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Buddy Holly's officially a Hollywood star
CNN ~ September 8, 2011 Los Angeles (CNN) -- Buddy Holly finally got his star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame on Wednesday, which would have been the singer-songwriter's 75th birthday. "It's never too late when you get a fantastic thing to happen," his widow, Maria Elena Holly, told CNN after unveiling the star on the sidewalk along Vine Street at the entrance to the historic Capitol Records building.

Holly was just 22 when he was killed in a plane crash, along with musicians Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. "I'm saying now, my dear Buddy, you loved to go to the movies. You told me that one of your dreams was to write scores for movies and make your mark in Hollywood," his widow said during the ceremony. "Well, my dear, half of your dream unfortunately did not come true, but the other half did come true with a beautiful star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame."

Actor Gary Busey, who channeled Holly's voice and character in the 1978 movie "The Buddy Holly Story," attended the dedication. "He's here right now," Busey said. "I feel his spirit in the air. It's beautiful."

What would Holly be doing now if he were still alive? "Anything he wanted to," Busey said. "Scoring movies, helping people in different countries who are in trouble, like writing a song for them and taking it over there and singing it to them." Busey is working with T Bone Burnett on an album of Holly songs, which he said he would also perform in a tour.

The Hollywood star ceremony was timed to coincide with this week's release of "Listen to Me: Buddy Holly," a tribute album of his songs performed by 16 artists, including Ringo Starr, Stevie Nick, Brian Wilson, Jackson Browne, Chris Isaak, Linda Ronstadt and Lyle Lovett.

Phil Everly of the Everly Brothers, a contemporary of Holly, also attended the dedication.

Hollywood Walk of Fame Star Unveiling - Phil Everly & Peter Asher

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Phil Everly To Speak At Buddy Holly Walk Of Fame Induction

Twenty-five years after being among the very first recording artists inducted into Cleveland's Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, the late Lubbock recording artist Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holly finally will be honored with his own star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

The star unveiling ceremony for Holly will take place at 11:30 a.m. (Pacific Standard) on September 7, 2011, the 75th anniversary of Holly's birth.

Holly's star will be located near those of the Beatles, and Phil Everly and Peter Asher will be speaking at the unveiling ceremony. The Everly Brothers toured extensively with Buddy Holly and Holly credited The Everly Brothers with changing his style from Levis and tee shirts to their style of suits. Buddy Holly wrote the song "Wishing" for the brothers. Phil Everly was a pallbearer at Holly's funeral. Don could not attend stating, "I couldn't go to the funeral. I couldn't go anywhere. I just took to my bed."

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Phil Everly @ Buddy Holly's 75th Birthday Celebration: 'People Hated Our Music'
Billboard.biz ~ September 08, 2011 Producer, manager and singer Peter Asher organized the Holly tribute at the Music Box Theater in conjunction with the release Tuesday of "Listen to Me" on Verve Forecast, a Holly tribute album to benefit organizations funded by Songmasters - such as the Grammy Foundation, the Songwriters Hall of Fame and Artists House Music. The concert was filmed for airing in December on PBS.

A reception on the Music Box's rooftop prior to the show had plenty of old-timers pointing out the legends on hand - Holly's widow Maria Elena, Phil Everly, legendary session guitarists Albert Lee and James Burton and Pricilla Presley -- while discussing days or yore at labels such as Warner Bros. and Capitol. While the music of the Everly Brothers and Holly piped through the rooftop's P.A., Phil Everly offered a few thoughts to Billboard.biz on their days together in the 1950s.

"When we were interviewed in the '50s, the first, second or third question would be 'what are you going to do when it's over?' The people writing the articles hated the music," Everly said. "Whether it was Buddy or Eddie Cochran or Don and myself, none of us thought it would last because that was what we kept getting told.  Inside the perimeter, what we were thinking was  -- and this is what we loved -- the cool thing was to do something original. That was important to all of us. i'm only here because Buddy was my friend. My great respect for his music has never diminished."

