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Won a prize at five years old in a local talent show when he sang "Down the River of Memories."
After competing in an audition, 16-year-old Buddy and his best friend Bob Montgomery won the opportunity to perform every Sunday on a local radio station in Lubbock, Texas.
The trio of Buddy Holly, Bob Montgomery and Larry Welborn opened for Elvis Presley when he performed in Lubbock.
At age 19, Buddy signed a recording contract with Decca Records.
On August 25, 1957, Buddy made his national debut on the television sensation American Bandstand.
Buddy performed on The Ed Sullivan Show in December 1957.
His sold-out tours in Wales, Australia and England helped spread the new rock sound to young fans everywhere, including John Lennon and Eric Clapton.
In 1958, Buddy had four songs simultaneously in the top 40 on the British charts.
Buddy was the headliner for the Midwestern tour Winter Dance Party, which also featured Dion and the Belmonts, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper and Frankie Sardo.
He was post-humously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame at it's inagural ceremony on January 23, 1986.
The Buddy Holly Story, a best-of album that has been in production since 1959, is certified gold (500,000 copies sold).
In 1976, Paul McCartney kicked off the inagural "Buddy Holly Week."
Buddy is a post-humous recipient of the Unlimited Immortals of Jazz Award.
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