What would have happened if...?

[Dawn]

Due to the changes that have taken place in my life recently, I've been in sort of a philosophical mood lately, wondering why things come together the way they do and what the outcomes would be if certain elements had happened in a different way. I thought it might make for an interesting feature to speculate on some of these "what-ifs" as they relate to key events in pop/rock music.

Buddy Holly was unquestionably one of the great pioneers of rock, and though his life tragically ended at a very young age, his influence is still felt today. What would have happened had the plane not crashed that sad day? What direction would Buddy's music have taken in the '60s and beyond? Would it have impacted the timing of the musical genres that developed during the '60s, like psychedelia? Would Buddy still be active in the music business today?

All this is conjecture, and there are no wrong answers, but I thought it would be cool to discuss the possible outcomes and would like to hear your thoughts.

[Ken]

Very nice idea for a new thread, Dawn.

I think Buddy would have carried on recording without a doubt, not only in the rock genre but I think he would have (say, starting in the 60's) maybe branched out into country (much like Jerry Lee Lewis did later in his career).

I think he also would have spent time producing albums for other artists.


I would like to think that as with other artists of the 50's and 60's that yes, he would still be in the business today performing his music for all to enjoy.

[m c dornan]

I think he woulda been like other 50s acts, and been left behind by Beatlemania. And then psychedelia.

He'd be at the Arizona State Fair every fall...

[Dawn]

kenfrank said:

Very nice idea for a new thread, Dawn.

I think Buddy would have carried on recording without a doubt, not only in the rock genre but I think he would have (say, starting in the 60's) maybe branched out into country (much like Jerry Lee Lewis did later in his career).

I think he also would have spent time producing albums for other artists.


I would like to think that as with other artists of the 50's and 60's that yes, he would still be in the business today performing his music for all to enjoy.

Thanks Ken.

I'm with you - I can definitely see him being successful in the country field as well as rock, or possibly a blend of the two similar to Poco or the Eagles. Perhaps he and Waylon Jennings would have worked together as a duo or in a group. I too think he would have assumed the role of producer, especially as he and Norman Petty had parted ways and he was becoming more familiar with recording techniques.

[Dawn]

mcdornan1 said:

I think he woulda been like other 50s acts, and been left behind by Beatlemania. And then psychedelia.

He'd be at the Arizona State Fair every fall...

It's true that a number of the '50s artists couldn't seem to sustain their momentum as the '60s unfolded, especially toward the latter part of the decade. I'm not sure why that was - maybe too drastic of a change in music trends for them, or possibly competition from the large pool of artists from the British Invasion and others of that era. It was definitely an interesting era - I wish I had been able to experience it firsthand.

[H2IZCOOL]

Well... for one thing, no one would have ever heard of Bobby Vee or Tommy Roe -- and The Hollies would have had a different name - or may not have existed at all.

Im a cynic, I'm afraid. As talented as Buddy was, I think that had he lived, he would have never become an icon. I think MC is right; he would have been swept aside by the times. The mystique arose from his death.

That's not to say that he didn't have talent - he had a lot of it.

[texasrose]

Knowing as much as I already know about Buddy Holly by both first hand and second hand by one of his friends, Ray Rush. I agree partly with Ken's view that Buddy would be producing and promoting music of unknown musicians.
Buddy was quite a wild person in real life. Who knows what Buddy might be doing if he were alive now? Without a helmet, he'd probably rear up his motorcycle on its rear wheel and ride down the highway at full throttle!

[shaunsmorninggirl]

I could see him branching in the direction of country, too. I think his career would've skyrocketed in that genre. I don't think he wouldv'e been able to keep up with the 'rock & roll' scene, without going 'pop'. and 'pop' just didn't seem to be 'where it was at' during this time. Rock was going psychedelic or hard, and metal was just around the corner. For some reason, I see him getting very frustrated by this. This is when I see him behind the scenes, producing.

I'm sure if he were around in the 80's, he'd totally dig The Stray Cats.