The First Hits - 1957

Researched and Compiled by
Terry R. Shaw
Copyright © 2000 by Terry R. Shaw

Pages constructed and maintained
by Peter Moorcroft

Tues. 1/1/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform at the Bushell Memorial in Hartford, Connecticut along with Chuck Berry and “great new singer Ritchie Valens”.

Wed. 1/9/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets begin a two-week tour with the Hank Thompson Show, performing in Little Rock, Arkansas.

Fri. 1/11/57 UNRECORDED:Buddy and the Crickets perform in Birmingham, Alabama.

Sat. 1/12/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Jacksonville, Florida.

Sun. 1/13/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Tampa, Florida.

Tues. 1/15/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Savannah, Georgia.

Wed. 1/16/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Charleston, South Carolina.

Thurs. 1/17/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Ocala, Florida.

Fri. 1/18/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Miami, Florida.

Sat. 1/19/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Macon, Georgia.

Sun.1/20/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Atlanta, Georgia.

Mon. 1/21/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Montgomery, Alabama.

Tues. 1/22/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Pensacola, Florida.

Wed. 1/23/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sa.-F. 2/2-8/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform on tour with Clyde McPhatter, the Cadillacs, Edna McGriff, Otis Rush, Lee Andrews and the Hearts, Oscar and Oscar, and the G-Clefs at the Howard Theater in Washington, DC.

Sa.-F. 2/9-15/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform on tour with Clyde McPhatter, the Cadillacs, Edna McGriff, Otis Rush, Lee Andrews and the Hearts, Oscar and Oscar, and the G-Clefs at the Royal Theater in Baltimore, Maryland.

Sa.-F. 2/16-22/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform on tour with Clyde McPhatter, the Cadillacs, Edna McGriff, Otis Rush, Lee Andrews and the Hearts, Oscar and Oscar, and the G-Clefs at the Apollo Theater in New York, NY.

Gary and Ramona Tollett
Thurs. 2/21/57 GO BOY GO (Floyd Wilson)

GONE (Smokey Rogers)
Both were recorded at radio station KDAV. Gary Dale (Tollett) was the singer. Buddy played guitar and Jerry Allison played drums. Ramona Tollett, June Clark and Nikki Sullivan sang background vocals. Now as Buddy and Jerry were performing in New York on tour on this date, either the date is wrong or Buddy and Jerry DID NOT perform on these two songs.
Sun.2/24/57I’M LOOKIN’ FOR SOMEONE TO LOVE (AKA "I'm Looking For Someone To Love") (Buddy Holly/Norman Petty) Recorded in Clovis, New Mexico at Norman Petty’s Nor Va Jak Studio. Musicians were Buddy and Niki Sullivan on guitar, Larry Welborn on bass and Jerry "J.I." Allison on drums. The Picks added background harmonies on 10/11-12-13/57. Released on 5/27/57-S, 11/57-A, 69-S, and 73-S.
Click image to go to the Picks Web Page
John Pickering, his brother Bill & Bob Lapham

S-M 2/24-25/57 THAT’LL BE THE DAY(Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty) (As part of a contract deal, Norman Petty was given songwriting credit on several of Buddy’s compositions. Whether he contributed anything is unknown. It’s doubtful on this song, it was written before their association. Norman was a musician/record producer and did write songs on his own, so he might have contributed some small part, i.e. chord change, lyric change, etc., to some of the songs.) Recorded in Clovis, New Mexico at Norman Petty’s Nor Va Jak Studio; the recording was started on the 24th and finished after 3am on the 25th. They did two takes. The musicians were Buddy on lead guitar, Niki Sullivan on guitar, Larry Welborn on bass and Jerry "J.I." Allison on drums. Also Niki sang background with June Clark and Gary and Ramona Tollett. Niki was a distant cousin to Buddy, although neither of them knew it at the time. He became a Cricket and then left because of the rough touring and formed his own band, "The Hollyhawks". The background singers were recorded at the same time as the instruments instead of overdubbing later. The demo was sent to Peer Southern Organization Publishing in New York, which gave it to Bob Thiele at Brunswick Records, a subsidiary of Decca. He liked it so much he used the demo as the master and released it as a single on 5/27/57.
A clip of Bob Thiele and Murray Deutch talking about the signing of Buddy can be seen on website http://www.vastvideo.com/i/2.1/navigate.asp?cid=171 Released on 11/57-A, 4/58-A, 3/59-A, 69-S, 73-S.

