You know who would have been just as big as Elvis?

[Guest Apollo]

If he hadn't died so tragically young . . . I think Buddy Holly would have ended up being just as big as Elvis.

Buddy was a rocker! He fit that hard to fit bill of being "cool" enough where the guys liked him, but "poppy" an "sweet" enough where the girls loved him as well.

Yes, Elvis, in his prime, changed pop music. But in an 18-month period, Buddy Holly put the foundation down for what music would look like for the next 30 years.

But if you look at Buddy's catalog and then think what could have been if he'd had 30 more years of putting out ablums . . . . and at the pace he was going, I think Buddy had the potential to be as big, if not bigger than Elvis. BUDDY WROTE HIS OWN MUSIC - whereas Elvis didn't!!! (Ya, you'll find Elvis's name on some song writing credits, but history has shown that it was just for financial reasons). Buddy was a song writer, Elvis wasn't.

He had songs that kicked ass as rockers, he had pop hits and he had touching ballads. If you have never really listened to him, you should check out some of his songs. A lot of his songs are poppish - but thats the times he lived in. His songs have some incredible melodies though, he's got an amazing voice.

(And ya, go ahead and watch The Buddy Holly Story. Gary Busey does a pretty good job in it)

Just a little background for those of you who don't know much about him.

Died in a plane crash at 22 years old (along with The Big Popper and Richie Valens). The crash that inspired the song American Pie.

Beatles took their name in homage to Buddies band The Crickets.

Paul McCartney owns the Holly catalog of songs. John Lennon and McCartney BOTH have said that Buddy was one of - of not THE - biggest influences in their careers.

Everybody from the The Beatles to the Rollings Stones to Rush to The Greatful Dead to Bruce Springsteen have covered his songs. And all those bands, along with people like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix all have quotes in the press praising what Buddy meant to music.

Was really the first "white" group to have a successful run at The Apollo, many music historians cite that as the primary influence in breaking the racial divide between blacks and whites (concerning music).

Buddy was in the inagural class inducted to the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

He had SEVEN top 10 hits in a one-year period!!!! Even though his career only last 18 months, he revolutionized how rock music was played. The first band to use TWO guitar players (ha, now Axl uses three!) and double-tracking.

And he did it all in under two years.

[pepsicoca]

Buddy Holly would never have become a sex-symbol...

[frankwhite]

If he hadn't died so tragically young . . . I think Buddy Holly would have ended up being just as big as Elvis.

Buddy was a rocker! He fit that hard to fit bill of being "cool" enough where the guys liked him, but "poppy" an "sweet" enough where the girls loved him as well.

Yes, Elvis, in his prime, changed pop music. But in an 18-month period, Buddy Holly put the foundation down for what music would look like for the next 30 years.

But if you look at Buddy's catalog and then think what could have been if he'd had 30 more years of putting out ablums . . . . and at the pace he was going, I think Buddy had the potential to be as big, if not bigger than Elvis. BUDDY WROTE HIS OWN MUSIC - whereas Elvis didn't!!! (Ya, you'll find Elvis's name on some song writing credits, but history has shown that it was just for financial reasons). Buddy was a song writer, Elvis wasn't.

He had songs that kicked ass as rockers, he had pop hits and he had touching ballads. If you have never really listened to him, you should check out some of his songs. A lot of his songs are poppish - but thats the times he lived in. His songs have some incredible melodies though, he's got an amazing voice.

(And ya, go ahead and watch The Buddy Holly Story. Gary Busey does a pretty good job in it)

Just a little background for those of you who don't know much about him.

Died in a plane crash at 22 years old (along with The Big Popper and Richie Valens). The crash that inspired the song American Pie.

Beatles took their name in homage to Buddies band The Crickets.

Paul McCartney owns the Holly catalog of songs. John Lennon and McCartney BOTH have said that Buddy was one of - of not THE - biggest influences in their careers.

Everybody from the The Beatles to the Rollings Stones to Rush to The Greatful Dead to Bruce Springsteen have covered his songs. And all those bands, along with people like Bob Dylan and Jimi Hendrix all have quotes in the press praising what Buddy meant to music.

Was really the first "white" group to have a successful run at The Apollo, many music historians cite that as the primary influence in breaking the racial divide between blacks and whites (concerning music).

Buddy was in the inagural class inducted to the Rock and Roll hall of fame.

He had SEVEN top 10 hits in a one-year period!!!! Even though his career only last 18 months, he revolutionized how rock music was played. The first band to use TWO guitar players (ha, now Axl uses three!) and double-tracking.

And he did it all in under two years.

big bopper dude...and yeah, Bud's hugely underrated!!!

[SofaKingWhat]

I never realised he was that young. I thought he died late 20's.

Makes his short career even more amazing.

[frankwhite]

havin said that, it'd take a lotta burgers to get bigger than elvis..

[artfromtex]

it's always hard to know what someone WOULD have done. he definately made some great music during his short time. but, when comparing to Elvis, you also have to consider that he himself was heavily influenced by Elvis.

i tell ya what i wonder about Buddy. right before he died Waylon Jennings had just joined his band as a bassist. i wonder what those two could have come up with. also, would Waylon have gone the "outlaw" route in the early 70's?

[frankwhite]

I never realised he was that young. I thought he died late 20's.

Makes his short career even more amazing.

eddie cochran too, he died 22.

[Guest Apollo]

Buddy Holly would never have become a sex-symbol...

You prove my point sir.

Elvis and his team were concerned with turning Elvis into a sexy symbol.

Buddy was ONLY concerned about the music.