THEATRE UNDER THE STARS
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Oh Boy! TUTS Brings BUDDY: The Buddy Holly Story
Downtown to Wortham Center August 8 - 20, 2000
Houston, TX - BUDDY, The Buddy Holly Story will raise the roof at the Brown Theatre
downtown in Wortham Center for 16 rockin' performances August 8-20, 2000 from Theatre
Under The Stars. More than 40 years after "the day the music died," the life of the legendary Texas
rocker, his trademark eyeglasses, and his brief but spectacular music career are celebrated in this
award-winning musical starring Van Zeiler.
Originally conceived and created for London's West End, BUDDY was nominated for the 1990
Olivier Award as "Best Musical." The show chronicles Holly's story from his early days singing
country music in his native Lubbock through his days with The Crickets (the first white act at
Harlem's Apollo Theatre and featured on The Ed Sullivan Show) and ends with a rollicking
re-creation of his last Winter Dance Party concert with Ritchie Valens, J. P. "The Big Bopper"
Richardson and Dion and the Belmonts at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. Departing
that concert in a snowstorm, the plane carrying Holly, Richardson and Valens crashed, killing all
onboard on February 3, 1959. But their contribution to rock-and-roll lives forever in their own
solid gold recordings and the music of others they inspired.
For two short years Holly's songs broke all the records; for two short years he ruled! His original
sound and brilliant talent produced such hits as "Peggy Sue," "Oh Boy," "Maybe Baby," "That'll Be
The Day," "Rave On," "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," Raining In My Heart" and "True Love Ways,"
all featured in the musical BUDDY, along with The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace" and Valens' "La
Bamba." Holly's musical legacy influenced Paul McCartney, John Lennon, Marshall Crenshaw, The
Rolling Stones and countless others.
And BUDDYs critics are raving... "Pure exhilaration ... a faithful , rapturous tribute to a rock
pioneer who fully deserves the acclaim" (Boston Globe); "Buddy has them dancin' in -the aisles"
(New York Post); "The show is an unashamed, rabble-rousing fiesta. It's got everything! " (London
Sunday Times); "It explodes into full throttled joy ... utterly mesmerizing" (Sydney Morning Herald).
Launched by the Ordway Music Theatre in St. Paul, this brilliant touring production of BUDDY,
The Buddy Holly Story is officially sponsored by Pearle Vision, one of the nation's leading optical
retailers with more than 800 stores in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. Corporate sponsors in
Houston are Arthur Andersen LLP, Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hickam and Locke, Liddell & Sapp.
Tickets to BUDDY, The Buddy Holly Story ($16-$57, Founder's Boxes $75) are available
by phone via Admission Network at 1-800-678-5440; in person at the TUTS TIX, 2600
Southwest Freeway at Kirby Drive (Mon-Fri 10arn-5:30pm; Sat 11am-4pm; or the Wortham
Center box office, 510 Preston (11 am to curtain on performance days); or on-line at
www.tuts.com.
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICES: 2600 SOUTHWEST FPEEWAY, SUITE NO. 600,
HOUSTON, TEXAS 77098
MAILING ADDPESS: PO BOX 980609 HOUSTON, TEXAS 77098-0609
713-558-2600 * FAX: 713-558-2650
Interview with Maria Elena Holly
BUDDY HOLLY FACT SHEET
*Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley was bom in Lubbock, Texas on
September 7, 1936, the youngest of four children.
*Buddy changed his name to "Holly" from "Holley" when it was
accidentally misspelled on his first recording contract in 1956.
*Buddy began music lessons in piano and violin at the age of eight.
*At Lubbock High School Buddy studied printing and drafting. He was
also accomplished in leatherwork making pocket books, wallets, and
leather covers for guitars.
*Buddy did not watch much television. In fact, the only time his parents
remember him staying home to watch was to see Elvis Presley's first
appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1956.
*Buddy did not discover his nearsightedness until the age of 15, when
one night, performing without glasses, he dropped his pick and had to
get down on his hands and knees to look for it. The eyeglasses became
a distinctive feature and a valuable trademark.
*Holly began his professional career performing with his school friend
Bob Montgomery. The duo was joined by bass player Larry Welborn
for appearances on KDAV, disc jockey "Hipockets" Duncan's Sunday
afternoon radio show, Duncan subsequently became Holly's first
manager.
*When Nashville talent agent Eddie Crandall saw Holly on a bill for a
KDAV radio promoted concert headlined by Bill Haley and The Comets
on October 14, 1955, a recording contract with-Decca soon followed.
"Blue Days, Black Nights," written by KDAV disc jockey Ben Hall,
became Buddy's first recording and first release. It was released in
April 1956 and had an optimistic estimated sale of 19,000 copies
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*In 1957 Buddy formed The Crickets with Nicki Sullivan, Joe B.
Maudlin and Jerry Allison.
*During the spring of 1957, at Norman Petty's Clovis, New Mexico
studio, Holly played guitar on recordings by other artists including
Buddy Knox, Charlie Phillips, Jim Robinson, Sherry Davis, Fred
Crawford and Jack Huddle.
*In the summer of 19571 The Crickets released "That'll Be The Day,"
their first single on the Brunswick label. The song went Top Ten and
sold over a million copies.