Sat. 2/30/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets perform on tour with Clyde McPhatter, the Cadillacs, Edna McGriff, Otis Rush, Lee Andrews and the Hearts, Oscar and Oscar, and the G-Clefs at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York, NY.

Fri. 3/1/57 GO BOY GO (Floyd Wilson)
GONE (Smokey Rogers)
THE GOLDEN ROCKET (C. E. "Hank" Snow)
I OVERLOOKED AN ORCHID (Carl Story/S. Lyn/Arthur Q. Smith)
Buddy plays guitar on vocal recordings by Gary Dale (Tollett). Also playing were Jerry Allison on drums and Ramona Tollett, June Clark and Nikki Sullivan on backing vocals. All the songs were released and bootlegged in 6/95-A.

Sat.3/2/57 "CRICKET CONCERT": The Crickets perform at the Elks Club in Carlsbad, New Mexico. According to Nikki Sullivan, friend, driver and "roadie" Bobby Peeples taped the entire show. The recording has never been found, if it was made. Peeples ended up in prison for stealing from the "Sound and Photo Shop". Joe B. Mauldin is asked to play bass along with Buddy, Niki, and J.I., so this is the first public performance of the Crickets as we came to know them. The group had just changed their name to "The Crickets". They had considered "The Scoundrels", "The Grasshoppers", and "The Beetles".

Tues.3/12/57 LAST NIGHT (Joe B. Mauldin/Buddy Holly/Norman Petty) Released in 3/58-A. The Picks overdubbed background vocals on 10/12 & 14/57.

MAYBE BABY (Charles Hardin/Norman Petty) Buddy claimed that his mother, Ella Holley and bassist, Joe B. Mauldin contributed to the writing of this song. According to his mother, she was writing a different song called "Maybe Baby" and Buddy saw it and asked what it was. Ella told him she was in the middle of a song she was writing called "Maybe Baby". Buddy took the title and wrote his own song. The Picks added background vocals on 2/3/66. Released in 2/81-A. This is a "cha cha" version, not the single version.

Both songs were recorded as demos in Clovis, New Mexico. The musicians were Buddy and Niki Sullivan on guitar and vocals (Nikki on harmony), Joe B. Mauldin on bass and J. I. Allison on drums. The Picks added background vocals. Both were bootlegged in 6/95-A.

ON MY MIND AGAIN (Dean Beard/Slim Willett/Ray Doggett)

VIVA LA MATADOR (Billy Walker)

Buddy plays guitar on recording by Billy Walker(vocals) at Clovis, New Mexico after he finishes his own recording session. Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison play also. The Bowman Brothers sing backing vocals. Both songs were released in 1957.

Mon.4/8/57 MAILMAN BRING ME NO MORE BLUES (Ruth Roberts/Bill Katz, Stanley Clayton) (Stanley Clayton was in fact Bob Thiele, Brunswick A&R man.) This was a demo done in 3 takes. Vi Petty played piano. Released on 6/20/57-S, 3/58-A. Echo was dubbed onto the vocal on 10/61.

WORDS OF LOVE (Buddy Holly) This was another demo recording. It was Buddy’s first venture into vocal and guitar overdubbing. Two versions were recorded. One had Norman Petty playing organ. It wasn’t released. Coral Records, another subsidiary of Decca, released this about the same time as "That’ll Be The Day" with Buddy listed as a solo performer. Released on 6/20/57-S, 3/58-A. It was bootlegged in 6/95-A.
The Beatles loved Buddy Holly and recorded the last two songs. For a similiar book on the Beatles written by this author, go to http://homepage.ntlworld.com/p.moorcroft

Both songs were recorded at Norman Petty’s Nor Va Jak Studio in Clovis, New Mexico. Buddy on guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass and Jerry Allison on drums.

UNK/57 "CRICKETS ON THE PORCH" A home color movie is shot of Niki Sullivan, Joe Mauldin, Jerry Allison and Buddy standing on a porch and then walking down the steps of a private home. The house number has three digits so it is probably not Buddy’s and is likely to be Jerry’s home, especially in that Jerry’s brother, James, had a movie camera. The boys appear to be modeling their new outfits, which are dark suits with ties. Buddy doesn’t have his tie on, however. The movie is shown in the film, "The Real Buddy Holly Story".

Sun. 4/28/57 A WHOLE LOTTA LOVIN' (AKA "Whole Lotta Love") (Jim Robinson/Jack Huddle/Norman Petty) (3 versions) All three were bootlegged in 6/95-A.

