Maria Elena Holly
Encyclopedia
María Elena Holly is the widow of rock and roll
pioneer Buddy Holly
. She owns the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.
. Her mother died when María Elena was a child. In 1958 her father sent her to live with her aunt (Martha Guadalupe Santiago) in New York City
. Santiago worked as a receptionist
for music publisher Peermusic
. Two weeks later, she met Buddy Holly, who asked her out. Santiago had never been out on a date and told Holly he would have to ask her aunt, who was also her guardian, for permission. Holly promptly got her aunt's permission. Five hours into their first date, Buddy handed a rose to Maria and asked her to marry him.
. They settled down in Lubbock until Buddy broke up with his band, The Crickets
, and they moved to New York. Santiago-Holly went on tours with her husband and took on managerial duties.
In February 1959, Buddy Holly was on tour when he, together with Ritchie Valens
and The Big Bopper
, died in an airplane crash
. Santiago-Holly had been married for only six months and was pregnant with Buddy's child; she miscarried shortly afterwards. Buddy was interred in Lubbock.
Santiago-Holly did not attend the funeral and has never visited the grave site. She told the Avalanche-Journal: "In a way, I blame myself. I was not feeling well when he left. I was two weeks pregnant, and I wanted Buddy to stay with me, but he had scheduled that tour. It was the only time I wasn't with him. And I blame myself because I know that, if only I had gone along, Buddy never would have gotten into that airplane."
, and promotes her first husband's legacy. In 1989, The Smithereens
paid honor to her with the song "Maria Elena" on their album 11. Actress Maria Richwine
played Santiago-Holly's role in the 1978 movie The Buddy Holly Story
. Jill Hennessey portrayed her in the Broadway production of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.
Santiago-Holly has spent most of her life protecting Buddy Holly's legacy. She controversially wanted to charge the city of Lubbock to use Buddy's name in various ways, including in relation to a music festival, a street named the "Buddy Holly Walk of Fame", and a terrace named "Buddy Holly Terrace."
When Peggy Sue Gerron, the woman to whom the 1957 classic "Peggy Sue", as well as the posthumously released "Peggy Sue Got Married
", were dedicated, published her autobiography "Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue?", in 2008, Santiago-Holly unsuccessfully tried to sue her.
Early in 2008, Santiago-Holly visited the apartment building where she and Holly lived. There, she observed musicians in nearby Washington Square Park
, where Holly often played his guitar. "I gave one musician $9 because 9 was Buddy's favorite number", she told the Avalanche-Journal. She said that she has never come to grips with his premature death.
Rock and roll
Rock and roll is a genre of popular music that originated and evolved in the United States during the late 1940s and early 1950s, primarily from a combination of African American blues, country, jazz, and gospel music...
pioneer Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
. She owns the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual property.
Early years
Holly was born María Elena Santiago in San Juan, Puerto RicoSan Juan, Puerto Rico
San Juan , officially Municipio de la Ciudad Capital San Juan Bautista , is the capital and most populous municipality in Puerto Rico, an unincorporated territory of the United States. As of the 2010 census, it had a population of 395,326 making it the 46th-largest city under the jurisdiction of...
. Her mother died when María Elena was a child. In 1958 her father sent her to live with her aunt (Martha Guadalupe Santiago) in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. Santiago worked as a receptionist
Receptionist
A receptionist is an employee taking an office/administrative support position. The work is usually performed in a waiting area such as a lobby or front office desk of an organization or business...
for music publisher Peermusic
Peermusic
Peer music is a United States based independent music publisher.-History:Ralph Peer, a field recording engineer and A&R representative for Victor Records, went on a scouting trip to Bristol, Tennessee. For two weeks, he recorded artists such as Jimmie Rodgers and The Carter Family on what would...
. Two weeks later, she met Buddy Holly, who asked her out. Santiago had never been out on a date and told Holly he would have to ask her aunt, who was also her guardian, for permission. Holly promptly got her aunt's permission. Five hours into their first date, Buddy handed a rose to Maria and asked her to marry him.