*The Crickets' first live appearance in New York was at the Apollo
Theater on August 6, 1957. Part of a package that included Clyde
McPhatter, The Cadillacs, Edna Mcgriff and Otis Rush, they were
booked into the Apollo by a promoter who thought they were a black
act.
*"Cindy Lou" was the original title of one of Holly's biggest hits. When
Cricket Jerry Allison asked if the title could be changed to the name of
his girlfriend, Buddy agreed and the song became "Peggy Sue."
*While in dispute with a song publishing company, the,writing credit of
several Holly songs was given to Charles Hardin - Buddy's first and
middle names.
*The Crickets embarked on their first national tour as part of the "Biggest
Show of Stars for 1957." Joining Chuck Berry, Paul Anka, The
Drifters, Frankie Lymon and The Teenagers and The Everly Brothers,
the band played over 80 dates between September and November of
1957.
*Buddy Holly and The Crickets made their first appearance on The Ed
Sullivan Show on December 1, 1957 performing "That'll Be The Day"
and "Peggy Sue." On January 26, 1958 they returned to perform "Oh
Boy" and had an argument with Sullivan. Later, Holly turned down an
invitation for a third appearance.
*Buddy Holly never appeared in a commercial motion picture. He
rejected the only movie deal The Crickets were ever offered, from Alan
Freed, because they were not offered money, only publicity.
~
*For a very supportive radio station, KLLL, Holly, not averse to using
his songs for commercial jingles, sang the following lyrics to the tune of
" Peggy Sue":
If you knew, what I'd do
You'd tune our way the whole day through,
To music
K-triple-L-uh-L
Well, it's "country style,"
On K-L-double-L
*In December 1958 in New York, Holly recorded his last original songs.
They include "That's What They Say," "What To Do," "Peggy Sue Got
Married," "That Makes It Tough," "Crying," "Waiting, Hoping" and
"Leaming the Game."
*On his last tour Holly was backed by Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup
and Carl Bunch.
*After a concert in Clear Lake, Iowa, on February 2, @ 1 9 59,1, Buddy Holly
died in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson
("The Big Bopper").
*Buddy Holly singles that reached the Top 100 in the United States
include, "That'll Be The Day," "Peggy Sue," "Oh Boy," "Everyday,"
"Maybe Baby," "Rave On," "Think it Over," "Early in the Morning,"
"Fool's Paradise", "Heartbeat", "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," and
"Raining in My Heart."
*In their pre-Beatle days as the Quarrymen, the first recording John
Lennon and Paul McCartney made was a version of "That'll Be The
Day.
*The British Invasion groups of the 1960s had numerous hits with Holly
songs. "Not Fade Away" was the Rolling Stones' first American single;
Peter and Gordon recorded "True Love Ways" and "Tell Me Now;" The
Beatles covered "Words of Love;" "It Doesn't Matter Anymore" was
sung by Freddie and The Dreamers; and "Heartbeat" was recorded by
Herman's Herrnits.
*In the 1970s and 1980s, notable artists who recorded Holly songs or
performed them in concert included: the late Phil Ochs, the late John
Denver, Waylon Jennings, Linda Ronstadt, Elvis Costello, Marshall
Crenshaw, Bruce Springsteen and the Sex Pistols.
*In 1971, twelve years after Holly's death Don McLean paid tribute to
him with the song "American Pie"
A long long time ago
I can still remember, how that music used to make me smile.
And I know if I had the chance,
That I could make those people dance;
And maybe they'd be happy for awhile.
But February made me shiver,
With every paper I'd deliver,
Bad news on the doorstep -
I couldn't take one more step.
And I can't remember if I cried,
When I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside,
The day the music died.
*Waylon Jennings soon followed with his own lyrical tribute
to Holly entitled "Old Friend."
*In 1978, Holly was remembered in "The Buddy Holly Story," the
critically acclaimed film biography starring Gary Busey, who
earned an Oscar nomination for his portrayal of the singer.
*Holly was honored again in 1986 as he was inducted into the
Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame.
ARTISTS WHO HAVE RECORDED BUDDY HOLLY SONGS
The Beatles: "That'll Be The Day", "Words of Love"
John Lennon: "Peggy Sue"
The Rolling Stones: "Not Fade Away"
Herman's Hermits: "Heartbeat"
Everly Brothers: "That'll Be The Day"
Peter & Gordon: "Tell me How", "True Love Ways"
Blind Faith: "Well.....Alright"
(Eric Clapton and Steve Winwood)
The Hollies: "Not Fade Away"
Leo Sayer: "Raining in My Heart"
Tom Rush: "Loves Made A Fool of You"
The Beach Boys: "Peggy Sue"
The Grateful Dead: "Not Fade Away"
Santana: "Well.....Alright"
Linda Rondstadt: "It Doesn't Matter Anymore", "That'll Be The Day", "It's So Easy"
John Denver: "Everyday"
Don McLean" "Everyday"
Nitty Gritty Dirt Band: "Rave On"
Blondie: "I'm Gonna Love You Too"
James Taylor: "Everyday"
John Cougar Mellencamp: "Rave On"
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