You’ve probably heard Buddy Holly referenced in a song or in pop culture, but how much do you really know about him? Holly was a central figure in rock and roll in the 1950s and was highly influential. However, despite the fact that Holly spent a considerable amount of time in the spotlight and under the scrutiny of the public eye, there are still some things that many people don’t know. With that in mind, here we present our list of 15 things you probably didn’t know about Buddy Holly. Check out part one below, and stay tuned for part two, coming soon!
Number Fifteen: He Was Not Always Buddy Holly. Buddy Holly was actually born with the name Charles Hardin Holley. he was born in Lubbock, Texas, and he had three older siblings. He earned his nickname of “Buddy” in early childhood.
Number Fourteen: Every Single One of His Family Members Was Involved in Music Except One. Except for his father, all of Holly’s family was musically inclined. His older brothers were often part of local talent shows.
Number Thirteen: He Abandoned Piano Lessons. Holly began taking piano lessons when he was 11 years old. However, he quit after nine months when he saw one of his classmates playing guitar and was instantly enamored.
Number Twelve: He Has a Diverse Set of Influences. When he was young, Holly was greatly influenced by the music of Hank Williams, Jimmie Rodgers, and Bob Wills. Later on in his career, Holly would often listen to blues and R&B on the radio, and the two contrasting genres combined to influence his later style of music.
Number Eleven: He Opened for Elvis. Holly pursued music as a full-time career after he graduated high school. He opened for Elvis in February of 1955, along with several other occasions after that.
Number Ten: His Last Name Is “Holley.” Holly began going by “Holly” after a record producer misspelled his name from “Holley” to “Holly” on his contract. From then on, he stuck with the name “Buddy Holly.”
Number Nine: He Proposed on a First Date. Holly proposed to Maria Elena Santiago on their first date. She said yes, and they got married on August 15, 1958.