Buddy Holly: Biography (67 page)

“Witchcraft,” a record: BG, “JA—Part One,” p. 13.

Finally they consulted an: G&B, RB, p. 53.

someone proposed the Grasshoppers:
Ibid.

Jerry later denied that they: BG, “JA—Part One,” p. 13.

insect that made noise:
Ibid.

“make a happy sound: RB, p. 53.

collaboration with his mother: EH quoted in Skinner, “A Meeting.”

for Buddy Knox to cover: G&B, RB, p. 55.

Petty offered to take: G&B, RB, p. 55.

Petty wanted a cut: BG, “JN,” p. 6.

“We couldn’t lose,”: BH interview with Freeman Hoover, 11/2/57.

no one in the band: BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 1,” p. 4.

He called on Columbia: BG, RM, 9/85, p. 8.

his office as dog meat: Dannen,
Hit Men,
p. 62.

“The girl has no distinctive: Francis,
Who’s Sorry Now,
p. 59.

Though Petty later denied it: Quoted in Brooks and Malcolm, “NP—Part 2, RM 38, 9/85, p. 8: “I did not meet Ahmet Ertegun [of Atlantic] and Jerry Wexler until after we already had two or three hits with Buddy, then they came through New Mexico and wanted to hear some tapes.” The historical record is anything but clear on exactly how Petty proceeded to dispose of “That’ll Be the Day” in New York. Bob Thiele says in BG, RM 24, 9/82, p. 16, “the master had already been turned down by Jerry Wexler at Atlantic Records, Mitch Miller at Columbia, and Joe Carlton at RCA [when] Murray Deutch stormed into my office.” Deutch told G&B, RB, p. 56, that it was he who peddled the demo to the record companies.

Atlantic’s Jerry Wexler and: Ward, “The Fifties,” ROA, p. 154.

affiliated with Peer-Southern: Berry, “NP Recordings Put Clovis on Map,” p. 6.

Deutch wanted a fifty-fifty: Deutch quoted in G&B, RB, p. 56.

He rang Bob Thiele: Thiele, liner notes,
BH,
LP, MCA-25239.

Thiele invited Deutch:
Ibid.

“Please, I don’t want any money: BG, “18 Interviews (all at once),” p. 4.

“Let’s go! It’s great!”: Thiele, liner notes,
BH.

“$150 per side and: “Creativity in Clovis,” p. 37.

“I like to think:
Off the Record,
p. 61.

Petty couldn’t believe that: BG, RM, 9/85, p. 8.

“right here on this:
Ibid.,
pp. 8–9.

“Unfortunately, it wasn’t that: Thiele, liner notes,
BH.

Rachmil and vice president Leonard: G&B, RB, p. 56.

“junk”:
Ibid.

Thiele to be insane: BG,
R50,
10/92, p. 12.

“Fuck it … fire me:
Off the Record,
p. 61.

kind of trash-basket label: Thiele, “A Sweet Acquaintance,” RM 24, 9/82, p. 16; G&B, RB, p. 56.

He struck Deutch as: RBHS.

“kind of like going: BH quoted in Shelton, “Southwest’s Only Major Recording Studio Operated by Clovis Musician,”
Amarillo News-Globe,
12/20/59, p. 4-C.

Hi Pockets … appalled when: ACOB.

Neal angrily exclaimed: JN quoted in BG, “JN,” p. 6.

Buddy shrugged it off: BH quoted by JN,
Ibid.

invest some of your own:
Ibid.

shareholder, that he’d finally: JBM quoted in G&B, RB, p. 115.

“He sat there for hours: Author interview with Jerry Coleman.

“He had a terrible:
Ibid.

“He liked pizzas real: BG, “Mrs. Holley,” p. 3.

Steak was another favorite:
Ibid.

okra dipped in a cornmeal: MEH quoted in BG, “Maria Elena,” RM 5, 12/77, p. 7.

about a scraping process: Author interview with Jerry Coleman.

On Coleman’s nineteenth birthday: Jerry Coleman quoted in BG, “KLLL radio,” RM 7, 6/78, p. 7.

Brunswick on March 19, 1957: BG, “Tour Schedules,” p. 3.

donate a whopping 40 percent: G&B, RB, p. 60.

Jerry was lolling on: LH quoted in BG, “1981 BHMS Convention,” RM 21, 12/81, p. 23.

Petty gave Buddy some: BHTLL, p. 93.

Determined to build some: TBIK.

to handle a truck:
Ibid.

this was the moment he:
Ibid.

They dashed to a: BG, “Gary and Ramona Tollett,” p. 7.

they asked Petty if: BG, RM, 9/85, p. 11.

Buddy was an inveterate: Author interview with MEH.

they were all helping each other: BG, RM, 9/85, p. 11.

Petty expected them to keep: Author interview with Billy Stull.

“Share and share alike: Author interview with MEH.

could be put on salary: G&B, RB, p. 58.

his musicians like dogs:
Ibid.

