Despite his death 59 years ago next month, the memory of rock and roll legend Buddy Holly is alive and and well thanks to one of Tyneside’s most talented musicians.
On Saturday 3rd February, Newcastle based musician Jamie Bell will perform a special live set with his band, The Baldy Holly Band to commemorate the 59th anniversary of the deaths of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. The date of 3rd February was immortalised in Don Maclean’s classic song American Pie as the “day the music died.” The concert at Longbenton’s Innisfree Social Club will feature music from all three legends and is sure to be a fitting tribute to the rock and roll idols.
Jamie and his band have had a number of successful tours of the United States including a visit to Buddy’s hometown of Lubbock, Texas, for what would’ve been Buddy’s 80th birthday. Jamie visited the Buddy Holly Centre and was invited to perform several songs for the singer’s family. He also featured in several Texan newspapers and TV stations and the band was invited to perform in and around the Clear Lake, Winter Dance Party celebrations , where the friends played their final show before tragically boarding the aircraft that was destined to crash killing all onboard.
“The music really did die when Buddy’s aircraft crashed at Clear Lake in the cold winter of February 1959,” said Jamie. “ We wanted to keep their names alive and to do something special as a tribute on this famous date. We decided to show everyone that their music hasn’t died by doing this special show on the anniversary.
“ Buddy, Ritchie and the Big Bopper were very young when they tragically passed away, but they left us with a huge legacy of music.”
That legacy was certainly appreciated by Buddy’s family as his now late brother Travis explained to Jamie on a recent trip to Lubbock.
“He told me that the Holly family held a debt of gratitude to the British public as Buddy was never fully appreciated in the United States like he was in the UK. He wanted me to let everyone know how grateful his family were to the British for keeping his brother’s name alive all of these years. This is one of the reasons why we are putting on this special evening on the day the music died.’
Tickets for the evening are available on the door at just £3.