"The Biggest Show Of Stars - 1957"

Georgia Auditorium, Vancouver, B.C, Canada

Wednesday October 23, 1957

Red Robinson: Well, backstage here at the Georgia Auditorium for the Biggest Record Star Show for 1957, talking to Buddy Holly.

Buddy Holly: Hullo, Red.

Red Robinson: How are you?

Buddy Holly: Just fine 'n' dandy.

Red Robinson: Yeah, I missed that phone call we had from Toronto that day [September 14, 1957].

Buddy Holly: Yeah, ah, we couldn't get together on that, some way or another.

Red Robinson: I don't know, but I'd just like to tell you right now that your song "Peggy Sue" that you do on a solo there on Coral Records, is it Coral Records in the States too?

Buddy Holly: Ah, yes it is.

Red Robinson: Yeah, it's doing real well. It's number seven song here and that's lucky number seven, as we say over here.

Buddy Holly: Well, that's fine. [Laughs]

Red Robinson: Well, how long have you had The Crickets together, Buddy?

Buddy Holly: Since January.

Red Robinson: Since January.

Buddy Holly: Uh-huh.

Red Robinson: When did you decide to form a group up, was it at that time?

Buddy Holly: Well uh, we just uh… the drummer and myself have been playing together for about four years and we got the other two boys and asked them if they'd like to join us and form a group.

Red Robinson: You write your own material, is that right?

Buddy Holly: Yes, that's right.

Red Robinson: Who helped you with "That'll Be the Day"?

Buddy Holly: Jerry Allison, the drummer.

Red Robinson: He's the fellow that plays drums?

Buddy Holly: Uh-huh.

Red Robinson: Where are you all from - where's your home town?

Buddy Holly: Lubbock, Texas.

Red Robinson: Would you like to go back there?

Buddy Holly: Sure would! [Laughs]

Red Robinson: What's the weather like this time of year down there?

Buddy Holly: Oh, it's not quite this cool.

Red Robinson: It's not?

Buddy Holly: And its a little bit drier!

Red Robinson: Well, I'm going to put you on the spot and I said I - I asked you before and I didn't have a microphone with me - but I'm going to put you on the spot again. What do you think about Rock 'n' Roll music, do you think it is on the wane, or what?

Buddy Holly: I think it's, ah, going out quite a bit in the States.

Red Robinson: Down South?

Buddy Holly: Uh-huh.

Red Robinson: How far down?

Buddy Holly: Er… deep! [Both laugh]

Red Robinson: It is, but I mean, how long do you think it will last, another six months? Seven months?

Buddy Holly: Oh, possibly, yeah.

Red Robinson: Think after Christmas things may change a bit there?

Buddy Holly: Ah, they, they… it might pick back up, but I rather doubt it.

Red Robinson: Well, we'd like to congratulate you here because - in a special way - because the West Coast here is sort of responsible for "That'll Be the Day" to get its start. It started out here and it went well.

Buddy Holly: Yeah, that's what I heard. [Laughs]

Red Robinson: And, er, we're all real happy about it here. Phil Rose of Compo, of Coral Records and Impax [?] and Brunswick in Eastern Canada was trying to get through to us with you on the phone back there [on 14 September 1957]. How was your engagement in Toronto?

Buddy Holly: It was real fine. They received us real well there.

Red Robinson: What've you got coming up in the future for records?

Buddy Holly: Well, we've got one that was just released the other day by the Crickets, called "Oh, Boy!"

Red Robinson: "Oh, Boy!"

Buddy Holly: And you should be getting it just any day now.

Red Robinson: Well, that's terrific and we'll be playing it just like the other one. That'll mean that we've got three songs in our chart that come from Buddy!

Buddy Holly: [Laughs]

Red Robinson: That'll be "Peggy Sue", "That'll Be the Day" and "Oh, Boy!"

Buddy Holly: Yeah?

Red Robinson: How do you think it compares with the others?

Buddy Holly: Well, I like "Oh, Boy!", better than "That'll Be the Day", really.

Red Robinson: You think it's better?

Buddy Holly: Uh-huh. But, ah, of course I'm no judge. [Laughs]

Red Robinson: It's always the listeners that decide the fate of a record in the end. We'd like to congratulate you and I think you've got a good future in the business. One other question, Buddy. If trends change would you hop on the trend and go into the other, or would you just give up?

Buddy Holly: I'd hop on the trend. [Laughs]

Red Robinson: You would?

Buddy Holly: Uh-huh, because I'd prefer singing a little bit - something a little more quieter, anyhow.

Red Robinson: What are you like down in Texas where you come from? How far is that from a place like Dallas or Crystal City? I mean Texas is BIG, man! [Laughs]

Buddy Holly: Well, uh, our home town, Lubbock, is, uh, 280 miles straight west of Dallas.

Red Robinson: It is?

Buddy Holly: Uh-huh.

Red Robinson: Yeah, I'm going to hit Dallas right off! Wow!

Buddy Holly: [Laughs]

Red Robinson: Well, it's been real wonderful talking to you backstage here, Buddy, and I guess your act goes on pretty soon, does it?

Buddy Holly: Yes it does. We go on right after Fats [Domino].

Red Robinson: How many numbers?

Buddy Holly: We do three.

Red Robinson: You do three numbers. What are you going to do up there?

Buddy Holly: We'll do, ah, "Ready, Teddy", and our new one, "Oh, Boy!" and "That'll Be the Day".

Red Robinson: Well, gee, it's been a real pleasure talking to you backstage. Buddy Holly of the fabulous Crickets!

End Of Interview.

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