Buddy Holly: His Life and Music

by John Goldrosen

The Death of a Rock Singer--The Birth of a Legend John J. Goldrosen's brilliantly researched biography will never be surpassed, for he spent two years putting together the real Buddy Holly story--from his childhood in Lubbock, Texas, throughout each stages of his career to eventual stardom, and to the fatal crash remembered in Don McLean's words as 'the day the music died.'

Genres: Music

258 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1979

Reviews

[Damir · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a book to read for the pleasure of reading, more of a book if you are just curious about Buddy Holly’s life and career. It has every detail, the different opinions about conflicting topics, and interviews with his close ones. The book is in a constant tension and build up into its ending chapters, which carry more emotions, and the author fulfills his 3 main goals of the book: show Buddy as a regular guy, not a star, present the real facts of his life, and make a case of his musical talent and legacy.

I would recommend it to anyone who is interested in Buddy Holly.

[gazoo · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bespeckled, awkward and gawky kid with enough talent, backbone and restless determination to cut a new groove in the annals of rock and roll. Its just mystifying how much Buddy did for music and upcoming artists in such a short period. And to think he was trying to figure out what road to travel next when his sound hadn't even matured enough. The crash was the day the music died in a way. Loved the journey from his humble beginnings, the passion to get heard and recorded, his own influences and just how messy the music business was as it also continued to mature. I would have scored the book a bit higher but i felt there could have been more digging to get under the surface of buddy's personality (which i imagine would have been difficult with such a quick passing). The musicology aspect of the book is great. Rave on Buddy.