Cause of Buddy Holly's Plane Crash Questioned in New Book

Hey Buddy: In Pursuit of Buddy Holly, My New Buddy John, and My Lost Decade of Music is Gary Moore's chronicle of his personal journey to determine what made Holly so appealing and his music so timeless. He interviews Buddy's personal friends and family members, people who were there the day of the crash, celebrities, and current-day Buddy enthusiasts.

Moore learns that Holly was one of the first rock-and-rollers to write, produce, and perform his own songs. His lyrics were more refined, his compositions more intricate, and his harmonies more complex than the songs of his contemporaries. Holly also set the template used by the standard rock-and-roll band: two guitars, bass, and drums. Legendary musicians have acknowledged Holly's influence, including the Beatles, the Rolling Stones, Bob Dylan and Bruce Springsteen.

Moore also discovers Holly's upstanding character and values. He didn't drink or do drugs, and he ignored racial barriers. Moore concludes that his life and songs bypass eras of popular culture and politics, and that fans relate to him on levels that aren't possible with today's superstars.

Along the way, Moore uncovers new information about the doomed charter flight that took off in bad weather with an inexperienced 21-year-old pilot. Himself a pilot, Moore and an aviation crash expert formerly with the National Transportation Safety Board recreate the short flight. Moore is calling for a team of experts to re-evaluate the crash and plane wreckage based on claims from the owners of the plane that the truth behind what happened that fateful night has never been told.

Hey Buddy: In Pursuit of Buddy Holly, My New Buddy John, and My Lost Decade of Music will be released in January.