IT’S A WONDERFUL FEELING (Jim Robinson/Norman Petty/Jack Huddle)

Buddy plays guitar in a recording session for Jim Robinson (vocals). Jerry Allison plays percussion, Vi Petty plays piano, UNK on bass, the Bowman Brothers and the Roses do backing vocals. Both songs were released and bootlegged in 6/95-A.

STARLIGHT (Jack Huddle/Jim Robinson/Norman Petty)

BELIEVE ME (Jim Robinson/Norman Petty)

Buddy plays guitar in a recording session for Jack Huddle (vocals). Also playing are Jerry Allison on drums, UNK on bass and the Bowman Brothers on backing vocals. Released in 1957 and 1984 ("The Clovis Sessions") and bootlegged in 6/95-A.

BY THE MISSION WALL (Ken Cline) Buddy plays guitar in a recording session for Fred Crawford (vocals). Also playing are Jerry Allison on drums, Joe B. Mauldin on bass and the Bowman Brothers on backing vocals. Released in 1957 and bootlegged in 6/95-A

4/57 or 12/57 MONA (Ellas McDaniel) This song was found on a bootleg. It was included with "Send Me Some Lovin’" I don’t know if it was recorded on that day or not. Buddy used the rhythm and chord pattern for "Not Fade Away" later. A rehearsal take and Takes 1, 2, a false start and Take 3 were bootlegged in 6/95-A. Jerry Allison played acoustic guitar on version 1 and drums on 2, 3.

Fri.5/10/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Village Theater in Lubbock, Texas along with Tinker Carlin and The Cats, The Four Teens and Pat and Shirley Richardson. It's located at Main Street and Avenue J.

Sat.5/11/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets audition at the KFDA Television Studios in Amarillo, Texas for a chance to appear on the "Arthur Godfrey Talent Scouts" TV program. They are turned down, joining such other rejects as Elvis Presley.

5/UNK/57 "BUDDY AND HIS MOTORCYCLE" A home movie is shot by James Allison (Jerry's brother)of Buddy riding around in front of the Allison home on his English Ariel motorcycle. He has his motorcycle cap and jacket on. A clip is shown on "The Real Buddy Holly Story" on BBC-TV in 1987. Also filmed are J.I. and Joe B. riding and Buddy and J.I. Allison fooling around with a knife, reenacting the fight scene in "Rebel Without A Cause".
The clip mentioned is shown on website http://www.vastvideo.com/i/2.1/navigate.asp?cid=171 along with J.I. talking about Buddy’s philosophy of enjoying life.

Mon.5/27/57 NOT FADE AWAY (Charles Hardin [Buddy Holly]/Norman Petty) or (Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison) Written for the Everly Brothers, Buddy recorded this as a demo for them. Jerry plays on a cardboard box. The original background vocals were by Buddy, Jerry and Niki Sullivan. The Picks overdubbed background harmonies on 10/12,13,14/57. Another source gives the recording date as 5/29/57.
J.I. talks about and demonstrates the musical innovations tried in the above two songs on website http://www.vastvideo.com/i/2.1/navigate.asp?cid=171 Sonny Curtis also talks about Buddy’s unique guitar playing.
Released on 10/27/57, 11/57-A and 4/27/64-S. Take 1 and a false start were bootlegged in 6/95-A.

EVERYDAY (Charles Hardin [Buddy Holly]/Norman Petty) Another demo recording. Buddy on acoustic guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass, Vi Petty played a Celeste (a keyboarded xylophone) for the lead and Jerry, "J.I.", slaps his knees instead of playing his drum set. Most sources say that Norman Petty played the Celeste, but Vi demonstrated it at the end of the film, "The Real Buddy Holly Story". The Picks added background harmonies on 6/29/84. It was released on 9/20/57, 3/58-S and 3/59-A. Pre-recording talk by Buddy from the master tape is heard in "The Real Buddy Holly Story" film released in 1987.

Both songs were recorded at Norman Petty’s Nor Va Jak Studios in Clovis, New Mexico.

6/UNK/57 READY TEDDY (Robert A. "Bumps" Blackwell/John Marascalco) Vi Petty on piano. Released in 3/58-A.

VALLEY OF TEARS (Antoine Domino/Dave Bartholomew) Released in 3/58-A and 9/61-S. Norman Petty plays his Baldwin electric organ and Vi Petty plays piano.

