Peggy Sue Gerron dead at 78; name-checked in Buddy Holly's 1957 chart-topper

[Brubeck]

LUBBOCK, TX (KCBD) - Peggy Sue Gerron was born on June 15, 1940, in Olton, Texas, and grew up in Lubbock, Texas. Sources say she passed away in a Lubbock hospital this morning at the age of 78.

Peggy Sue was a high school senior when she was cast into the international spotlight by Buddy Holly’s release of the namesake song that climbed to the top of 1957 Billboard Charts.

Buddy Holly tagged her in the love ballad “Peggy Sue,” but she wasn’t Buddy’s love. She was in a relationship with Jerry Allison, the drummer of the Crickets.

Her son-in-law, Tom Stathos, spoke Monday about how the song originally wasn’t about her. “It was originally going to be Cindy Lou (Holly’s niece) and that he (Allison) wanted to impress Peggy Sue so he got Buddy to change the name."
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Peggy Sue dies at age 78

 

[Lilibet]

Awwwww. She seemed like a neat lady. As her grandson said, that song will be stuck in my head...for today at least.

 

[Betty P]

So sorry to hear this. She did a great job of keeping Buddy's memory alive, along with his fellow band mates and family. Buddy's wife at the time of his death never gave many interviews and really didn't know him long enough to give much context or history to his life and career. Peggy Sue was able to provide that for the millions of Buddy's fans.

She always seemed available to fans and the media. Her stories were accurate and gave real insight to Buddy as a person, as did his bandmates. I'm sure he's proud of her for all she did.

RIP and condolences to her family and many friends. She will be missed.

 

[carnival]

A second follow-up to the big hit might now be, "Peggy Sue Got Buried."

Sorry!