65–35 percent split:
Ibid.

Ray Ruff, a musician: Jackson, “Ray Ruff,” R50, 2/92, p. 19.

a male lover who was: Author interview with NS; PN, “BH: The Girl,” p. 36.

“I can’t believe it: Author interview with NS; PN, “Secret BH: Honeymoon,” p. 52; PN, “Secret BH: Girl Who,” p. 35.

“ludicrous. Guys tell each: Author interview with SC.

and sit in his car: G&B, RB, p. 64.

assuming they’d finally finished: JBM quoted in BHTLL, p. 94.

more time on “Words of Love”:
Ibid.

“laid, lovingly and well”: Amburn,
Pearl: The Obsessions and Passions of Janis Joplin,
p. 165.

a favor for Bob: Thiele, “A Sweet Acquaintance.”

Thiele once told Griggs:
Ibid.

finally convinced Southern Music: NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 2,” RM 7, 6/78, p. 3.

Someone at the publishing: G&B, RB, p. 65.

Diamonds’ cover of “Words: Nite,
Rock On,
p. 183; G&B, RB, p. 65.

a mere one thousand units: Ward, “Fifties,” ROA, p. 154.

cosigning the loan papers: TBIK.

under the beating it:
Ibid.

hair started turning gray:
Ibid.

Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts:
McNeil,
Total Television,
p. 740.

twelve percent of CBS’s: Metz,
Reflections in a Bloodshot Eye,
cited in McNeil,
Total Television,
p. 56.

wracking pain he suffered: McNeil,
Total Television, Ibid.

cost him his reputation:
Ibid.

LaRosa, whom he fired:
Ibid.

Archie Bleyer, whom Godfrey:
Ibid.

uttered a mild expletive: G&B, RB, p. 47.

managed somehow to contact: DE quoted in Roger White’s
Walk Right Back
cited in BG, RM.

He was aware that Don:
Ibid.

“Not Fade Away” for the: PN,
Road Goes On Forever,
p. 37.

turned down “Not Fade Away.”:
Ibid.;
DE quoted in KL, “Everly Brothers,”
TRSI,
p. 145.

he was afraid people: DE quoted in Roger White’s
Walk Right Back,
cited in BG, RM.

“it was nice of:
Ibid.

“Buddy wrote ‘Not Fade Away’: PN,
Road Goes On Forever,
p. 37.

“Ever’body had their: Author interview with LH.

“There comes old Turkey Neck”:
Ibid.

“Lubbock is a very jealous town”:
Ibid.

On May 16, 1957: BG, “Tour Schedules,” p. 3.

Crickets their usual pay: Author interview with MEH.

“Vi only showed me: Author interview with BG, who told me that Robert Linville also “says Norman played the celesta on ‘Everyday.’”

slapping on his knees: JA quoted in BG, “JA,” RM 10, p. 8.

“Holly’s deepest, wisest, and:
Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock ’n’ Roll,
Miller, ed., p. 79.

Petty went to Nashville: G&B, RB, p. 57.

“Only thing I minded about: Author interview with SC.

repeatedly playing a catchy: BHTLL, pp. 90–93.

“Tell me how,”:
Ibid.,
p. 93.

Buddy Knox remembers sitting: Quoted in BG, “18 Interviews (all at once),” RM 20, 9/81, p. 4.

Holly would play rhythm: Knox quoted in BG, “Buddy Knox,” RM 14, 3/80, p. 6.

consecutively for twenty minutes: Tom Clay quoted in BG, “‘Guy King,’” RM 15, 6/80, p. 14.

he might very well:
Ibid.

such as Buffalo and Cleveland:
Ibid.

103-degree heat [and subsequent references to 7/57 heat wave]: LAJ, 7/2, 7/8, 7/17, 7/25.

after Buddy’s niece: BG, “Mrs. Holley,” p. 6.

“Cindy Lou” had a Latin: NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 2,” RM 7, 6/78, p. 3.

it was a dud:
Ibid.;
Miller, “NS,” RM 30, Spring/84, p. 22.

Jaye P. Morgan’s “Dawn,”: JA quoted in BHTTL, p. 94.

“beat the tar out: BG, “Bill Pickering,” RM 21, 12/81, p. 6.

move his instruments into: NS quoted by Miller, “NS,” p. 22.

that Jerry should play paradiddles: NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 2,” p. 3; PS quoted in BG, “PS,” p. 4; JA quoted in BHTTL, p. 94.

Jerry asked Buddy if they: NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 2,” p. 3; PS quoted in BG, “PS,” p. 4.

had recently feuded and: Author interview with PS.

“Jerry wanted to do:
Ibid.

moved her to Sacramento: BG,
Who’s Who.

sustain the steady drumming: PS in “Dick Clark’s Golden Greats,” a video tape; almost identical version, PS in BG, “PS,” p. 4; NS quoted in Miller, “NS,” p. 22.

