I was born in 1959, in Lansing, Michigan and grew up in Elkhart, Indiana.  My family would eventually move to Southbend, Indiana in the 1970's, where I stil live today.  I am a warehouse worker, married for twenty years and have three kids and ten grandkids.  My entire family realized, long ago, my love for the music that those three entertainers left us and often refer to me as "The World's Biggest Buddy Holly Fan", but then again, I must realize that's a title which most of us share.

As I got into my teenage years, I discovered the music and the magic of Buddy Holly, while on a summer vacation, at my aunt and uncle's house in Riverdale, Michigan.  I was eleven years old.  I became very aware of the different types of music streaming out of the radio and television and that my friends listened to.  Rock & Roll music from the 1950's became ann important part of my listening pleasure and one song in particular created a lasting impression on me - "That'll Be The Day" !

I actually discovered the music and magic of Buddy Holly by listening to the album, "The Buddy Holly Story", on Coral Records.  The song which affected me the most was "Peggy Sue Got Married".  It was a powerful song and so different, somehow.  So, I found Buddy Holly.

Then there was Richie, with his rough and raucous Rocker "Come On Let's Go" and The Bopper with his teasing and joyful "Chantilly Lace".

The event which took place on February 3rd, 1959, was a great tragedy and four young lives were lost that night, in that fateful plane crash, including the pilot, Roger Peterson, who must also be included and who is sometimes forgotten when talking about "The Day The Music Died".  We must remember on that day four lives were lost, four families grieved at the loss of their respective family member.

Back in 2007, I was thinking back to what happened and how I had first heard the magic and timeless music played by those wonderful guys.  I then wondered how other fans had discovered their music.  So, the idea for a book with contributions from the fans was born.  I posted messages on websites and before long, I was receiving stories from all over the world, about how people had found and enjoyed , and, could never forget the music.  I was given help, especially by Vicky & John Pickering (The Picks), to contact people who knew Buddy at Lubbock High School.

I was blessed to have talked to many of Buddy's classmates at Lubbock High (Class of 55).  They shared many exiciting stories about growing up in Lubbock, Texas and of course, stories about their friend and fellow classmate, Charles Hardin Holley (Buddy).

I have to thank many people for their help and I hope they are all named in the list at the end of this book.  It has been a long road and a hard struggle at times, to get here, but I think it has been worth it.

I sincerely hope you that you agree and enjoy reading this book !

Many, many thanks

Gary Clevenger