Buddy - the Buddy Holly Story

Cover to Original Cast Recording

A Bio-musical in 2 acts. Written by Alan Janes and Rob Bettinson.

Victoria Palace, London - 12 October, 1989. (5000+ perfs). Transferred to Strand Theatre, London 1995

Story:

With the support of local radio DJ, Hipockets Duncan, Buddy and his two friends form a Country & Western band - Buddy Holly & the Crickets - and begin to carve out a career in music. After a difficult start at Decca in Nashville, they sign a contract with up and coming, innovative record producer Norman Petty. Within hours, Buddy Holly & the Crickets start to churn out hits from the recording studio built in Norman's backyard, among them "That'll Be The Day", which soon rockets up the charts and reaches number one within two weeks. Buddy Holly & the Crickets are suddenly the hottest act in the country and out on national tour.

Whilst recording in New York, Buddy proposes to Maria Elena Santiago, the Puerto Rican receptionist of his record publisher after a courtship of all of five hours! Newly married and ambitious, he completely shifts focus to New York and a rift develops between him and The Crickets. After a declaration of home truths during a recording session, the band split and Buddy unexpectedly finds himself having to pursue a solo career.

Buddy joins The Winter Dance Party, a bus tour through the Midwest quenching the teenage thirst for the new music called Rock 'n' Roll. The tour is hard work, the weather conditions appalling and the performers are alternating between sleeping in the luggage racks and dropping into hospital to be treated for frostbite.

Our story ends on Feb 3rd 1959 after a rocking concert at the Surf Ballroom in Iowa. Buddy makes the fateful decision to break his promise to his pregnant wife not to fly, as he and the other two head-liners board a small plane and take off into the night destined for their next show. During a snowstorm, in the dead of night, the plane crashes - there were no survivors.

The tragedy shocks the world, snatching the lives of three of the world's most dynamic musical talents: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper.

Buddy Holly's brief life is immortalised in this dynamic and heart-rending stage show. It's a celebration of the man, his music and life that catches that unique mixture of innocence, determination, humour and charm that was Buddy Holly."...and the rest is just Rock 'n' Roll..."

Original London Cast

(in order of appearance)

Musical Numbers

  1. Blue Ridge Mountains
  2. Do You Think Of Me Darling
  3. Ready Teddy
  4. Rock Around With Ollie Vee
  5. Changing All Those Changes
  6. That'll Be The Day
  7. Blue Days Black Nights
  8. Mailman Bring Me No More Blues
  9. Everyday
  10. I'm Looking For Someone to Love
  11. You Send Me
  12. Not Fade Away
  13. Peggy Sue
  14. Words of Love
  15. Oh Boy
  16. Listen to Me
  17. Well All Right
  18. True Love Ways
  19. It's So Easy
  20. Think It Over
  21. Why Do Fools Fall In Love
  22. Chantilly Lace
  23. Maybe Baby
  24. Peggy Sue Got Married
  25. Heartbeat
  26. La Bamba
  27. Raining In My Heart
  28. It Doesn't Matter Anymore
  29. Rave On

Instrumentation

Trumpet, Tenor Sax, Trombone, Violin, 2 Keyboards, 2 Guitars (Lead/Rhythm), Bass, Drums, Percussion