Buddy Holly and his Music Trivia Quiz

Answer: Texas

Buddy Holly was born in a small town called Lubbock in Texas. It is a very flat featureless landscape there. When he was born his name was Charles Hardin Holley with an e. The change of spelling of his surname happened when the name was misspelt on a contract.

Answer: Cindy Lou

I have heard this story from many different sources, and on a television programme about Buddy Holly shown on BBC4 on 9th February 2020, Jerry Allison was interviewed, and so was Peggy Sue Gerron Rackham who was Jerry Allison's former wife. Both confirmed that the song was originally called 'Cindy Lou.' Cindy Lou was Buddy's niece.

Answer: True

The Beatles, especially John Lennon and Paul McCartney, loved Buddy's style of playing the guitar. Paul McCartney told in a television interview about how he and John had loved the way Buddy played the guitar and had played his records over and over again trying to emulate him. Evidence suggests that Holly's different types of songs and use of different types of instruments also influenced the budding songwriters.

Answer: That'll Be The Day

'That'll be the Day' was written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison. He recorded it in 1956 with the Three Tunes and then re-recorded it in 1957 with The Crickets. The version with the Crickets was very successful.

Answer: Peggy Sue Got Married

The song was 'Peggy Sue Got Married' which she did to Buddy's bandmate and writing collaborator Jerry Allison in 1958. The couple were divorced in 1964. Peggy Sue Gerron died on 2nd October 2018.

Answer: Peggy Sue

When Buddy and the Crickets were recording 'Peggy Sue', Jerry Allison amused himself during a break by drumming out the rhythm on a cardboard box. The band liked the sound and so it was recorded that way.

Answer: Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper

On 3rd February 1959 Buddy Holly, aged 22, Jiles P Richardson (known as the Big Bopper,) aged 28, and Ritchie Valens, aged 17, were all killed in a plane crash. There was a snow storm and conditions were very bad, but after their bus broke down several times they decided to take the opportunity of places in a plane.

Answer: True Love Ways

On 9th February on BBC 4 there was an interview with Maria Elena, Buddy's widow, and she said that this romantic song was written especially for her and was her favourite. It was a very late song and had a full orchestral backing which leads to speculation as to which musical path Holly would have taken if not for his untimely death.

Answer: The Everly Brothers

On a television programme about Buddy Holly shown on BBC4 on 20th February 2014 Don Everly was interviewed and he said that the spectacles that Buddy was wearing at the time were quite out of style. Don and his brother Phil told Buddy that he would look much better if he wore the more fashionable thick dark rims. He took their advice and the glasses became an important part of his image.

Answer: Don McLean

Don McLean recorded this song on 26 May 1971. It told of his grief at the time of losing Buddy at such a young age, and especially sorry for Maria Elena 'his widowed bride'. The song was a big hit in many countries.