On this day in 1936, Charles Hardin Holley, known to the world as the great rock 'n' roll

singer/songwriter Buddy Holly, was born in Lubbock, Texas.

In high school, Holly teamed with friend Bob Montgomery to form the country/bluegrass

duo Buddy & Bob. After Elvis Presley made it big, Holly decided to concentrate on

rockabilly and was discovered by Tennessee agent Eddie Crandall. Decca Records

signed Holly as a solo performer in 1956, but he attracted little attention.

Dropped by Decca, Holly teamed up with independent producer Norman Petty in 1956.

Under Petty's management, and on the Brunswick label, Holly and his band, the

Crickets, issued the Holly-written "That'll Be The Day" (named after a John Wayne saying

in his film "The Searchers"). After the band performed the tune on "American Bandstand,"

it went to #3 in the U.S. and #1 in the U.K.

Holly and the Crickets appeared on "The Ed Sullivan Show," just before their next hit,

"Peggy Sue," also went to #3. Holly was immediately recognizable because of his

unique voice, skillful guitar work and trademark horn-rimmed glasses. "Oh Boy" was

released as the Crickets -- Holly gave the band principal credit from time to time -- hit the

top 10 in 1957.

Holly and Petty were among the first artists to use double-tracking on the

Holly-composed "Words of Love." The pair also experimented with close-mic-ing

techniques.

In 1958, the band scored more hits with "Maybe Baby," "Think It Over"/"Fool's Paradise"

and "Rave On."

Later that year, Holly disbanded the Crickets, parted ways with Petty and enjoyed quick

chart success with "Early In The Morning" and "Heartbeat."

In early 1959, Holly began the "Winter Dance Party" tour on which he shared the bill with

the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens and Dion & the Belmonts. On Feb. 3, after the tour's

11th gig, Holly, the Big Bopper and Valens were killed when the plane they chartered to

take them to their next date crashed in Iowa.

Holly's music and legacy lived on as he enjoyed a number of posthumous hits in the U.K.

during the '60s. His popularity there greatly influenced the Beatles and other beat

groups. In 1976, Paul McCartney (who had purchased the rights to Holly's song

catalogue) commemorated Holly's 40th birthday by beginning Buddy Holly Week in the

U.K.

In 1986, Holly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (in its inaugural year)

and the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Holly's music has continued to thrive in the '90s. The collection Words of Love

debuted at #1 in the U.K. He was honored with a tribute CD, notfadeaway:

remembering buddy holly, which included Holly songs sung by Los Lobos, Dave

Edmunds and Steve Earle.

As folk/rock singer Don McLean sang in his 1971 hit "American Pie," the plane crash that

claimed Holly's life was, for many, "the day the music died."

Other birthdays: Alfa Anderson (Chic), 52; Gloria Gaynor, 49; Chrissie Hynde

(Pretenders), 47; Brad Houser (Edie Brickell and the New Bohemians), 38; Chris Acland

(Lush), 32 ... Eazy-E (N.W.A), 1973-1995.