See more text, photos and credits at the Billboard site

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Left: Phil Everly, Chris Isaak and Michele Branch | Right: The Master of the Telecaster James Burton with Lyle Lovett

From Not Fading Away: From Left: Musicians Raul Malo, Boz Scaggs, Graham Nash, Gabe Saporta,
Paul Anka, Victoria Asher, Waddy Wachtel, Chris Isaak, manager/record producer Peter Asher,
Michelle Branch, Lyle Lovett, Shawn Colvin, and Patrick Stump
celebrate what would have been Buddy Holly's 75 birthday at The Music Box Theatre on September 7

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The set list: Stevie Nicks - "Not Fade Away" Lyle Lovett - "Well … All Right" Lyle Lovett w/ James Burton - "I'm Looking for Someone to Love" Shawn Colvin - "Learning the Game" Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy - "Everyday," "Oh Boy" Chris Isaak - "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" Michelle Branch w/Graham Nash - "Words of Love" Graham Nash - "Raining in My Heart" Graham Nash & Peter Asher - "Take Your Time" Boz Scaggs - "Maybe Baby" Boz Scaggs, Graham Nash & Peter Asher - "Rave On" Raul Malo - "Listen to Me" Michelle Branch & Chris Isaak - "Heartbeat" Gabe Saporta & Victoria Asher of Cobra Starship - "Peggy Sue" Gabe Saporta & Patrick Stump - "Think It Over" Paul Anka - "I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore" Stevie Nicks - "It's So Easy" Raul Malo - "True Love Ways" Malo, Colvin, Lovett, Everly, Branch and ensemble - "That'll Be The Day"

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LOS ANGELES -- September 7, 2011, marks the 75th birthday of the great Buddy Holly.  In only 18 months, from when Buddy Holly and the Crickets hit the charts with their first release, "That'll Be The Day," to when he died in a tragic plane crash, Holly topped the charts with more than 27 Top 40 hits worldwide, with "That'll Be The Day" going to No. 1. Even after his death, Holly went to No. 1 with "It Doesn't Matter Anymore." From rock to country to R&B, Holly's songs have charted consistently for more than 50 years, proving that his music and his influence continue today. Brian Wilson said it simply:  "Buddy Holly is unique... his music matters because it is timeless."

Holly died on February 3, 1959, often referred to as "the day the music died," the event some believe was immortalized in the 1971 song "American Pie" by Don McLean. But even in his short time, Buddy Holly changed the sound and look of rock 'n' roll forever, leaving a permanent standard that continues to influence artists all over the world.  As Jackson Browne recently said:  "That wasn't the day the music died…it was the day the music became immortal."

Holly was raised on country and bluegrass music and started in a duo known as "Buddy & Bob" until Elvis Presley's fired-up rockabilly sound pointed him in the direction he would create, master and define. The Texas native then blended blues and R&B into his own style, resulting in some of the most innovative music ever recorded.

In an era when most artists performed songs penned by others, Buddy Holly and his band were one of the first four-piece rock 'n' roll band (two guitars, bass and drums) that wrote, arranged, played and recorded their own songs in the studio. Instead of using studio musicians, they put out their music, their way. With this seemingly simple change, Holly created a new blueprint for past, present and future rock 'n' roll bands around the world.

Holly also was one of the first artists to tour with his band as a self-contained unit performing his hits before live audiences and on national television shows around the world. He captivated U.S. audiences with repeat performances on The Ed Sullivan Show, performing his hits "That'll Be The Day" and "Peggy Sue" on their first appearance, and "Oh Boy" on their second.

Before there was a British Invasion led by the Beatles in America in 1964, there was an American Invasion led by Buddy Holly in England. In 1958, Holly toured England for a month playing over 50 performances. He appeared on the two top TV shows, "Sunday Night At the Palladium" and "Live At The BBC."  These personal appearances and TV broadcasts were the first exposure of an American rock and roll band to the youth of England.  After bleak post-war years, Holly's energy and style triggered a musical revolution in England and seeded the British Invasion that took place six years later in 1964.

The Beatles took their name in tribute to Buddy Holly and the Crickets. When it came down to the business of learning how to work with the mechanics of writing songs, Holly's pure-and-simple three-chord melodies and "words of love" were a major influence and inspiration to John Lennon and Paul McCartney.  Notably, five years to the day after Holly was buried, on February 7, 1964, the Beatles landed at JFK Airport in New York City and ushered in the British Invasion that changed popular music forever.   Peter (Asher) and Gordon, who were inspired by Holly from the moment they formed their duo, made Holly's "True Love Ways" a worldwide hit a year later.   Holly's legacy has been enduring and meteoric ever since.

