Buddy Holly died 50 years and 3 days ago. He was 22. (Thanks to my mom for reminding me of this anniversary.)
He got as close as anyone has to the essence of rock 'n' roll: saying a lot with the sparest of elements, and not caring if you seem like a bit of a fool as long as you say what you mean.
No one will ever do what he did. Sure, there are imitators -- he's very easy to imitate. But no one can do it with that purity and innocence anymore. There will always have to be a layer of irony or allusion.
Of course, there were many legendary originators of rock from the '50s. But his is one of the most enduring voices. I'd rank him, Little Richard, Chuck Berry, and Elvis Presley in a class of their own.
And no one else had so much potential cut off.
As far as I'm concerned, rock music hasn't really progressed that much from "Peggy Sue." So let's listen to some of those who've carried on the 50-year lineage of simple nerd rock:
Talking Heads - "And She Was" ...
Weezer - "Buddy Holly" ...
They Might Be Giants - "Don't Let's Start" ...
Camera Obscura - "Let's Get out of This Country" ...
Ben Gibbard (Death Cab for Cutie) - "I Will Follow You into the Dark."
*
* "Holley" is the correct spelling of his real name; he went by "Holly" due to a misprint in his recording contract.
(Photo by "jeebasmoka" from Wikimedia Commons.)
UPDATE: My mom suggests another song.
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