As I usually put it... I didn't choose Buddy, he chose me!! I inherited my face and bad eyesight from my mother and my curly hair from my father. (We're not sure where the hic-up came from) The resemblance had been pointed out to me a number of times but it was John and Larry from the Kokomo Beach Band who first insisted I pull together an act for a tribute show we were all working in. I was hesitant at first but I vividly remember seeing a videotape of that first show and thinking, "Geez, I do kinda look like him...!?!" The story continues over a year later when I joined the band at the Toronto show "Rock and Roll Heaven". After playing keyboards for a couple of months, one night "Buddy" didn't show. That night MD Paul Kraussman changed my life permanently when he carefully asked if I could step in and fill the spot. Having a whole act prepared from the previous year caught everyone off guard and they asked my to continue with it. Word of mouth spread and before long I became 'the guy'! Funny... I never really sat down and decided it was something I really wanted to pursue. I guess there's a lesson in there somewhere. I'm still trying to figure out what it is.
Probably one of the weird ones I don't get to sing very often. Something like "Crying Waiting Hoping" or "Reminiscing" Both these were sung by the Beatles when they were still a club band in Germany and Liverpool. Obscure recordings of these were my first fond exposure to Buddy's songbook. On that note, I knew most of his songs from cover versions. Linda Ronstadt did "It's So Easy" and "It Doesn't Matter Anymore." The Beatles also did "Words of Love" on the "Beatles for Sale" album. Terry Jacks of "Seasons in the Sun" fame did a groovy version of "I'm Gonna Love Ya Too"
Having said all that, I still marvel when I here "That'll Be The Day". After having sung it 1000 times, I still think it's one of the most perfect records in rock and roll history.
In short... NO! I liken it to telling a really good joke. As long as it makes people laugh you never tire of telling it. The trick comes in keeping it fresh without straying too far away from the character. Fortunately there's a relatively large song book to choose from. Whenever I think I'm getting bored, I pull out one of the rarities.
Another secret is to keep real busy with other musical avenues. I love playing keyboards and guitar in other bands. It also gives me a good perspective on the band backing me. (I hope!) After I've been away from Buddy for a while, putting on those big ol' glasses feels like catching up with an old friend.
The real deal. Ask my optometrist...!
That baby is wired for sound! Sometimes I'll throw the solos to one of the guitar gods I am lucky enough to play with, usually if I break a string or run into technical difficulties. But I love to play. Actually I played guitar in bands before I played keyboards in bands.
Let me take this opportunity to thank the brilliant guitarists who I've shared the stage with. You have humoured me and educated me. I am not worthy!!
Ahhh... the big question. When I first began researching Buddy's performance, I found I was limited to a couple of "Ed Sullivan Show" appearances, and some old fan home movie footage. This forced me to research other sources. Interviews and reviews of shows were far more telling as to the genuine Buddy Holly concert experience. It seems the Sullivan appearances were pretty conservative. Think "Elvis from the waist up". As it turns out Buddy was more apt to rock out on a big stage.
Here are some quotes:
"If enthusiasm, drive, and down to earth abandon are the ingredients necessary for success in the rock 'n' roll field, then Buddy Holly and the Crickets are all set for a long and eventful run of popularity!"
Keith Goodwin, New Musical Express, 1958
"Artistry has bee kicked out of the stage door and performers who can provide ephemeral thrills are taking it's place...Unless they had previously read the lyrics or heard them sung by an articulate vocalist, I would have defied anyone in the audience to tell me what seventy per cent of the words were which issued from the lips of this foot-stamping, knee falling musician"
Peter Holdsworth, Bradford Telegraph and Argus 1958 (Actually this is from a bad review. Some guys just didn't get it)
"Whatever shyness he showed off stage disappeared on stage and his broad grin, good humour and uninhibited performance made the Crickets as appealing in live shows as they were on record."
John Goldrosen, Remembering Buddy (an excellent biography)
"Behind the microphone, (Buddy) was just like a bolt of lightning..."
"I was dancing around in a big circle, going through a bunch of gyrations and Buddy was all over the stage, and Joe B was bouncing that bass back and forth and laying it down. I've never seen Jerry work harder on those damn drums."
Nikki Sullivan, former Cricket regarding opening night at the Apollo, 1957
"He was a different kind of white act. He didn't just stand by the microphone and sing as some of the other acts did. He put on a show with his act. He did a lot of jumping around".
Ted Scott of the "G-Clefs", a supporting act on the Apollo show