Buddy Holly’s music comes back to life Nov. 10
Sadie Short
News Writing Student
It’s leather jackets and poodle skirts when ‘50s rock ‘n’ roll music comes to OCCC at 7 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10.
“Rave On! A Tribute to the Music of Buddy Holly” will take place in the Bruce Owen Theater.
The show will feature vocalist Billy McGuigan, one of the premiere Buddy Holly impersonators in the nation, said Lemuel Bardeguez, cultural arts director at OCCC.
“Billy is phenomenal,” Bardeguez said. “McGuigan has studied Buddy Holly and his style extensively.”
Holly died in a plane crash when he was 22, according to the Buddy Holly Center website. Even though Holly had been in the music business for only a year and half before his death, many people consider him the father of modern rock ‘n’ roll. The day he died was “the day the music died,” according to website.
Some of Holly’s well-known titles include “Peggy Sue,” “That’ll be the Day,” and “Oh Boy.”
Holly’s music style was unique and has helped other styles of music emerge in today’s society such as grunge and electric guitar, Bardeguez said.
After Holly’s death, it became the responsibility of others to keep his music alive, Bardeguez said.
“McGuigan is trying to accomplish the concert that never took place,” Bardeguez said.
Although Holly’s music is more than 50 years old, it has survived to reach young people today.
“I am excited to go,” said Alayna Ray, psychology freshman. “I like Buddy Holly and his music so much. He was very talented and had accomplished a lot in his short life.”
Holly’s music is relevant in today’s time, even though it might not be evident, Ray said.
“He had so many songs,” she said. “We all know a Buddy Holly song, but we might not know that he sang it.”
Bardeguez said the program is for those who are fans of 1950s high-energy rock ‘n’ roll.
“It will be a little bit of nostalgia mixed in with pop culture.”
A free educational lecture will be offered at 3 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 10, in room 132 of the Visual and Performing Arts Center. During the presentation, McGuigan will discuss the importance of Holly’s music.
Tickets cost $22 for general admission, $17 for seniors, faculty, staff or Alumni Association members, $10 for OCCC students and $10 for children 17 and under. Tickets may be purchased in advance in the Main Building in room 1G1-A, at the OCCC Bookstore, online at www.occc.edu/cas/BuddyHollyREvue.html, or at the door the evening of the performance.
