A Lasting Impression

If you are a Buddy Holly fan, you know the songs. They were written and recorded more than 55 years ago, by a man who was only 22 when he died in 1959. Although Holly's career spanned barely a year and a half, he left a lasting impression on generations of musicians who still listen to and play his songs.

Holly was a pioneer in the recording industry, becoming one of the first performers to gain creative control over production of his records. More than that, Holly and the members of the Crickets played their own parts on recordings - another rarity, as most records of the time were recorded using studio musicians.

Holly's songs were plain and simply great rock and roll, then and now. Over the years, many artists have covered Buddy's songs; these videos are some of the best of those covers.

RIP Phil Everly

Like most people who have been around for a few decades, I was thoroughly familiar with the Every Brothers' music, but it's been a few years since I've listened to any of those great songs. The recent death of Phil Everly made me go back and listen again, as often happens when a musician dies. I'm not sure why it takes a death to remind us of the exceptional talent of someone like Phil and Don, but hearing those songs again reminds me how spectacular the brothers were when they sang together.