Buddy Holly Remembered On His Birthday - Rare Photos

The March 1958 tour was one of the first to showcase American Rock 'n' Roll in the U.K. Among the audience members were two teenagers named John Lennon and Paul McCartney.

 Born on this day American musician and singer - songwriter, Buddy Holly, (Born Charles Hardin Holley; Sept 7 1936 – Feb 3 1959) would have been 79 today. During his short career, Holly wrote, recorded and produced his own material. He is often regarded as the act that defined the traditional rock-and-roll lineup of two guitars, bass and drums. The Crickets, (1957 US No.1 'That'll Be The Day', 1959 UK No.1 single 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore', plus over 15 other UK Top 40 singles). Holly was killed in a plane crash on 3rd February 1959. The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valans were also killed in the crash. Holly was a major influence on later popular music artists and bands, including The Beatles, The Rolling Stones, Eric Clapton & Elton John. He was among the first acts to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986, and later ranked by Rolling Stone at number thirteen on its list of "100 Greatest Artists".

Watch ‪#‎BuddyHolly‬ & ‪#‎TheCrickets‬ perform 'That'll Be The Day'.

The Crickets — Jerry Allison (left) and Joe Mauldin — enjoy a moment of fun prior to taking the stage.

Holly poses with the Tanner Sisters, another act on the 1958 U.K. tour

Holly poses at London's "Whiskey A Go Go". Had he lived, he would have turned 79 today.

More about Buddy: http://content.time.com/time/arts/article/0,8599,1876542,00.html