Had Holly lived, he would have been 75 on September 7th.   This notable day serves as the backdrop and the launch of a year-long celebration of his music and his musical legacy.  To start this celebration, on the eve of Holly's 75th birthday Verve Forecast and Songmasters release Listen to Me: Buddy Holly on September 6, 2011. Produced by the GRAMMY® Award-winning Peter Asher, a diverse group of leading contemporary artists from three generations recorded their favorite Buddy Holly songs.  Asher encouraged these artists to create a modern authentic rendition by adding their own artistic signatures. Rock legends such as Ringo Starr, Brian Wilson, Jeff Lynne, Stevie Nicks and Jackson Browne are joined by contemporary artists The Fray, Zooey Deschanel, Patrick Stump, Cobra Starship, Imelda May, Natalie Merchant, Pat Monahan and Chris Isaak.  The one and only Eric Idle, of Monty Python fame, has also contributed a track.  Each has created a track that continues the artistic evolution of Holly's music, both true and new.

On September 7 – Buddy's birthday – will be officially declared "Buddy Holly Day in Los Angeles."  Holly's much-deserved star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame will be unveiled as a permanent public monument to this iconic artist. The event will be star-studded in many respects, including a rare appearance by Maria Elena Holly (Holly's widow) speaking on his behalf, along with Phil Everly, Peter Asher, Gary Busey and surprise guests that are expected to honor a true legend.  Phil and Don Everly (Everly Brothers) were close friends of Holly's and played many shows together.  Peter (Asher) and Gordon, who were inspired by Holly from the moment they formed their duo, made Holly's "True Love Ways" a worldwide hit.  In 1978, Gary Busey starred as Holly in The Buddy Holly Story and was later nominated for an Academy Award® for his portrayal. The film won the Academy Award® for Best Adaptation Score.

Later that evening, the celebration moves to The Music Box in Hollywood for a special invitation-only concert and birthday party with special guest performances of Holly's music by many artists who have been influenced by and love Holly's music, as well as friends and family members from Holly's life. The concert event will be filmed in HD for a PBS special airing in December 2011. Artists confirmed include: Paul Anka, Michelle Branch, Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, Raul Malo, Graham Nash, Stevie Nicks, Boz Scaggs, Patrick Stump and more.

The celebration continues through to the spring of 2012 with many activities meant to remember and extend other key elements of Holly's legacy.  Not only an outstanding artist, he was a visionary in the business of music, having created the first label, called Prism, to promote independent recording artists.  His widow, Maria Elena Holly, has remarked that Buddy was committed to helping young artists succeed, as he had.  To this end, this year-long celebration continues with several programs supporting the development of the next generation of music's greats--both as artists and as entrepreneurs.  Three music industry charities - The GRAMMY® Foundation, the Songwriters' Hall of Fame, and Artists House Music -- will benefit from this celebration hosted by Songmasters and its partners.

Holly continues to be an essential component of rock 'n' roll's historical catalog as seen from the continuous sales of his Buddy Holly: Millennium Collection, which is the No. 1 seller of the Holly catalog, and recently released Buddy Holly: ICON. More than fifty-two years later, new fans continue to discover the genius of Holly and his accolades continue to grow. This year, Rolling Stone magazine positioned Buddy Holly as No. 13 on their "100 Greatest Artists of All Time" poll. Today, Holly's classic recorded music catalog is managed by Universal Music Enterprises (UME).

Ringo Starr recently remarked, "In all of rock 'n roll history, he's in the top 10!" Buddy Holly's remarkable legacy is a reflection of the true artistry, vision, heart, and hard work that catapulted him to achieve not only great success, but to also leave an indelible stamp on popular music that thrives to this day.

11th annual Corn MAiZE  pays tribute to Buddy Holly James and Patti Simpson have been planning and preparing the 11th annual Corn MAiZE for months, and now they're ready to unveil it. "We try to make the design something that is regional, you know, that people in our area would recognize," James Simpson said.  "And so it has to do with Texas Tech or farming or, you know, Buddy Holly! And with this being his 75th birthday coming up, it worked out real good!" The MAiZE will be open to the public September 10th until November 26th. Everyone is invited to come out and enjoy the maze as well as the hay rides, barn yard animals and cow train rides. MAiZE admission is $8 and Non-MAiZE admission is $4. Children 4 and younger are admitted free. The MAiZE is open to the public Fridays from 5-9 p.m., Saturdays 10 a.m. - 9 p.m. and Sundays from 2- 9 p.m. Flashlights are recommended after dark. Located north of Lubbock at Shallowater. For more information visit atldofarms.com.

