H
hornet61
Guest
"I can't remember If I Cried
when I read about his widowed bride
something touched me deep inside
the day the music died"
As we approach the 50th anniversary, I think back to my very first Lp I ever purchased, the self titled "Ritchie Valens". I was 13 years old and was a big fan of the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly, but I had recently discovered this exciting new singer Ritchie Valens, even at 13, I could appreciate that this sound was coming from a kid that was only 3 years older than I was. His raucous cuts "Thats my Little Susie", "Ooh My Head", "Bonnie Maronie" were obviously inspired by his LA neighbors on the Specialty Label, Little Richard and Larry Wiliams. His Ballads were so beautiful, so much so, that the Beatles (subconsciously, I'm sure) used his background music note for note for their own "This Boy". Due to his age and lack of training his compositions were very raw, a mere semblence of their final product, that is where the classically trained musician Bob keene played such a big role in cleaning up, in every aspect, the final product that was released.
The real effect produced by the tragedy that took those three incredible performers, is imeasurable, in what future things would have come from those artists. I miss them all, still to this day, and have over the years collected everything by them.
A Local LA DJ wrote a song when he heard the news and recorded it on the local LA Indie Label "Crest Records", as Tommy Dee and the Teenaires ...."Three Stars", immediatly coverd by "Eddie Cochran"
Lyrics to Three Stars, Eddie Cocrhan version, slightly different from the Tommy Dee version(still trying to find those lyrics) :
Look up in the sky, up towards the north
There are three new stars, brightly shining forth
They're shining oh so bright, from heaven above
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love
Ritchie, you were just starting to reallize your dreams
Everyone calls me a kid, but you were only seventeen
Now almighty God has called you, oh so far away
Maybe it's to save some boy or girl, who might have gone astray
And with your star shining through the dark and lonely night
To light the path and show the way, the way that's right
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love
Buddy, I can still see you with that shy grin on your face
Seems like your hair was always a little messed up, kinda out of place
Now not many people actually knew you, or understood how you felt
But just a song from, just a song from you could make the coldest heart melt
Well, you're singing for God now, in his chorus in the sky
Buddy Holly, I'll always remember you, with tears in my eyes
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love
I see a stout man, the Big Bopper's your name
God called you to heaven, maybe for new fortune and fame
Keep wearing that big Stetson hat, and ramble up to the mic
And don't forget those wonderful words, "you know what I like"
Look up in the sky, up towards the north
There are three new stars, brightly shining forth
They're shining oh so bright, from heaven above
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love
when I read about his widowed bride
something touched me deep inside
the day the music died"
As we approach the 50th anniversary, I think back to my very first Lp I ever purchased, the self titled "Ritchie Valens". I was 13 years old and was a big fan of the Big Bopper and Buddy Holly, but I had recently discovered this exciting new singer Ritchie Valens, even at 13, I could appreciate that this sound was coming from a kid that was only 3 years older than I was. His raucous cuts "Thats my Little Susie", "Ooh My Head", "Bonnie Maronie" were obviously inspired by his LA neighbors on the Specialty Label, Little Richard and Larry Wiliams. His Ballads were so beautiful, so much so, that the Beatles (subconsciously, I'm sure) used his background music note for note for their own "This Boy". Due to his age and lack of training his compositions were very raw, a mere semblence of their final product, that is where the classically trained musician Bob keene played such a big role in cleaning up, in every aspect, the final product that was released.
The real effect produced by the tragedy that took those three incredible performers, is imeasurable, in what future things would have come from those artists. I miss them all, still to this day, and have over the years collected everything by them.
A Local LA DJ wrote a song when he heard the news and recorded it on the local LA Indie Label "Crest Records", as Tommy Dee and the Teenaires ...."Three Stars", immediatly coverd by "Eddie Cochran"
Lyrics to Three Stars, Eddie Cocrhan version, slightly different from the Tommy Dee version(still trying to find those lyrics) :
Look up in the sky, up towards the north
There are three new stars, brightly shining forth
They're shining oh so bright, from heaven above
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love
Ritchie, you were just starting to reallize your dreams
Everyone calls me a kid, but you were only seventeen
Now almighty God has called you, oh so far away
Maybe it's to save some boy or girl, who might have gone astray
And with your star shining through the dark and lonely night
To light the path and show the way, the way that's right
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love
Buddy, I can still see you with that shy grin on your face
Seems like your hair was always a little messed up, kinda out of place
Now not many people actually knew you, or understood how you felt
But just a song from, just a song from you could make the coldest heart melt
Well, you're singing for God now, in his chorus in the sky
Buddy Holly, I'll always remember you, with tears in my eyes
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love
I see a stout man, the Big Bopper's your name
God called you to heaven, maybe for new fortune and fame
Keep wearing that big Stetson hat, and ramble up to the mic
And don't forget those wonderful words, "you know what I like"
Look up in the sky, up towards the north
There are three new stars, brightly shining forth
They're shining oh so bright, from heaven above
Gee we're gonna miss you, everybody sends their love