Buddy Holly & The Crickets "Peggy Sue" on The Ed Sullivan Show 

The drummer is Jerry Allison who died on August 22, 2022. One of the finest Rock 'n Roll drumming performances ever filmed. Rave on!!!

My dad still rants and raves about Buddy Holly. My dad is 84 years old

I was in seventh grade in a Catholic school in Chicago when our teacher, a nun, announced the death of Richie Valens, Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper in a plane crash. I was aware of the music of all three and it appeared our teacher was too. She was very solemn and asked that the class bow our heads and recite a prayer for the souls of the three departed. I still remember that scene as if it happened yesterday.

The drummer is incredible. He's driving the song and so in the pocket, so relaxed. He does some connecting with Buddy's singing/melody, Just incredible.

RIP the four members of The Crickets Buddy Holly (September 7, 1936 - February 3, 1959), aged 22 Niki Sullivan (June 23, 1937 - April 6, 2004), aged 66 Jerry Allison (August 31, 1939 - August 22, 2022), aged 82 Joe B. Mauldin (July 8, 1940 - February 7, 2015), aged 74 You will be remembered as legends.

Paul McCartney would throw a big party every year on Buddy’s birthday honoring him with many musicians just celebrating his music.

It sounds so innocent but man did this kick off a revolution.

I saw Buddy perform live in 1958. He put on a great show. R.I.P. . .

Years ahead of his time. Had he not boarded that flight who knows what glorious music he would have produced over a couple of decades or more.

Prodigious drummer. Many tried but nobody ever played paradiddles as Jerry Allison..pure high class for an 18 year old.

The drummer is SO relaxed...and I enjoy the beautiful simplicity of performance and the music.

Buddy Holly deserves to be remembered on how people remember Chuck Berry and Elvis nowadays

Happy 84th birthday in heaven Buddy.

The Hollies and The Beatles both chose their names because they loved Buddy Holly & The Crickets.

He accomplished a lot musically for how young he was. That was a huge loss to music.

I was 13 when I discovered rock and roll when this song came out I had a baby sitter who had the name Peggy Sue and when they played this song she went bananas over this song. Just a silly little memory of my teen age years. They were the best of times with lots of soft fuzzy memories. I grew up in a two parent household! Both my parents are gone now, I have just turned 78 and I have had a blessed live. God has been good to me and I want to let God know I appreciate everything he has done for me. I am not ready to go off into the sunset just yet. I am keeping busy . Watching, waiting and listening for God's call. I am believing and trusting. Thank you God for everything.

RIP Jerry. You gave us the best drumming in one of the best bands.

they're all reunited now.

and what a drummer Allison was...way ahead of his age and his times. Super class and unique.

I was so shocked to hear of the passing of drummer Jerry Allison. He was 82. May Jerry Allison rest in peace.

The Stratocaster's first ever appearance with a famous musicians, that honor goes to Buddy Holly

RIP to all on that flight... the day the music died...

I love how they come off as a band at a company party event; But, they literally made music that changed the world more than anything and anyone of the last 25 years.

To address the concerns of those commenting about the audio and picture quality; Ed Sullivan used kinoscopes until July 1959, when he switched over to video tape. As a result, at that time, there is a marked increase in sound and video quality. Most TV shows of the '50's were recorded on kinoscopes as that was all that was available. We are fortunate that the Ed Sullivan shows were preserved as many kinoscopes of other shows are lost. As for uploading in HD, video footage can only look as good as the source material. Whether or not someone uploads in HD, it won't truly be HD if it wasn't shot in HD, and HD didn't exist then. Some people have uploaded this Buddy Holly footage with fake HD, and by over-laying the studio recording over the original audio track, which is why their posts sound technically better. Here you are getting the footage in its original form, with live audio (not an over-laid studio recording matched up to the original live performance) and looking the way it was originally broadcasted in 1957. You have to make allowances for the technology that was available at the time. Of course, the shows from the fall of 1959 onward exist in better condition since they were recorded on videotape and the technology progressively got better. Let's not discourage them from uploading these vintage kinoscopes, because the 1950's (as well as the early 1960's) episodes of Ed Sullivan featured some of the greatest performers, and much of the footage is quite rare. I'd love to see all the musical performances from the black and white episodes.

The drummer was killing it. Just chilled to the max.

Buddy Holly.......the ever important bridge between Elvis and the Beatles

Jerry Allison has to be one of the greatest drummers of all time and one of the main reasons why I started playing drums. Just love him

Buddy Holly may have left us too early at the age of 22, but what a legacy he left behind for us to enjoy. Thank you Buddy, R.I.P.

Weird how I was revisiting Buddy Holly and the Crickets’ catalogue only to find out Jerry Allison is now gone. RIP to everyone in this video. Now you can all rock in heaven.