TELL ME HOW (Charles Hardin [Buddy Holly]/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty) Inspired by a guitar riff played by Niki Sullivan; this was recorded at Petty’s Clovis, New Mexico studio with Norman Petty on the Baldwin organ. The Picks added vocal backgrounds on 10/11-14/57 and the song was released on 2/12/58-S, 11/57-A.

All songs were recorded at Norman Petty’s Nor Va Jak Studios in Clovis, New Mexico with Buddy and Niki Sullivan on guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass and Jerry Allison on drums.

Mon. 6/24/57 A MAN FROM TEXAS (M. Russell/Norman Petty/S. Dougherty) Buddy plays guitar on a recording by Jim Robinson (vocal). Also playing are George Atwood on bass, UNK on drums, Vi Petty on piano and the Picks on backing vocals. Released in 1957.

Sun.6/30/57 "THREE JINGLES" (Buddy Holly/Jerry Allison) The Crickets record three jingles in Clovis, New Mexico. They are to the tune of "That’ll Be The Day". Two of them are individual "Thank You" records for Bob Thiele and Murray Deutch for helping release "That’ll Be The Day". The "Bob Thiele" one can be heard in the film "The Real Buddy Holly Story". Both were bootlegged and released in 6/95-A. The third jingle has a spoken part and was made for Bill Randle of WERE Radio in Cleveland, Ohio to promote the Crickets’ upcoming tour. It has not been released.

7/1,2,3/57 PEGGY SUE (Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty) Originally titled "Cindy Lou"; the name was changed to help "J.I." pursue Peggy Sue Gerron, Jerry Allison's high school sweetheart and eventual wife. His drums were so loud that he was put in the hallway with a mike and a speaker so that he could play along. They did it in 2 takes, totaling 20 minutes. Niki Sullivan knelt at Buddy's side to switch his guitar pick-ups at the lead part so the lead would come across brighter and louder. Therefore he couldn't play rhythm as has been rehearsed. Released as a solo effort, this was Buddy's first success as such. The song was released on 9/20/57-S, 3/58-S, and 3/59-A. Take 1 was bootlegged in 6/95-A and released also. The Picks added background harmonies in 6/29/84.
J.I. talks about the recording of this song and demonstrates his drumming technique on website http://www.vastvideo.com/i/2.1/navigate.asp?cid=171 Buddy is also seen performing it on Ed Sullivan.

OH, BOY! (Sonny West/Bill Tilghman/Norman Petty) Originally titled "All My Love". Buddy clears his throat right after the guitar break at 1 minute, 23 seconds. The Picks (Bill Pickering, John Pickering and Bob Lapham) overdubbed their background harmonies on 7/13/57 or 8/19/57. The song was released on 10/27/57-S and 3/59-A. A version without the backing vocals was bootlegged in 6/95-A. Writer Sonny West's original version can be heard on website http://buddyholly.8m.com/songs.html

I'M GONNA LOVE YOU TOO (Joe B. Mauldin/Niki Sullivan/Norman Petty) Petty's "echo chamber" was little more than a "silo" like building connected to the studio into which he had a speaker and a mike. On this recording day, a real cricket got into the "chamber" and can be heard as the recording fades out at the end. The song was released on 2/5/58-S, 3/59-A, and 6/1/64-S.

LISTEN TO ME (Charles Hardin/Noman Petty) You can hear that famous cricket again at 1 minute, 15 seconds into the song. Buddy double tracks his vocal and guitar. The song was released on 2/5/58-S, 3/58-S.

All the songs were recorded at Norman Petty's Nor Va Jak Studio in Clovis, New Mexico with Buddy and Niki on guitars, Joe B. Mauldin on bass and Jerry "J.I." Allison on drums.

Fri.7/12/57 or 7/20/57 SEND ME SOME LOVIN' (John Marascalco/Lloyd Price) The Picks added background harmonies on 10/11-13/57. Released in 11/57-A. Two takes. Take 1 was the official released version but the other take was released also. Both songs were bootlegged in 6/95-A

IT'S TOO LATE (Chuck Willis) The Picks added background harmonies on 10/11-13/57.There were two takes, Take 1was the official releasedversion but the other take was also released. The Picks added background vocals on 10/11-13/57. released in 11/57-A.

Both songs were recorded at Norman Petty's Nor Va Jak Studios in Clovis, New Mexico with Buddy on guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass and Jerry Allison on drums. Bootlegged.

