. The fame that went with being a rock and roll star was not all that it was cracked up to be. Buddy's home town of Lubbock, Texas, didn't really appreciate the fact that they had a well known celebrity in their midst. In addition, there are stories about other rock stars such as Buddy Knox and Jimmy Bowen. An interesting story of Buddy's appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show regarding his singing the controversial song "Oh Boy" is told. Norman Petty was the one who controlled Buddy Holly's money and this made it difficult for Buddy to even buy groceries for himself and his wife. While Buddy and his wife were living in Greenwich Village in New York City in 1959 it was his wife's aunt who supported them. This lack of money was the reason Buddy decided to go on the ill-fated Winter Dance Party through the upper midwest that began in January of 1959. This turned into a poorly put together affair by GAC, General Artists Corporation, which provided a poorly equipped bus in which to travel. It was this constant travel in a freezing bus with a bad engine and a concert to give every night in a different town that led to using a chartered airplane. Ironically, February 2nd was supposed to be their only day off during this Winter Dance Party, but GAC then scheduled them to appear in Mason City, Iowa, for that night shortly before this date. Buddy decided to hire a chartered airplane to fly he and his band members, Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup, to Moorhead, Minnnesota, so they could get some rest while the others took the bus. J. P. Richardson, The Big Bopper, was ill with the flu and he wanted to fly ahead, so he took Waylon Jennings place on the plane. Ritchie Valens also hoped to fly ahead and he and Allsup flipped a coin to see who would fly as the third passenger. Valens "won" the flip. The pilot of the airplane, Roger Peterson, wasn't fully qualified to fly the plane, but he didn't want to pass up a chance to fly the three stars. Peterson's mother blamed the rock stars for her son's death by saying that if they had not wanted to take a plane, her son would not have died. Despite the loss of these three members of the group, the remaining members including Dion and the Belmonts, had to complete the tour which ended in mid-February. Bobby Vee was a high school student in Moorhead, Minnesota, and he volunteered to help fill in for this next concert. Some careers start in strange ways. Following Buddy's death, his parents would make a few trips to Mason City to see where their son last performed. A person's life is not measured in how many years they live. Buddy's was a short one, but he did leave a lasting impact on a generation of his fans and influenced a number of singers who became popular after he died. There are a number of other interesting stories in this book. I would very much recommend this book to you. I only wish it was in hard cover.

It's a Crock.......2000-04-09

Buddy did not shoot the pilot. Official documentation shows that the gun was missing a bullet, but that was due to the fact that after the snow in the cornfield melted away that the farmer who owned the land found the gun and then fired off a shot to see if it still worked (to his own admission). This is also how the rumor got started. No foul play here. End of story.

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An quick but detailed journey through the Holly legend.
Buddy Holly's life story through quotations

Memories of Buddy Holly
Jim Dawson
Manufacturer: Big Nickel Publications
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0936433205

Book Description

At last, the real story of rock 'n' roll pioneer Buddy Holly is told by those who knew him best: his family, the musicians he played with, the fans who loved him, and the stars who were inspired by his music, including John Lennon, Paul McCartney, and Bob Dylan. With extensive coverage of Buddy's chart hits, the unreleased album of alternate takes you probably haven't heard, cover records & remakes of Buddy's songs, paeans, dirges & tribute records.

Customer Reviews:

An quick but detailed journey through the Holly legend........1999-01-03

I loved the coverage of what's been happening to the Holly legend since his death in 1959. All the quotes, especially those from the English bands, are invaluable. The letter from John Lennon to the author, dated 1974 and copied in the book, in which Lennon talks about Holly's effect on the Beatles, is worth the book's price alone.

Buddy Holly's life story through quotations.......1997-11-24

This book goes through the life of Buddy Holly via a series of quotations by friends, relatives, acquaintances and others whose lives and careers he touched. As a quick overview of his life, those with little knowledge of Buddy Holly's life and career should find this book interesting. How he influenced John Lennon of the Beatles is fascinating to read in Lennon's own words. For those more knowlegable of the Buddy's life, this is a fascinating read. Although I knew most of the facts of his life, I found it interesting to read of his life through the words of those who were influenced by him. The British Invasion of the early 1960's was precipitated by Buddy Holly and the Crickets' tour of England. This is an enjoyable, interesting and easy to read book. I recommend it to all Buddy Holly fans.