So nice to hear a song without cymbals getting whacked at every moment.

He lived long enough to change HOW Rock was played. Rather than deep twangy guitar and clicking on the drum kit, they SHREDDED IT. Percussion was more active and moved forward in the mix. The guitar was played with the concept of having a rhythm guitar and a lead guitar. He was a game changer regarding HOW rock was executed.

ALL those performers "looked" nice; combed hair, dress suits, ties, etc. Quite nice to see these old videos, showing talented youths!

My Father saw Buddy Holly and the Crickets 1957 at Montréal Forum. With Fats Domino, The Everly Bros, Franky Limon and Eddie Cochran. My father said Buddy Holly steal the Show ! Big Hug from Québec !

A lot of people say modern rock and roll started with the Beatles, who I love, but I believe it started with these guys. I wasn't around yet (born 1963) but I was hooked the first time I heard them!

This drumming performance will always stand out to me because my man didn't touch the hi hat the entire performance which is pretty rare for rock n roll

Fantastic! I covered this great song when I started singing and playing all over the north of England in the sixties. Preston was my home town and I remember my friends from way back then. Buddy Holly has a special place in my heart ❤️🎤🎶🎶🎶

Holy crap, listening/watching this in 2021 makes me realize just how influential this is!

This is the blueprint for rock and roll.

He's a bit before my time (I'm only 71) but it still sends shivers down my spine - a unique style and brilliant.

Buddy and Allison were on their way to great things together. A combo that would've defined the 60's.

I love the clean cut College boy look of the fifties. Also the drummer Jerry Allison mad e it look so easy. It probably wasn't! Classic song.

It makes any fan want to cry. His time was very limited but he indeed accomplished a lot. A flawless performance (& the film print is good too) This was his second big hit and by this time he is a rock and roll star, barely 21 years old. Drummer Jerry Allison recently passed away.

Moments before this show Buddy’s front tooth was knocked out by Jerry. Here he sings with a piece of gum in his mouth to cover the gap!!!! Now thats rock n roll 💪🏻

TEXAS BOYS, DO IT!

I am 73 years old and I really like them still like Buddy Holly and the Crickets.

65 years without Buddy Holly😭❤️ R.I.P Buddy Holly🤍🤍

Buddy looks so confident it's insane

A legend who left us too soon. What a legacy. RIP Buddy.

I can remember hearing this song on my red rocket transistor radio when it was first on the charts, and singing, "Piggy Sue" as a ten-year-old kid. Now, as a guitarist myself of 60 years, I can say that Holly had more rock influence on the development of other musicians, than perhaps any other one musician ...

R.I.P Jerry Allison 1940-2022

I absolutely love the beatles. But withou Buddy Holly they never would of even happened. This guy was the man!

The rare sighting of a legend. RIP Buddy Holly. Thanks for inspiring John, Paul, George & Ringo.

Rock n Roll. The BEST invention in my lifetime. God bless Jerry Allison. R.I.P

The brilliance of Buddy Holly and the Crickets never ceases to amaze me. He was more essential to the future of Rock than anyone. The Beatles knew it. I think everyone really did.

Came here to say RIP Jerry Allison! Was a great musician!

The down beat strumming is tremendous by Buddy.

Never gets old. The inflection of his voice brings it all together.

He is drumming so fast and effortlessly.

R.I.P Jerry Allison…together with Buddy,Nikki and Joe xx Never forgotten

Rest in peace Buddy, Jerry, Joe, and Niki ❤️

Wish he'd still been around for even a little while longer, the buddy holly of the 60s couldve been a game changer. Oh well, such is life, for what he was while he was here, boy howdy did he do a whole hell of a lot.

Buddy was a rock and roll genius and inspiration for all who came after him. Love this performance, you can see every one of the band are loving it! We missed out on so much great music when Buddy died. 😢

No telling where this guy would've gone in the 60's had he lived. He was a trailblazer and would've done some extraordinarily hip stuff. What a loss. And most importantly, The Beatles wouldn't have been the band we know today had it not been for this dude, Chuck Berry and Elvis -- The Holy Trinity.

It's now the year of 2021, and Buddy Holly still rocks!

Just four guy´s having a great time. Brilliant.

STILL A NUMBER ONE HIT AND ON THE CHARTS FOR 63 YEARS. CAN ANY GROUP TOP THIS

There were a lot of things that made this song and Buddy’s performing so great. I would say the drumming is 1#. It was the first rock song I heard as a kid, It’s immediately so strong, and like other songs, I kept expecting the change, but it never does. Dominates all the way through to the end. A very unusual journey for the ears.

The great Buddy Holly. He's always been my favorite Rock star from the 50's.