Mrs. Buddy Holly
On August 15, 1958, less than two months later, they were married in Buddy's hometown of Lubbock, TexasLubbock, Texas
Lubbock is a city in and the county seat of Lubbock County, Texas, United States. The city is located in the northwestern part of the state, a region known historically as the Llano Estacado, and the home of Texas Tech University and Lubbock Christian University...
. They settled down in Lubbock until Buddy broke up with his band, The Crickets
The Crickets
The Crickets are a rock & roll band from Lubbock, Texas, formed by singer/songwriter Buddy Holly in the 1950s. Their first hit record was "That'll Be the Day", released in 1957....
, and they moved to New York. Santiago-Holly went on tours with her husband and took on managerial duties.
In February 1959, Buddy Holly was on tour when he, together with Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens
Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer, songwriter and guitarist....
and The Big Bopper
The Big Bopper
Jiles Perry "J. P." Richardson, Jr. also commonly known as The Big Bopper, was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star...
, died in an airplane crash
The Day the Music Died
On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll pioneers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson. The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song...
. Santiago-Holly had been married for only six months and was pregnant with Buddy's child; she miscarried shortly afterwards. Buddy was interred in Lubbock.
Santiago-Holly did not attend the funeral and has never visited the grave site. She told the Avalanche-Journal: "In a way, I blame myself. I was not feeling well when he left. I was two weeks pregnant, and I wanted Buddy to stay with me, but he had scheduled that tour. It was the only time I wasn't with him. And I blame myself because I know that, if only I had gone along, Buddy never would have gotten into that airplane."
Later years
Santiago-Holly eventually remarried and had three children. Now divorced, she is a grandmother living in Dallas, TexasDallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
, and promotes her first husband's legacy. In 1989, The Smithereens
The Smithereens
The Smithereens are a rock band from Carteret, New Jersey, United States. The group formed in 1980 with members Pat DiNizio , Jim Babjak , Mike Mesaros , and Dennis Diken...
paid honor to her with the song "Maria Elena" on their album 11. Actress Maria Richwine
Maria Richwine
Maria Richwine is an American actress.Her first movie role was as Buddy Holly's wife Maria, in the 1978 biopic movie The Buddy Holly Story. She also appeared in the television series Three's Company, Sledge Hammer!, and Freddy's Nightmares.-External links:...
played Santiago-Holly's role in the 1978 movie The Buddy Holly Story
The Buddy Holly Story
The film was adapted by Robert Gittler from Buddy Holly: His Life and Music, the biography of Holly by John Goldrosen. It was directed by Steve Rash.-Plot:...
. Jill Hennessey portrayed her in the Broadway production of Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story.
Santiago-Holly has spent most of her life protecting Buddy Holly's legacy. She controversially wanted to charge the city of Lubbock to use Buddy's name in various ways, including in relation to a music festival, a street named the "Buddy Holly Walk of Fame", and a terrace named "Buddy Holly Terrace."
When Peggy Sue Gerron, the woman to whom the 1957 classic "Peggy Sue", as well as the posthumously released "Peggy Sue Got Married
Peggy Sue Got Married (song)
"Peggy Sue Got Married" is a song written and sung by Buddy Holly. It was released in 1959 as a 45-rpm single with "Crying, Waiting, Hoping". It refers to his song hit "Peggy Sue". It was one of the first sequels of the rock era...
", were dedicated, published her autobiography "Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue?", in 2008, Santiago-Holly unsuccessfully tried to sue her.
Early in 2008, Santiago-Holly visited the apartment building where she and Holly lived. There, she observed musicians in nearby Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park
Washington Square Park is one of the best-known of New York City's 1,900 public parks. At 9.75 acres , it is a landmark in the Manhattan neighborhood of Greenwich Village, as well as a meeting place and center for cultural activity...
, where Holly often played his guitar. "I gave one musician $9 because 9 was Buddy's favorite number", she told the Avalanche-Journal. She said that she has never come to grips with his premature death.