Buddy Holly would have turned 75 years old yesterday and, in remembrance, the city of Los Angeles declared it Buddy Holly Day.
As part of the day's events, a Hollywood Walk of Fame star unveiling attended by Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly and her family, Peter Asher, (executive producer of Listen to Me: Buddy Holly), Phil Everly, Gary Busey, Albert Lee, and Ritchie Valens' family were among those in attendance. "I know Buddy is looking down and saying thanks to all of you," Maria Elena said.
Maria Elena Holly was even spotted joining in when a flashmob crowd gathered in the street and rocked to the tune of Stevie Nicks belting out Not Fade Away before the ceremony. In addition to international tv crews, Holly's hometown station, KCBD from Lubbock, Texas, streamed the show live for a crowd of fans at the Buddy Holly Center in honor of their hometown hero.
At a private reception after the ceremony, Gary Busey performed for the crowd as friends, family and fans shared memories.
Later on, a star-studded concert took place in Hollywood at The Music Box. Fans ranging from Priscilla Presley to Nigel Lythgoe to Pete Wentz to Tia Barr were in attendance to see artists from the Listen To Me album and others honor the legendary Holly. The night began with a vocal tribute from Brian Wilson and his band singing Happy Birthday to Buddy, followed by a champagne toast. The performances opened with a rocking Stevie Nicks number and closed with a scorching rendition and grand finale of all the artists joining for That'll Be The Day. Performers included Paul Anka, Michelle Branch, Cobra Starship, Shawn Colvin, Phil Everly (who sang for the first time in five years in tribute to his close personal friend), Chris Isaak, Lyle Lovett, Raul Malo, Graham Nash, Boz Scaggs, Patrick Stump, and more. James Burton and Albert Lee, two of the world's greatest guitarists, riffed together as part of the finale. The concert was filmed in HD for an upcoming PBS holiday pledge drive.
Taped tributes from Keith Richards, Ringo Starr, Isaac Slade, Natalie Merchant, Imelda May, Pat Monahan, Jackson Browne, Eric Idle, and others honoring Holly and his music were given.
The recently released tribute album, Listen to Me: Buddy Holly, jumped to number three on the Amazon.com and number twelve on iTunes best sellers' lists and has already garnered critical praise upon release from USA Today, to Rolling Stone, to The Los Angeles Times. The celebration continues with more events into 2012.
The set list for the tribute:
Not Fade Away - Stevie Nicks
Well … All Right - Lyle Lovett
I'm Looking for Someone to Love - Lyle Lovett w/ James Burton
Learning the Game - Shawn Colvin
Everyday - Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy
Oh Boy - Patrick Stump of Fall Out Boy
Crying, Waiting, Hoping - Chris Isaak
Words of Love - Michelle Branch w/Graham Nash
Raining in My Heart - Graham Nash
Take Your Time - Graham Nash & Peter Asher
Maybe Baby - Boz Scaggs
Rave On - Boz Scaggs, Graham Nash & Peter Asher
Listen to Me - Raul Malo
Heartbeat - Michelle Branch & Chris Isaak
Peggy Sue - Gabe Saporta & Victoria Asher of Cobra Starship
Think It Over - Gabe Saporta & Patrick Stump
I Guess It Doesn't Matter Anymore - Paul Anka
It's So Easy - Stevie Nicks
True Love Ways - Raul Malo
That'll Be The Day - Malo, Colvin, Lovett, Everly, Branch and ensemble
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