Buddy Holly

Although his toothy grin and nerdy specs lent him the appearance of an insurance salesman, Buddy Holly was a true rock 'n' roll legend — a pioneer at the cutting edge of pop who did more for music in the two years before his death (1959, at age 22) than most artists can muster in a lifetime. His genius is staggering.

By 1957, Buddy Holly had cemented his Crickets lineup (Sonny Curtis, Don Guess, Jerry Allison) and cut the tracks (in Clovis, New Mexico, with producer Norman Petty) that would guarantee his rise to stardom. The band's debut, The "Chirping" Crickets, contains sterling early work like "I'm Lookin' for Someone to Love."

Buddy Holly built up a following on local radio in the early '50s, before Decca put out a couple of rockabilly-flavored country singles, recorded in Nashville. "Modern Don Juan" and "Blue Days, Black Nights" gave a hint of what was to come but didn't break him. A supporting slot with Elvis Presley would speed his switch to rock 'n' roll.

He has a museum in Lubbock, Texas, entry into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, a musical based on his life, and a postage stamp bearing his image. Buddy Holly's immortality is assured, not just because he died young, but because his innovative talent helped give birth to rock 'n' roll. His studio use of double-tracking, cool echoes, and a groovy vocal hiccup as he slides in and out of falsetto set a template that would have a lasting impact on pop. Our Buddy Holly playlist takes you to the heart of his talent.