Joe B., Jerry (behind Joe) and Buddy back up Gary Dale on stage.

HONEY HONEY (Gary Tollett)

Buddy plays guitar on recordings by Gary Dale (Tollett). Also playing are Jerry Allison on drums, UNK on bass, Ramona Tollett and the Picks on backing vocals. Recorded at Petty’s studio. Both songs were released and bootlegged in 6/95-A.

7/UNK/57 BROKEN PROMISES (Ray Winkler/Ralph Newton)

HUMBLE HEART (John Loftus)

Buddy plays guitar on recordings by Sherry Davis (vocals). Also playing are Jack Vaughn on guitar, Jerry Allison on drums, UNK on bass, and the Picks on backing vocals. Recorded at Petty’s studio. Both songs were released in 1957. One source lists these two songs as being recorded on 7/12/57.

SUGARTIME (Charlie Phillips/Otis Echoles) (Two versions, only one was released and bootlegged in 6/95-A.)

ONE FADED ROSE (Otis Echoles/Nina Baggett/Charlie Phillips) Buddy sings harmony.

Buddy plays guitar on recording by Charlie Phillips (vocals). Also playing are Jack Vaughn on guitar, Jerry Allison on drums, UNK on bass, Vi Petty on piano, Norman Petty on organ, Jimmy Blakely on steel guitar, and the Roses on backing vocals. Recorded at Petty’s studio. Both songs were released in 1957.

UNK/57 "KSYD PROMO" Buddy records a spoken promo for radio station KSYD in Wichita Falls, Texas. Released and also bootlegged in 6/95-A. It can be heard http://buddyholly.8m.com/songs.html.

Norman Petty, Vi Petty and Jack Vaughn
7/20 & 22/57 MOONDREAMS (Norman Petty) (Two versions) Buddy plays guitar on an instrumental recording by Norman Petty as The Norman Petty Trio. Norman played the organ. Also playing were Vi Petty on piano, Mike Mitchell on percussion and the Picks with backing vocals on one version. Two versions were recorded, only one was released in 1957. The other was bootlegged in 6/95-A. The song was recorded at Petty's studio in Clovis, New Mexico.

Sun. 7/28/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets leave Texas from the Amarillo, Texas airport for New York City with the following advice from Norman Petty: "Be at the Amarillo Air Terminal Sunday evening July 28th at least by 6:30 to check reservations and check baggage. Take enough cash along to pay for excess weight and meals between flights. Take about thirty or forty dollars cash...the rest in Travelers Checks. Be sure to take all available identification for each member of the group. Sign only engagement contracts and nothing more. Take extra sets of guitar strings drum sticks, heads, etc. Take out floater insurance for entire group with everyone's name on the contract. Be sure to pack records with clothes to take on trip. Take all available clean underwear...and other articles for use on trip. When you get to New York...take a cab directly to the Edison Hotel and check in there. We will see you about noon of that day. Get at least two dozen Dramamine tablets...and take one tablet at least fifteen minutes before departure. Make out trip insurance to your parents. Take at least twenty-five feet of extension cord. Take small shine kit for trip. Toilet articles of your choice. Get telephone credit card and carry with you. Take a small Bible with you and READ IT! Get Hotel Credit Cards or at least make application for them. Be sure to get and keep receipts for all money spent. Be sure to send money to Clovis for bank account..."

Fri.8/2/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets start a one-week tour with Clyde McPhatter, the Cadillacs, Otis Rush, and others at the Howard Theater in Washington, DC.

Sun. 8/4/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy and the Crickets rent a car and drive around the Washington, DC area sightseeing. Buddy develops laryngitis and Niki has to fill in on vocals for that night at the Howard Theater.

Wed. 8/7/57 UNRECORDED: Niki discovers that his new Gibson electric guitar has been stolen from backstage at the Howard Theater in Washington, DC.

Fri.8/9/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets continue the tour at the Royal Theater in Baltimore, Maryland.

F-F 8/16-23/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the famous Apollo Theater in New York City. By now the audience knew the group was white and so the scene of surprise in the movie, "The Buddy Holly Story", is incorrect, at least from the management's standpoint. There had been a black group named "Crickets" years earlier and some of the audience may have been confused. They were, however, the first all-white group to perform there.
A clip of J.I. talking about the first tour and the mix-up about being black is shown on website http://www.vastvideo.com/i/2.1/navigate.asp?cid=171

Fri.8/23/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform on the Alan Freed Show in New York City, NY.

