True Love Ways

I just skimmed my calendar and realized one of the reasons today is significant; it is the anniversary of the death of a man many of you may not be familiar with, but if you listen to American popular music, you hear him Every Day.



His name is Buddy Holly, and he, along with Richie Valens and the Big Bopper, died in a tragic plane crash on a snowy night 50 years ago.

I think for many of you Holly comes off as either a little sappy, a little simplistic, or both. But if you know the story of his life you may be appreciate who Holly was and the lessons we potentially gain from him.

Holly was a musical rebel in the 1950s, an artist who was offered a great deal of cash to sound like everyone else. And, even though he was desperate to be heard, he refused to compromise his sound. His friends and family thought he was nuts, but he held on and eventually found a producer who would give him what he wanted on his terms. And in doing that, Holly went on the produce a string of amazing pop standards that still stand the test of time—Every Day, Oh Boy!, Peggy Sue, Maybe Baby and one of his final songs dedicated to his wife Maria Elana—True Love Ways.

Listen to his music via iTunes or some other music vendor and tune into his clear, natural voice. Or if you want, one of the best bio-pics Hollywood ever cranked out is The Buddy Holly Story (before Gary Busey bumped his head ☺).



I hope this does not come off sounding like some sort of motivational speaker’s pitch. Compromises are part of life. We set out to achieve a goal and then, many times, events big and small force us to rethink what we want, what we need and what we absolutely have to have. But be very careful with compromises. Make too many and we lose a very precious asset—you.

Thanks for the music and the example Buddy--rest in peace.