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That'll Be The Day
Buddy Holly Story
Buddy Gets His Due
music teacher and fan
okay but still

Rave On
Philip Norman
Manufacturer: Fireside
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0684835606

Amazon.com

Though only 22 years old when he died, Buddy Holly has become a legend in rock-and-roll history. In Rave On, writer Philip Norman proposes that Holly was even more influential in the genre's development than previously credited. Though popular in the United States, his subtle style and earnest charm were overshadowed by the more flamboyant Elvis Presley. Holly's aura of mystery was much more suited to England, which was still recovering from post-war depression, and his reception there was unprecedented. His music played a major role in igniting English youth, and his low-key approach to energized rhythms and rebellion influenced many groups--including the Beatles--to play rock-and-roll.

Customer Reviews:

That'll Be The Day.......2007-09-24

On September 23, 1957, 4 months after its release, That'll be the Day stood at No.1 on both pop and r&b charts. Before reading this book watch Paul McCartney's Buddy Holly DVD and Gary Busey's DVD. Then go to the musical "Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story" at the Duchess Theatre, London August 7 2007-June 28 2008. This play ran for 12 and a half years in its original production at the Victoria Palace Theatre and subsequently in many cities across the US. (Seattle last February). Next go to Lubbock and check out the statue and the Buddy Holly Center on Crickets Avenue.
http://www.buddyhollycenter.org/. Then head over to Cleveland for the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame display. And, finally go to Clear Lake on February 2. 2008 for the Fabulous Fifties show: The Crickets, Big Bopper, Jr., David Somerville of The Diamonds, The Chiffons, Sonny Burgess & The Pacers, The Belmonts. After all that you may then plop into your favorite ottoman and enjoy this book while watching the La Bamba DVD.

Buddy Holly Story.......2007-03-04

This book gives a thorough description of Buddy Holly's life and career.
Buddy Holly is well known,but the story here is told in depth.Philip Norman,who has also done other biographies such as The Beatles,Elton John and The Rolling Stones .He has written a great story of Buddys short career,as well as his life.It tells how he constructed his songs and the recording methods he used.It also tells of all the people he worked with to make some of the best songs ever written.

Buddy Gets His Due.......2004-06-29

I needed to read this book because all I knew about Buddy Holly, other than a dozen or so evergreen songs, was that movie, "The Buddy Holly Story," which is hardly accurate. Philip Norman gives you a much better sense of what Buddy's brief moment in the spotlight was all about.

It was brief, just over a year and a half from the time he and his band, the Crickets, hit the U.S. charts with "That'll Be The Day" in the summer of 1957 to the fateful flight from Mason City, Iowa on February 3, 1959. It's hard to imagine making as much of the time as Buddy Holly did of his, starting a career, a business partnership, and a family, not to mention writing music that revolutionized rock n' roll.

Norman gives you a good sense of how Holly did this, in a book that is a clear work of love, not ignoring negative elements of the story but striving to put them in less lurid context. One weakness of the book is that this sometimes gets in the way (Holly's alleged gambling problems, dwelt on in other books, is only mentioned once in passing, while a tale backup Cricket guitarist Niki Sullivan offers up about Holly getting a girl pregnant is thrown up only to be knocked down in backhanded fashion.) But the overwhelming sense one gets from reading "Rave On" is Norman's contention that Buddy had everything going for him except luck.

I liked especially the English context of this book. Norman, a British author, pays close attention to Holly and the Crickets' impact on the British music scene, where he was a bigger sensation than his native land. Occasionally, as when the Crickets visit the U.K. and Norman itemizes hotel expenses and suchlike, it gets a bit precious, but Holly, the first rocker to write his own songs and perform them in a band context, obviously was laying some groundwork here that the British would emulate with great success in the coming decade.

Norman also takes on Norman Petty, producer and manager of the Crickets who was either duplicitous by design or by accident. "To some, he was the person who made it possible for Buddy Holly to come alive; others feel he could hardly be more to blame for Buddy's death if he'd gone out into the Iowa snows with a machine gun and pointed it straight into the sky." Given Buddy's reason for joining the 1959 "Winter Dance Party" tour had to do with Petty's reluctance to part with money Holly earned under Petty's wing that Holly needed for himself and his pregnant wife, you can understand the bitterness.