UNK/57 "WACK PROMO" Buddy records a spoken promo for "The Dick Harlen Show" on New York radio station WACK. Released and bootlegged in 5/95-A. It can be heard on website http://buddyholly.8m.com/songs.html.

Mon.8/26/57 THAT'LL BE THE DAY (Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty) The Crickets lip-sync their record on Dick Clark's "American Bandstand" TV show in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. A "kinescope" (a movie of the TV screen shot during the live broadcast) still exists. Released.
The Beatles loved Buddy Holly and recorded this song by him. For a similiar book on the Beatles written by this author, go to http://homepage.ntlworld.com/p.moorcroft

Late August/57
DON'T DO ME THIS WAY (Unknown)
PATTY BABY (Tucker/Baker) Buddy plays guitar on recordings by Rick Tucker (vocals and rhythm guitar). Also playing are Also playing are Roy Orbison on lead guitar, Don Guess on bass, Bo Clark on drums and the Pick on backing vocals. Recorded at Petty's studio. Both songs were released in 1957.

Tues.8/27/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform on the Ted Steele TV Show in New York City.

Sa.-Th. 9/1-5/57 Buddy and the Crickets perform in Alan Freed’s "Biggest Show of Stars for 1957" tour with Paul Williams, Chuck Berry, The Spaniels, Johnnie and Joe, The Bobettes, Paul Anka, The Drifters, Frankie Lymon, Lavern Baker, the Everly Brothers, Jimmy Bowen, Clyde McPhatter, and Sam "The Man" Taylor at the Brooklyn Paramount Theater in New York, NY.

Fri. 9/6/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform in Alan Freed’s "Biggest Show of Stars for 1957" tour with Paul Williams, Chuck Berry, The Spaniels, Johnnie and Joe, The Bobettes, Paul Anka, The Drifters, Frankie Lymon, Lavern Baker, the Everly Brothers, Jimmy Bowen, Clyde McPhatter, and Sam "The Man" Taylor at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Sat. 9/7/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Mosque in Richmond, Virginia.

Sun. 9/8/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at Carr’s Beach in Annapolis, Maryland.

Mon. 9/9/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Norfolk, Virginia.

Tues.9/10/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Akron Armory in Akron, Ohio.

Wed. 9/11/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Cincinnati Gardens in Cincinnati, Ohio.

Thurs. 9/12/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Veteran’s Memorial Auditorium in Columbus, Ohio.

Fri. 9/13/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Sports Arena in Hershey, Pennsylvania.

Sat. 9/14/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Maple Leaf Gardens in Toronto, Ontario.

Sun. 9/15/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec.

Mon. 9/16/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Onondaga Memorial Auditorium in Syracuse, New York.

Tues. 9/17/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the War Memorial Auditorium in Rochester, New York.

Wed. 9/18/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Coliseum in Baltimore, Maryland.

Thurs. 9/19/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Memorial Auditorium in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Fri. 9/20/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Memorial Coliseum in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Sat. 9/21/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sun. 9/22/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Memorial Auditorium in Atlanta, Georgia. After performing two shows, Buddy and the Crickets stay at the Dinkler-Plaza Hotel in downtown Atlanta.

Mon. 9/23/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the New Auditorium in Columbus, Georgia.

Tues. 9/24/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Memorial Auditorium in Chattanooga, Tennessee.

Wed. 9/25/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Birmingham, Alabama.

Thurs. 9/26/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Fri. 9/27/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Auditorium in Memphis, Tennessee.

Sat. 9/28/57 MAYBE BABY (Charles Hardin "Buddy"/Norman Petty) A re-recording. Niki Sullivan plays the second lead. The song was released on 2/12/58-S, 11/57-A.

YOU’VE GOT LOVE (Johnny "Peanuts" Wilson/Roy Orbison/Norman Petty) The song was released in 11/57-A.

ROCK ME MY BABY (Susan Heather/Shorty Long) The song was released in 11/57-A.

AN EMPTY CUP (AND A BROKEN DATE) (Roy OrbisonNorman Petty) The song was released in 11/57-A.

All four of these songs were recorded in the Officers Lounge Club at the Tinker Air Force Base in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, as the Crickets were on tour. Buddy on lead guitar, Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass, and Jerry Allison on drums. The Picks added vocal harmonies on 10/11-13/57.

Sat. 9/28/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

Sun. 9/29/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Mon. 9/30/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform in Wichita Falls, Texas.

Tues. 10/1/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the New Auditorium in Dallas, Texas.