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Buddy Holly, The Missing Take
By Alanna Nash
VanityFair.com ~ January 29 2009 An ad in a boxing poster style from one of the first shows that Allen photographed.
January 19, 1958; Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY.
Fifty years ago next week, on February 3, 1959, the chartered plane carrying singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, fell out of the Iowa sky and crashed into the heart of rock legend. Holly was 22, and his death, coming as his career suffered its own kind of tailspin, became a metaphor for the end of ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll.Holly’s visage—an open, geeky face set off by the kind of heavy, black-framed glasses that Elvis Costello would later recast as cool—is well-known. But VanityFair.com has unearthed a number of fresh images, most of them never before published in America, that point up the private side of the Lubbock, Texas, native, and the toll that incessant touring took on the young musician.

Lew Allen was an 18-year old photography major when he toted his camera to the Auditorium Theatre in Rochester, N.Y., on January 19, 1958. The shy, lanky novice, lugging his 4x5 Speed Graphic camera and a 16-pound electronic flash through the snow, hoped to get some shots of Holly, the Everly Brothers, and other stars of the “Rock Party” tour to satisfy an assignment for his photo class at the Rochester Institute of Technology. Instead, he ended up bringing home what Holly’s widow, Maria Elena Holly, would tell him were some of the finest pictures ever shot of the innovative songwriter-performer.

Arriving early, before the stars’ buses pulled in, Allen found the stage manager and showed him the candid shots of Elvis Presley he’d taken a year earlier at home in Cleveland. Impressed, the stage manager waved Allen through.

“I stepped up the stairs of one of the buses,” remembers Allen, now 69 and living in Phoenix, “and I couldn’t see any faces, because I’d just been outside in the bright sunlight and the snow, and it was dark in there. So I just pointed my camera and took a shot.”

What he got was a spectacular image of Holly, seeming dazed and somehow pre-dead, hurtling toward his own private destination, as his fellow musicians—Crickets drummer Jerry Allison, Frank Maffei of Danny and the Juniors, and Judy Shepherd of the Shepherd Sisters—animatedly swirled around him in pre-show repartee.

Allen would photograph Holly again the following October 15 at Rochester’s Community War Memorial, and most of his images of the rocker from both sessions--posing with a young fan, killing time backstage with his co-stars, raving across the stage—carry a sort of tender naivete of the era, as opposed to the cryptic, brooding, noir feeling of the bus shot.

The most telling image, however, is one Allen took outside the bus, as Holly steps down between the coaches. In both photos, Holly appears pulled out of time. But here he’s a dead man walking, holding a Continental Airlines bag, already packed for his destiny in an Iowa cornfield the following winter.

Allen, who still works part-time as both a photographer and a stadium usher (“more for fun than money”), is unsung in America. But in Europe, where his book, Elvis & the Birth of Rock, was published in 2006, his photographs are often displayed in museum exhibitions, including two current showings at the Proud Gallery in London and the Leinster Gallery in Dublin.

Still, at first not even Allen knew what a good eye he had. After his days at RIT, “I had rejected all those pictures, put them away in a box, and didn’t even think about them for 40 years, because they technically weren’t of the modern style that I learned in college. They were single-lit flash pictures, very flat, without a great deal of tonal value.”

But they were excellent for their time. And today they remain sharp, large-negative windows on a snapshot world of old that refuses, as Holly might have said it, to “Not Fade Away.”

Buddy Holly with Sam Donahue and his Orchestra.  January 19, 1958; Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY. .

Buddy Holly and friends backstage. Left to right:  Dion DiMucci, Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Duane Eddy.  October 15, 1958; Community War Memorial, Rochester, NY.

Buddy Holly and Don Everly backstage.  January 19, 1958; Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY. . .

Buddy Holly arriving via bus (in center). Left to right in foreground:  Frank Maffei (Danny and the Juniors), Jerry Allison (Crickets),  Judy Shepherd (Shepherd sisters).  January 19, 1958; Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY.

. Buddy Holly with Continental Airlines flight bag. January 19, 1958;  Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY. Photograph by Lew Allen.

Buddy Holly and unknown child.  January 19, 1958; Auditorium Theatre, Rochester, NY . .