Charles Hardin \"Buddy\" Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959) was an american singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll. The change of spelling of \"Holley\" to \"Holly\" came about because of an error in a contract he was asked to sign, listing him as Buddy Holly. That spelling was then adopted for his professional career. Although his success lasted only a year and a half before his death in an airplane crash, Holly is described by critic Bruce Eder as \"the single most influential creative force in early rock and roll.