Wed. 10/2/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Will Rogers Memorial Auditorium in Fort Worth, Texas.

Thurs. 10/3/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Heart of Texas Auditorium in Waco, Texas.

Fri. 10/4/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in San Antonio, Texas.

Sat. 10/5/57 UNRECORDED: UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform two shows at the Memorial Coliseum in Corpus Christi, Texas along with Fats Domino, Frankie Lymon, LaVern Baker, Chuck Berry, Clyde McPhatter, Paul Anka, the Bobbettes, the Spaniels, and the Drifters.

Sun. 10/6/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Coliseum in Houston, Texas.

Mon. 10/7/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the City Coliseum in Austin, Texas.

Tues. 10/8/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the El Paso Civic Auditorium in El Paso, Texas.

Wed. 10/9/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Albuquerque, New Mexico.

Thurs. 10/10/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Catalina High School Auditorium in Tucson, Arizona.

Fri. 10/11/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Coliseum in Phoenix, Arizona.

Sat. 10/12/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Mission Beach Ballroom in San Diego, California.

Sun. 10/13/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Memorial Auditorium in Fresno, California.

Tues. 10/15/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Shrine Auditorium in Los Angeles, California.

Thurs. 10/17/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the San Jose Auditorium in San Jose, California.

Fri. 10/18/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Auditorium in Sacramento, California.

Sat. 10/19/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Civic Auditorium in San Francisco, California.

Sun. 10/20/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform a matinee show at the Civic Auditorium in Stockton, California and then an evening show at the Oakland Auditorium in Oakland, California.

Tues. 10/22/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Paramount Theatre in Portland, Oregon

Wed. 10/23/57 INTERVIEW: DJ Red Robinson interviews the Crickets at the Georgia Auditorium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada where they are performing. They talk about wanting to go home where the temperature isn't so "cool". When questioned about the future of rock and roll, Buddy says it'll probably last about 1 1/2 more years. Released on 9/16/80-A and 2/81-A. Bootlegged in 6/95-A.

Thurs. 10/24/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Temple Theatre in Tacoma, Washington.

Fri. 10/25/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Orpheum Theatre in Seattle, Washington.

Sat. 10/26/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform again at the Orpheum Theatre in Seattle, Washington.

Sun. 10/27/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Coliseum in Spokane, Washington.

Mon. 10/28/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the University of Idaho in Moscow, Idaho.

Tues. 10/29/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Stampede Corral in Calgary, Alberta.

Wed. 10/30/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Edmonton Gardens in Edmonton, Alberta.

Thurs. 10/31/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Exhibition Stadium in Regina, Saskatchewan.

Fri. 11/1/57 INTERVIEW: The tour with the Crickets performs at the Arena Auditorium in Denver, Colorado. DJ Freeman Hover drives 300 miles from his job at radio station KCSR in Chadron, Nebraska to interview Buddy and Eddie Cochran in Cochran's hotel room at the Albany Hotel in Denver. The hotel no longer exists but reportedly the tape does and it is released on "The Buddy Holly Story" in 2/81-A. Released. (Freeman told me “It (the copy of the tape) is probably another of the many bootlegs that came from a gift copy I gave to a family member of one of the deceased. The only label I ever released it (the tape) to was Rockstar in England who digitally re-mastered my original tape much later. More recently Rollercoaster released it again very nicely on a CD together with some other Buddy interviews.”

Sat. 11/2/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform two shows at the Forum in Wichita, Kansas during an eighty-day, seventy-city Irving Feld rock tour. Featured also are Fats Domino, LaVern Baker, Frankie Lymon, Chuck Berry, Clyde McPhatter, Eddie Cochran, Buddy Knox, The Diamonds, The Drifters, Paul Anka and Jimmy Bowen. Price: $2.00, $2.50 and $3.00.

Sun. 11/3/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Kansas City, Missouri.

Mon. 11/4/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Civic Auditorium Music Hall in Omaha, Nebraska.

Tues.11/5/57 INTERVIEW: The Crickets are interviewed by Dale Lowery backstage during the "Biggest Show of Stars" concert at the Municipal Auditorium in Topeka, Kansas for Topeka's radio station KTOP. You can hear others performing in the background. A long and short version were both released in 2/81-A. Bootlegged in 6/95-A.

Wed. 11/6/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Kiel Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri.

Thurs. 11/7/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Indiana Theatre in Indianapolis, Indiana.

