Late one night in the fall of 1957, I was twirling the dial around on my little transistor radio when suddenly I landed in the middle of a song that made me gasp. That beat! That guitar! That voice!
I made two discoveries that night. First: a fantastic American radio station – “WWVA Wheeling West Virginia.” It played new rock ‘n’ roll, rockabilly, and country hits before our Canadian stations even heard of them… and played them over and over.
My second revelation was the singer-songwriter who was to become my number one idol of all time:
I was 12 years old – and I was in love!
This was the song.
My point is, pre-adolescent girls are very impressionable! I loved Buddy’s voice, and made it my business to buy his records as soon as I saved enough money from my weekly allowance. I bought this one…
… and then this one…
…and many more over the years.
It may be hard for some to understand his appeal to a teenage girl. He was not as handsome as a Greek god.
But I could listen to his Texas-twangy hiccup-y voice 24/7, then and now.
There was just something. Something he had. Call it pure talent, along with perseverance and hard work. Scores of live shows and recordings followed. Buddy became known in places far removed from his humble home in Lubbock, Texas, thanks to radio and television. This song became one of his classics:
But then… just as his career was blossoming… tragedy struck. Buddy Holly died way too soon at just 22 years of age, in the 1959 plane crash that also killed the Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson), Richie Valens, and the pilot. See The Day the Music Died for details.
I was inconsolable. At 13, I cried bitter tears along with millions of other Holly fans. To this day I weep for Buddy’s unfinished life, his career cut short so early.
It’s a testimony to Buddy’s award-winning talent that his songs were covered by so many music icons who came later – the Beatles, Clapton, Dylan, the Stones, Don McLean, Springsteen, and on and on. They all say he inspired them to greatness.
I’ll leave you with one of my favourite Buddy Holly songs. This recording also includes a montage of many photos of him. It’s a fitting tribute. Here’s “Heartbeat” – because it made this young girl’s heart beat faster.
🎶🎸🥁🎵💔
Crossed Eyes and Dotted Tees 
I remember Buddy Holly very fondly. Had his career not been cut short, he probably would have blown Elvis right out of the water.
I also remember WWVA Wheeling, West Virginia. I listened to it from a farmhouse I was renting near Fort, Coulonge, Quebec, between 1972 and 1977. I would be able to get a signal when it was dark outside. I would listen to it after the late movie on television had ended. The DJ on a that time was named Buddy Ray, and he would play Country Music until 5 AM, with an occasional comedy record by the Bickersons (Don Ameche and Frances Langford).
It was a much better time then than the present.
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Hi, fellow Holly fan! I agree wholeheartedly with your first two sentences, and your last!
Yes, that Wheeling signal only seemed to come in strong at night! I don’t remember who the DJ was in the 50s, though.
I no longer have my large vinyl collection, but at least there’s YouTube, thank goodness.
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