Buddy Holly, a founding father of rock

INDIANAPOLIS - Fifty-two years ago on Thursday, February 3, was what has come to be known as “The Day the Music Died.”

Three up and coming musicians were on what was called “The Winter Dance Party” tour through the Midwest. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson were all about fed up with the tour bus that kept breaking down, the cold weather that had already sent Holly’s drummer to the hospital with frostbite and the long distances between shows.

Holly had been frustrated for a while with the whole tour and decided after an unscheduled show in Clear Lake, Iowa, to charter a plane to get them to the next stop.

What happened was the death of three rock'n'roll greats along with their pilot, 21-year-old Roger Peterson.

Buddy Holly was already a legend in his own time. Many critics and musicians alike have claimed him as one of the biggest influences in early rock'n'roll, who went on to inspire such greats as the Beatles, The Rolling Stones and Bob Dylan.

Holly’s music is rock'n'roll, for sure, but has elements that a lot of the first rock pioneers didn’t get yet. At one moment his voice is all raspy and,"Go, go, go!” and the next it is soft, quivery and full of lovin’. He could really write a love song, and turn around the next minute and have the kids on their feet.

One of the big differences between Holly and his contemporaries was his use of deeper lyrics and more complicated harmonies. And then of course his trademark “hiccupping.” It’s called a glottal stop.

I guess what can be said the most about Holly was that even pinned up in a suit and tie, he was a risk taker, and adventurer, which sadly led to his death. But he did leave us here with a rich catalog of great music and inspiration for others to follow after and evolve rock'n'roll in so many ways.

Check out someof his tunes below, a little variety of his several styles.

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