Fri. 11/8/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Coliseum in Ft. Wayne, Indiana.

Sat. 11/9/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the State Fair Coliseum in Louisville, Kentucky.

Sun. 11/10/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Fox Theatre in Detroit, Michigan.

Mon. 11/11/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Sports Arena in Toledo, Ohio.

Tues. 11/12/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Syria Mosque in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Wed. 11/13/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Warner Brothers Theatre in Erie, Pennsylvania.

Thurs. 11/14/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the RPL Field House in Troy, New York.

Fri. 11/15/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Boston Gardens in Boston, Massachusetts.

Sat. 11/16/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the State Theatre in Hartford, Connecticut.

Sun. 11/17/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Forum in Montreal, Quebec, Canada.

Mon. 11/18/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Auditorium Arena in Ottawa, Canada.

Tues. 11/19/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Buffalo, New York.

Wed. 11/20/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Fri. 11/22/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Municipal Auditorium in Norfolk, Virginia.

Sat. 11/23/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets perform at the Coliseum in Charlotte, North Carolina.

Sun. 11/24/57 UNRECORDED: The tour ends with a performance at the Mosque in Richmond, Virginia.

Sun.12/1/57 THAT'LL BE THE DAY (Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty)

PEGGY SUE (Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty)

The Crickets are filmed (kinescope) performing these two songs live on the Ed Sullivan "Toast of the Town" TV show in New York City, NY. Ed calls Buddy over to him after performing and asks where the group is from, etc. Released in 2/81-A. Both songs were bootlegged in 6/95-A.

At this time Buddy’s folks are living at 1305 37th St.; Jerry’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. D. Allison are at 2215 6th St.; Niki Sullivan’s parents, Mr. and Mrs. Matt Sullivan are at 3102 44th St.; and Joe B.’s, parents, Mr. and Mrs. W. C. Mulcahy, live at 2401 25th St. in Lubbock, Texas.

W-Th 12/4-5/57 UNRECORDED: The Crickets return to Lubbock, Texas from their tour and Niki Sullivan leaves the group because of the harsh touring.

Tues.12/17/57 LITTLE BABY (Buddy Holly/C.W. Kendall, Jr./Norman Petty) C.W.Kendall, Jr. played piano. Released in 3/58-A.

(YOU'RE SO SQUARE) BABY I DON'T CARE (Jerry Leiber/Mike Stoller) Released in 3/58-A, 9/61-S. The Picks added background vocals on 6/29/84. Jerry played a cardboard box.

Both songs were recorded at Norman Petty’s studio in Clovis, New Mexico with Buddy on guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass, Jerry Allison on percussion, and C. W. Kendall, Jr. on piano. Released in 3/58-A.

Thur.12/19/57 LOOK AT ME (Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty) Released in 3/58-A. Recorded at Petty's NorVaJak Studios in Clovis, New Mexico with Buddy on guitar, Joe Mauldin on bass, Jerry Allison on drums and Vi Petty on piano.

Sat.12/28/57 PEGGY SUE (Buddy Holly/Jerry "J.I." Allison/Norman Petty) The Crickets perform in tuxedos on the "Arthur Murray Dance Party" TV show in New York City, NY. A kinescope exists of the show and can be seen in "The Real Buddy Holly Story" film. Released and the sound portion was bootlegged in 6/95-A.

Th.-Tu. 12/26-31/57 UNRECORDED: Buddy Holly and the Crickets start a 12-day tour for Alan Freed’s "Holiday of Stars" at the Paramount Theater in Brooklyn, New York. They are each billed separately along with Fats Domino, Jerry Lee Lewis, the Everly Brothers, the Rays, Danny and the Juniors, Paul Anka, Lee Andrews and the Hearts, the Shepherd Sisters, Little Joe Dubs, Thurston Harris, the Teenagers, Jo Ann Campbell, the Twin Tunes, Terry Noland, Earl Warren, and Sam "the man" Taylor.

Click on the links below

Copyright © 2000 Terry R. Shaw All rights reserved.

The information on these pages is presented for educational and research purposes only. As it deals with a historical subject, specific items of information are necessarily derived from many other sources. I have attempted to give those sources the credit due them. However, the combination, layout and presentation of the information is original, copyrighted and may not be copied or reproduced in any form or medium without the express permission of the author. Anyone who feels that any item in these pages may have inadvertently breached their own copyright should advise the author at this e-mail address: tshaw75@charter.net so that appropriate remedial action can be taken.