Buddy Holly’s Brother Fondly Remembers How “That’ll Be The Day” Was Created

Buddy Holly’s Brother Fondly Remembers How “That’ll Be The Day” Was Created | I Love Classic Rock Videos

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My Brother, Buddy

Buddy Holly was 10 years old when his brother, Larry, had returned home from the service. Both siblings admired each other deeply. Larry saw the “genius” in Buddy, while the young musician thought that his brother “hung the moon,” as an infantry man. The former Marine had never heard rock ‘n’ roll music until his little brother started playing his guitar.

In an interview with Voices of History, Larry Holley recalls early memories with his brother and how some of the world’s most historic music was made. “Me and Buddy was close,” he says as he opens up about the creation of “That’ll Be The Day.”  

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The Crickets

Before they officially became The Crickets, Jerry Allison, Joe. B, and Buddy Holly would hang out just like teenagers do. They went to go see The Searchers (1956), according to Larry, and the musicians were inspired to write “That’ll Be The Day.”

Larry remembers,“They got together and they went to that movie- Johny Wayne, where he would say ‘That’ll be the day, that’ll be the day.’ And they said ‘let’s make a song like that’ and they made it just overnight. I was with them when they cut it, the first time I heard it. “

Buddy’s brother understood the significance of the music that was being made by The Crickets and knew it was something brand new. Larry has nothing but admiration for his talented brother and remembers the details of Buddy’s contribution to rock- vividly…

“Buddy wasn’t after a bunch of money. He wanted to be understood and people to recognize what he could do. That’s what he wanted more than anything.”

“That’ll Be The Day,” was first recorded by Buddy Holly and The Three Tunes in 1956, and then with The Crickets in 1957. It was released on the album, The Chirping Crickets in May of 1957. The song was certified gold by the RIAA in 1969 and was inducted into the Grammy Hall of Fame in 1998. “That’ll Be the Day” was added to the National Recording Registry in 2005 for it’s “culturally, historically, or aesthetically important” contribution to life in the United States.

Truly a masterpiece.