Every year, the city comes together to celebrate the life and legacy of Buddy Holly.
“Buddy Holly is synonymous with Lubbock and our favorite son obviously,” said Tim Collins, board chairman of the Lubbock Entertainment Performing Arts Association. “It’s hard to measure the level of impact he has made on our community from his originations, to the ’50s, ’til today.”
Holly’s style, genre and love for music continues to influence generation after generation. The students and teachers of Roscoe Wilson Elementary know what it is like to walk the halls of the same school that Holly did.
“We are excited to be able to celebrate that Buddy Holly did in fact attend school here at Roscoe Wilson,” said Paula January, principal.
September 7, 2018, marks what would be the 82nd birthday of Buddy Holly.
It is being celebrated in good spirit, as the students of Roscoe Wilson paid tribute by hosting a ’50s Birthday Party, with everyone dressed in poodle skirts, peddle pushers, white T-shirts, cuffed jeans and over-sized glasses. There was singing and dancing, just like to old sock hops in Buddy’s time.
Celebrations continue at the Buddy Holly Center until 9 p.m., where Holly’s birthday bash is free to attend. And perhaps at next year’s celebration, Lubbock residents will have the opportunity to come together at the new Buddy Holly Hall.
“We hope at Buddy Holly Hall that we can build on that. In the future, we’re looking forward to having a facility that can honor his music, play his music and show the world what his music has meant for us here in Lubbock,” said Collins.