Norman was able to get a look at Petty's files, tape transcripts, and the like, which cast some new light on the fellow Norman dubs "Clovis Man," if not enough to figure out exactly who he was or what he was about. Petty makes an interesting character; Norman got more use out of Brian Epstein in his Beatles book, "Shout," but when the Holly story finds itself in the strange Clovis, New Mexico studio space where Petty, his wife, and their butch female companion lived, the story picks up a bit.

Ultimately, the focus stays with Buddy, though, where it belongs. Norman explains just what it was about his music that made it so innovative, both uniquely of its time and timeless. It's amazing that he not only established a new sound but moved so far beyond it in such a short time. Maybe not so amazingly, his songs were often ignored in the United States (just 3 Top 10 hits, by himself or with the Crickets) while embraced with greater fervor overseas (his last single release, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," was a #1 hit in England, but peaked in the U.S. at, natch, #13.)

The last images of the book are the most arresting. Norman gets a rare peak at the overnight bag Holly carried with him on his fatal flight, still encrusted with dirt from that frozen farmland where his single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza slammed down, still containing a tube of toothpaste, a lint brush, and a comb still entwined with a few hairs that never turned gray.

This book didn't really breathe Buddy; it skims over a good deal and Norman fails to corroborate stories he offers up from single sources. But it's a nice book that captures who this fellow named Buddy Holly was, and why he left such a deep imprint on culture, both directly and through his many followers.

music teacher and fan.......2003-12-31

I'm not such a fan of Buddy Holly that I think he was the father, or King, or founder of Rock n Roll, but his music and business practices were certainly innovative for the time. (I wonder how his life and career would have developed had he lived) That said, I definitely recommend this book. It was very descriptive and entertaining to read. This book should have been the source material for the bio-pic that was made several years back! It's hard to imagine how frantic his life must have been during the last two years of his life, and as I got closer and closer to the last page--knowing how it's going to turn out--I found myself reading faster and faster, wishing this story had a different ending.

okay but still.......2001-12-19

I really wish people would stop placing Buddy Holly's sex life on the stand. Really, if you want to make a sex story of him, write it and say this is an fiction book! Is that too hard to understand??? But, it was better than Ellis Amburn's book.

The Day The Music Died ("Behind the Music")

Average customer rating:

Memories Abound In This Book
Nice book

The Day The Music Died ("Behind the Music")
Martin Huxley , and Quinton Skinner
Manufacturer: MTV
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0671039628
Release Date: 2000-10-31

Book Description

Their lives were cut brutally short...yet the legacy has on lived on for four decades. They were three of rock 'n' roll's brightest stars, touring together in a music revue that was as grueling as it was magical. Dilapidated school buses that frequently broke down and rarely had heat carried them hundreds of miles across the Midwest with its unforgiving cold. Hoping to get a decent night's sleep, a hot meal, and a chance to clean the clothes they'd been wearing for weeks, Buddy Holly chartered a plane. On February 3, 1959, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, and Buddy Holly boarded a small plane bound for rock 'n' roll heaven. This is their story, told by the family members, bandmates, and witnesses who lived it. Including material not seen in the original VH1 broadcast, "Behind the Music: the Day the Music Died" is a compelling record of one of rock 'n' roll's defining moments.

Customer Reviews:

Memories Abound In This Book.......2001-08-17

Larry Lehmer's hardcover book entitled "The Day the Music Died" gives a very detailed review of the ill-fated Winter Dance Party in which Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson, aka "The Big Bopper" took part. If you would like to read a more concise version of these three singers I would strongly suggest you buy a copy of the paperback copy of "Behind the Music: The Day the Music Died." This book contains 122 pages and includes numerous pictures of the singers in addition to the crash site. Comments from family members and those who were close to the singers make up the prose of the book leading to accuracy in what they say. I read the book in three sittings. Make sure you have time when you sit down to read it because you will want to continue. I intend to order numerous additional copies to give as gifts to friends. Many thanks to authors Martin Huxley and Quinton Skinner for putting the book together.

Nice book.......2001-05-28

For my recent birthday, my mom bought me a copy of this book. She didn't want to spend too much, and although I was skeptical at first, I actually enjoyed it. I was very surprised at how well the text flowed, considering there is just so much separate commentary throughout the course of it. As strange as it may seem, this event just fascinates me, and this book was a good source of information. ....

Average customer rating:

Excellent
Maybe Baby...This Book's For Us! Rave On!
The Problem With Today's Kids

Buddy: The Story of Buddy Holly
Anne Bustard
Manufacturer: Simon & Schuster/Paula Wiseman Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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ASIN: 0689866674

Book Description

A while back, out West Texas way, a boy named Charles Hardin Holley was born. He was named after his granddaddy Charles and his granddaddy Hardin. From the first moment, though, his mama called him Buddy. Buddy Holly.

