Hi Pockets Duncan

William Joseph "Hi-Pockets" Duncan - 8th June, 1914 - 21st Dec, 1981

He was the energetic hometown DJ who championed Buddy Holly's early music career and even managed a young Waylon Jennings.

Hi Pockets Duncan was Buddy, Bob & Larry's first (informal) manager, securing gigs for them locally. He was also the manager of The Cotton Club in Lubbock, where Elvis appeared and Buddy, Bob & Larry (with Sonny Curtis) performed in support slots.

He set up the KDAV Radio Station and had Buddy & Bob perform on it frequently, as they hosted their own weekly show, performing duet/harmonies and well known Bluegrass & Country songs of the time, as well as their own songs.

Hi Pockets Duncan

Hi Pockets also gave Waylon Jennings a good talking to, after Buddy Holly was killed in the fateful plane crash. Waylon was so upset after the crash, he actually thought he caused the plane crash, because the last conversation he had with Buddy was when Buddy left for the airport to catch the flight, he said to Waylon "I hope your ass freezes on the bus" as a joke, like young guys do, and Waylon jokingly replied with "..yeh, well I hope your old plane crashes".

Waylon struggled to live with that statement for many years. Hi Pockets convinced Waylon to get back out there.

Hi Pockets was one of the good guys in life. The video below is an audio interview, by David Byng, chatting to Hi Pockets. Thank goodness people like David done these things back in the 80s, to record and keep Rock& Roll history alive for decades.