On October 21, 1958, a young man with thick glasses walked into a New York studio with eighteen musicians playing violins.
That day, Buddy Holly recorded a song that would change how we remember him forever. It was a huge change from his usual rock and roll beat.
Little did anyone know that this music would soon become a final message to the world. The song he made that day was called ‘It Doesn’t Matter Anymore.’
The words of the song tell a story about a boy whose heart is broken by a girl. When it first came out on January 5, 1959, people just thought it was a catchy pop tune. But everything changed less than a month later.
On February 3, a plane went down in a snowy cornfield and Buddy was gone.
Suddenly, the title was a goodbye from a friend we were not ready to lose. The music feels light and bouncy, but the timing of it makes your heart sink.
Buddy Holly – “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” (Official Audio)
People who grew up with this music still talk about where they were when they heard the news. One fan said that this record was the very first one they ever bought with their own pocket money. Another person mentioned that they can still hear Buddy’s unique voice hiccuping through the radio on that sad February morning. A different viewer wrote that they cry every single time the violins start to play.
Buddy’s voice gave the song its soul. The man who wrote the words had his own story to tell. Paul Anka was just a teenager when he handed this song to his friend Buddy.
After the accident happened, Paul felt that pain deeply. He decided to do something very kind that most people in the music business would not do.
He gave all the money he made from writing the song to Buddy’s widow, Maria Elena.
Paul Anka – Tribute Performance and Connection
In later years, Paul Anka stood on stages across the world to sing those same lyrics as a tribute. You can see the respect in his eyes when he talks about his old friend. It proves that even when someone is gone their songs can still bring people together.
Buddy Holly was a pioneer who was not afraid to change his style or follow his heart. He paved the way for groups like The Beatles. His journey was short, but he left behind a mountain of wonderful music.
Follow Buddy Holly on Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube. You will find so much joy in rediscovering the man who made the music live forever.