Buddy Holly The Producer

In mid 1958, Buddy Holly started making plans to produce other artists, one of those session was with country outlaw legend, Waylon Jennings. Buddy also arranged for other sessions, producing Lou Giordano in New York with Phil Everly. He was making plans and expanding his skillset. He believed Rock & Roll wouldn't last long and was planning a whole host of side projects. Producing young artists & bands was just one of them

Waylon Jennings "Jole Blon/When Sin Stops"

In September 1958, Buddy Holly arranged & paid for Waylon Jennings's first recording session at Norman Petty Studio in Clovis. The session was Buddy's first as a Producer for his new record label "Prism Recording Company". He arranged for Waylon to record an old cajun song called Jole Blon and a song by Bob Venable, who was lead guitarist & songwriter with The Nighthawks, who recorded their version in July 1958.

When Buddy heard The Nighthawks recording at Clovis, he asked Venable if he could record it. They politely said no, as they wanted to release it themselves, but Buddy and he cut a deal, so that Waylon could record it under Buddy's label and supervision, with his Producer hat on. The Jole Blon/When Sin Stop sessions in Clovis, were recorded on the same day as when Buddy recorded "Reminiscing" and "Come Back Baby", but using King Curtis on sax, George Atwood on bass and Bo Clarke on drums for Waylon's session instead of The Crickets bass player Joe B Mauldin and drummer Jerry Allison. The Roses provided the overdubbed backing vocals. Buddy played guitar.

Incidentally, The Nighthawks own version (right) of "When Sin Stops" is superb, clearly influenced by Buddy/The Crickets. It was recorded at Norman Petty Studio, with The Roses proving backing vocal harmonies.

And so began Waylon Jennings music career. He would go on to play bass guitar for Buddy on his last fateful tour, The Winter Dance Party.

Lou Giordano "Stay Close To Me/Don't Cha Know"

Buddy Holly teamed up with muso friend Phil Everly and produced Lou Giordano's first session, recorded at Belltone Recording Studio, on 4 W 31st Street, New York in September 30th, 1958.

Buddy was possibly put onto Lou by Joey Villa, of the Royal Teens, who alongside Buddy & Phil, sang hi pitched backing vocals on "Don't Cha Know". Buddy & Phil played guitar on the session, whilst Buddy wrote "Stay Close To Me" and Phil penned "Don't Cha Know". Unknown bass and drum players, more than likely New York session players at the time. Lou sadly died in 1969, aged 40. Not much else is known about him. Buddy helped him secure a contract with Brunswick Records.

Buddy with Lou Giordano, The Everly's and quite probably Eddie Cochran, at the Sheraton Hotel room in New York, when he was in town performing, or it may have been a pre recording session meet up (or both).