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Today is the 44th anniversary of the Fabs first appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. I remember seeing them but don’t know if it was this appearance or not. They made three consecutive appearances on Ed Sullivan in 1964. Some news footage of their first visit to America has been edited into this clip, which adds some interest or ruins the clip - you decide.

On Feb. 3, 1959 at 12:55 am, Buddy Holly left Clear Lake Iowa in a chartered Beechcraft Bonanza, after playing at the Surf Ballroom, to fly to Fargo North Dakota. With him in the plane were Richie Valens, who’’s hit rock and roll version of the Mexican folk song “La Bamba” had propelled to stardom, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, who we remember for “Chantilly Lace” and Roger Peterson, the pilot. All were killed in a crash just eight minutes after takeoff. Buddy’s new second guitarist, Waylon Jennings, along with the rest of the Crickets, were supposed to be on the plane, too but declined for one reason or another.

There is surprisingly little film of Buddy Holly in performance, although video tributes abound on YouTube. This video shows his first appearance, of two, on the Ed Sullivan Show. This is from December 1st, 1957. Sam Cooke was also on the show that night. Buddy and the Crickets perform “That’ll Be the Day,” their first hit.

This video is of an appearance by Carl Perkins on Johnny Cash’s television show which aired on Jan. 6, 1971. Derek and the Dominos were also guests that night so here we have Carl and Eric Clapton trading guitar licks and singing with Johnny Cash, three for the price of one. Clapton gives Perkins some stiff competition in the guitar department and inspires Carl to greater heights on his second go round.