“a snare drum with: “JA,” R 10, p. 8.

instructed Niki to kneel: NS quoted in Miller, “NS,” p. 22; NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 2,” p. 3.

Buddy played all six: NS quoted in BHTLL, p. 94.

used nothing but downstrokes: BHTLL, p. 81.

jiggered the volume on Jerry’s mike: BHTLL, p. 94; JA quoted in BG, “JA—Part One,” p. 9.

Jerry made a mistake: JA quoted in G&B, RB, p. 76.

on the next take:
Ibid.

Only twenty minutes: NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 2,” p. 3.

“There is something
perfect
: P. 36.

Buddy and Jerry cowrote: “NS—Part 2,” p. 3.

generated the song ideas: P. 64.

dropped off the first: “NP,” RM 37, 7/85, p. 11.

lyrics and a bridge:
Ibid.

they were vulnerable, unsophisticated: NS quoted in G&B, RB, p. 63.

Originally entitled “Alla My Love,”: BG,
Who’s Who.

were deliriously happy: Tilghman quoted in G&B, RB, p. 79.

Buddy’s cough, which is: BG, “Strange Things in Buddy’s Songs,”
R50,
12/88, p. 23.

Larry suggested they knock: TBIK; LH quoted in BG, “1981 BHMS Convention,” p. 23.

someone at Brunswick:
Ibid.

Philadelphia snapped up sixteen thousand: Thiele, liner notes,
BH

a check for $500: LH quoted in BG, “1981 BHMS Convention,” p. 23.

But surely that was: TBIK.

“Performance is better than: Cited in G&B, RB, p. 68.

This was proof: Quoted in BG, “Gary & Ramona Tollett,” p. 9.

a congratulatory wire from: NS quoted in G&B, p. 68.

they were too groggy:
Ibid.

“We’ve got a manager,” [and subsequent dialogue]: NP quoted in Brooks and Malcolm, “NP—Part 2,” RM 38, 9/85, p. 5.

“glorified babysitting job,”:
Ibid.

certainly not get married: Author interview with MEH.

unsolicited and resented: NP quoted in Brooks and Malcolm, “NP—Part 2,” p. 5.

Later Petty admitted:
Ibid.

depended on Buddy’s father:
Ibid,
p. 7.

surrounded by people who: Author interview with LH, who said, “Buddy was just a wild kid, baby of the family, spoiled.”

one of the earliest DJs: BG, RM 10, 3/78.

Chapter 7

“Around the World”: Fox,
Showtime at the Apollo,
p. 206.

The Crickets received $1,000: Author interview with SC.

mother had been pegging: SC in ACOB.

flight from Amarillo to:
Ibid.

from Petty to carry: Marsh and Bernard,
New Book of Rock Lists,
p. 16.

stayed at the Edison:
Ibid.

congratulated them on their: NP quoted in G&B, RB, p. 71.

in a 1995 interview, Niki: Author interview with NS.

“The Crickets had their: SC in ACOB.

“kind of a heroes’ welcome,”:
Ibid.

“We were introduced to:
Ibid.

they went to Philadelphia:
Ibid.

aback when the Cadillacs: JA quoted in BG, “JA—Part One,” p. 12.

Barlow’s group had broken: JA quoted in BG, “Did the Crickets Sue the Crickets?” RM, Summer/84, p. 11.

Buddy tried to explain: Freeman Hoover interview, 11/2/57, Denver.

one-hit wonders: JBM quoted in RBHS.

McPhatter, the headliner, befriended:
Ibid.

“nerves” and lost his: Author interview with NS.

Diagnosed with laryngitis: NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 1,” p. 3.

None of the Crickets professed: NP, Brooks and Malcolm, “NP—Part 2,” p. 7.

Niki was scared: NS quoted in BG and Bonner, “NS—Part 1,” p. 3.

When Petty joined the tour: G&B, RB, p. 116.

“Anyone can sing those songs.”:
Ibid.

Niki and Jerry’s personalities: NP quoted in Brooks and Malcolm, “NP—Part 2,” p. 9; G&B, RB, p. 83.

did nothing to alleviate: NS quoted in G&B, RB, p. 83.

always side with Jerry: NP quoted in Brooks and Malcolm, “NP—Part 2,” p. 9.

everyone wanted Niki out.: G&B, RB, p. 83.

Gibson electric was stolen: NS quoted in BHTLL, p. 96.

the Royal audience was: JA quoted in BG, “JA—Part One,” p. 13.

heaved a bottle at a black girl: NS quoted in Miller, “NS,” p. 23.

sixteen-hundred-seat Apollo: Fox,
Showtime,
p. 17.

“Uptown, the Apollo was: Holiday with Dufty,
Lady Sings the Blues,
p. 39.

could shatter what little: G&B, RB, p. 85.

Lone Star lout:
Ibid.,
p. 86.

miracle of gentleness:
Ibid.;
BG, “Spotlight on Dick Jacobs,” R50, 10/92, p. 13.