Rock and roll late 50s what a great time for rock and roll

Just a side story. I live in Iowa, not terribly far from the crash site. After all this time, people still come to the site and to the restaurant, or club, where they performed. There's a yearly "event", ending with a sold out show at the restaurant!

So lucky to have meet the Crickets after a concert a few years ago and get a picture with them. Really nice guys, sadly 2 have past since then. Rock on guys.

Buddy Holly was unique with his singing style and his hiccups. It was charming to hear him and he didn’t even need a microphone. He was only 22 when he passed on and God knows the heights he would have reached musically. RIP

I just heard the news that Jerry Allison passed away. May Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison rest in peace. Cheers!

W always good to see a nerd make it. God bless him

Buddy Holly museum in Lubbock is amazing. I cried when I saw all his stuffs.

I have performed this song both solo and in bands since around 1960. I have never seen this clip before and I wish I had a drummer like that in my band days.

Buddy Holly & the Crickets were nothing but clean fun music to listen too. We need more music like him today. He died way to soon for his time..

One of the greatest from the Rock 'n Roll era.

RIP Jerry Allison; a great drummer.

Ladies and gentlemen, the first rock and roll band ever.

I could listen to this all day

Genius... he left us way too soon.

Great performance. R.I.P. Buddy and the Crickets.

Buddy Holly has such an extensive catalogue with incredible work. While I love his more familiar work such as "Peggy Sue" and "Everyday", I also love his other hits...which are played, but less often...such as "Rave On", and "Think It Over". Both solid rock 'n roll. He did great rock 'n roll...and also gave us some incredibly beautiful ballads.

There was another side to Sullivan: he could be very quick to take offense if he felt he had been crossed, and could hold a grudge for a long time. This could unfortunately be seen as a part of his TV personality. Buddy Holly became intimately familiar with Sullivan's negative side. On January 26, 1958, for their second appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show, Buddy Holly and the Crickets were scheduled to perform two songs. Sullivan wanted the band to substitute a different song for their record hit "Oh, Boy!", which he felt was too raucous. Holly had already told his hometown friends in Texas that he would be singing "Oh, Boy!" for them, and told Sullivan as much. During the afternoon the Crickets were summoned to rehearsal at short notice, but only Holly was in their dressing room. When asked where the others were, Holly replied, "I don't know. No telling." Sullivan then turned to Holly and said "I guess The Crickets are not too excited to be on The Ed Sullivan Show" to which Holly caustically replied, "I hope they're damn more excited than I am." Sullivan, already bothered by the choice of songs, was now even angrier. He cut the Crickets' act from two songs to one, and when introducing them mispronounced Holly's name, so it came out vaguely as 'Hollered' or "Holland." In addition, Sullivan saw to it that the line feed for Holly's electric guitar was turned off. Holly tried to compensate by singing as loudly as he could, and repeatedly trying to turn up the volume on his guitar. For the instrumental break he cut loose with a dramatic solo, making clear to the audience that the technical fault wasn't his. The band was received so well that Sullivan was forced to invite them back for a third appearance. Holly's response was that Sullivan didn't have enough money. Film of the performance survives; photographs taken that day show Sullivan looking angry and Holly smirking and perhaps ignoring Sullivan

Just love how smart and well groomed these guys were. And backing it up with great music. And the confidence just came through. They knew they had something special.

Classic performers. I could dance all night and Im 77. Dont know if Id make it to the morning. But id have a fun night.🌈

Who knows how big he would have become had he lived. Certainly he was the forerunner to all that came after including Elvis. He was a pioneer of the music that we know now.

"Rock and roll has been going downhill since Buddy Holly died". 'John Milner in American Graffiti

The 1st Rock performer to ever wear glasses. Peggy Sue was originally called Cindy Lou and the song didn't sound right. So Jerry Allison the drummer suggested to Buddy to use his girl's name as a song title. The rest is history because the Crickets were the standard lineup for a band. Other groups followed this example and others follow this example till this day.

This was the first 45 record that I ever bought.... so long ago. Actually, my Mother gave me the money to buy it!!!

The music , the colossal hits he created in the amount of time he walked the Earth . Staggering ..

Rock and roll really started with Buddy Holly.

Ed Sullivan didn't want them to play Peggy Sue, but Buddy told him to bug off. You can see Buddy looking to his right, where Sullivan stood, and smile

Man this song kicks, and the band is having a blast playing it.

A timeless masterpiece for a bygone epoch with rebellion, imagination and fantasy.Nothing can bring back memories better,than a song which he was once connected with.

'Now Texas boys do it,' and they did. No truer words spoken.

aww my sister Tammy told me to watch this , aww I remember my mom played this all the time when she was having adult drinks. I miss my mom. I love my sis Tammy for getting me to listen to it .

🎵🎶Oo-wee-oo I look just like Buddy Holly🎶🎵

RIP Jerry Allison- looking mighty cool here!!!