That Buddy could shoot marbles with the best, hit homers in the red dirt, and pelt cans with his slingshot. But come sixth grade, when Buddy met up with a guitar, he never let it go. Later Buddy heard a new sound -- part country, part gospel, and part blues -- and got even more fired up. Hot-diggity! It was the birth of rock 'n' roll.

Customer Reviews:

Excellent.......2007-01-11

Good story. My husband and son both love it. We're big fans of his music ;)

Maybe Baby...This Book's For Us! Rave On!.......2006-07-30

What a wonderful way of introducing younger generations to Buddy Holly! This rock pioneer of the 1950s with his timeless classics will undoubtedly continue to delight listeners for time immemorial. I love this book!

Buddy Holly, a young musician from Lubbock Texas is beautifully illustrated and presented in this book. He became a rock icon in the 1950s and his untimely death in a plane crash in 1959 sadly stilled a voice that delighted many. He along with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper perished in that accident in in Iowa cornfield on February 3, 1959. Holly has since been immortalized in Don McClean's 1971 song which I never cared for, "Bye, Bye, Miss American Pie."

This book is truly a gem and a masterpiece. The delightful pictures and the "personalization" of the young Buddy Holly is sure to spark young readers' interest. Bustard does a fine job of chronicling the rock legend's life and untimely death in a sensitive and serious way. Be sure to get a Buddy Holly CD as a gift to go along with this book.

Bustard is an excellent author and it would come as no surprise if this book were to win awards, which it truly deserves.

The Problem With Today's Kids.......2005-05-12

--is that they don't know enough about Buddy Holly the rock star of the 1950s! Well, why should they, people who knew him personally are fading fast, and even the hit film THE BUDDY HOLLY STORY was released way back in 1978. (Although it's out on video and is readily available, as are each of Holly's recordings). Finally here's a book which could serve as a primer to educating young people about the legend who died too soon. It has colorful, attractive pictures of young people at work and play, and you can't help but recognize the familiar bespectacles countenance of our hero.

Bustard is a fine writer with many Texas quirks to her writing, and while some young readers may not be able to decipher her lingo, others will go for it with gusto. I expect this child's biography to win the Newberry Award for book of the year. One proviso, of course the story ends rather sadly. Some young children are not ready to take in a whole book which winds up with the main character dying a terrible, lurid death. But most of today's kids will be able to take it, and before long they will be rocking out to RAVE ON, PEGGY SUE, and TRUE LOVE WAYS right in front of your eyes. I expect this book will be a big hit in Lubbock, Texas, center of the Buddy industry and eye of the Holly hurricane. Remember--"it's so easy to fall in love."

Average customer rating:

Average book, hard to find
Very nice book

The Buddy Holly Story
John Tobler
Manufacturer: New English Library
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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ASIN: 0859650359

Book Description

When Buddy Holly died in 1959, the whole word mourned. His career lasted three short years and he had an outstanding impact on rock'n'roll. Yet he was only 22 when he died. In The Buddy Holly Story, rock journalist and broadcaster John Tobler takes a perceptive look at the short and legendary career of the bespectacled young Texan. Illustrated with more than 120 photographs, this large format biography explores in words and pictures Buddy Holly's life and personality, and the influence of this music which can still be felt through the myriad re-releases and cover versions of his rock'n'roll classics.

Customer Reviews:

Average book, hard to find.......2002-07-24

Photo quality is average (not the best at times), basic info for a general fan, nothing too deep. Good intro to Buddy in general & short in length for those with an average interest.

Very nice book.......1999-05-01

I have read some biographies before this one, but I think that this one was the best so far. THe reason for that is that it is a lot more shorter than most biographies but it still has all the information I need, and some extra too like the part about the movie called Buddy Holly Story. Overall it is a good book and I recomend it to everyone who is interested about the real King and Creator of Rock'n'Roll, Buddy Holly.

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Buddy Holly
Ellis Amburn
Manufacturer: Virgin Books
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Paperback

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Buddy Holly (They Died Too Young Series)

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Buddy Holly (They Died Too Young Series)
Tom Stockdale
Manufacturer: Parragon
ProductGroup: Book
Binding: Hardcover

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