Niki Sullivan
Encyclopedia
Niki M. Sullivan was an American
rock and roll
guitar
player, born in South Gate, California
. He was one of the three original members of Buddy Holly
's backing group, The Crickets
. Though he lost interest within a year or two of his involvement, his guitar playing was an integral part of Holly's early success. He also co-wrote a number of his hit songs and sang back-up vocals on 27 of the 32 songs Holly recorded over his brief career.
. During the summer of 1956, the 19-year old Sullivan first met Holly, by way of his high school friend Jerry Allison
, at a jam session in Lubbock, Texas
. Holly was impressed by his guitar-playing talents and offered him the chance to join both of them, as well as Joe B. Mauldin
in a band. Sullivan readily accepted the offer, and thus the Crickets were born.
While trying to record "Peggy Sue
" after many dissatisfying takes, Sullivan flipped a switch on Holly's guitar, allowing him to break into the now-famous guitar solo. He also helped sing on back up and arrange the music to "Not Fade Away
" (which he helped write), "I'm Gonna Love You Too", "That'll Be the Day
" and "Maybe Baby
". It was around this period that he also wrote and produced the single "Look to the Future," which was recorded by Gary Tollett and The Picks
, who often did back-up vocals for the Crickets.
Since he had a slight resemblance to Holly in his skinny posture and spectacles, he was often called "the other guy in glasses" by critics in their reviews. Coincidentally, he and Holly were related third cousins, but it is not known whether they knew this or not. After their December 1, 1957 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
, the group briefly went on hiatus to plan their next recordings. In early 1958, Sullivan formally announced that he had left the band for good. Exactly why he chose to do so remains in debate today. According to his memoir about life with Holly titled Rave On, he admitted that he was not comfortable with the amount of touring, and he felt that he did not fit in with Allison and Mauldin. Since Holly sang and played lead guitar, Sullivan was left without much of a role in the group.
. Later, he married in 1967, which he considered the most rewarding experience of his life. In 1978, he reunited with Allison, Mauldin, and new-lead singer Sonny Curtis
for a one-night performance at a Buddy Holly Festival. Over the years, he gave numerous interviews about his life with the Crickets and played at the Surf Ballroom
in Clear Lake, Iowa
, where Holly had given his last concert.
For the 1978 movie The Buddy Holly Story
, starring Gary Busey, his character was left out of the story line.
In the stage show The Buddy Holly Story, the character of Niki Sullivan plays a prominent role. This role was played by Andy Umscheid in the Klingenberg am Main
festival's production of the show.,
Sullivan died suddenly of a heart attack
, aged 66, on April 6, 2004 in Sugar Creek, Missouri
, near Kansas City
; despite his good health and no indications of any illness. He is survived by his wife Fran, his two sons, a granddaughter and his sister.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
rock and roll
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...
guitar
Guitar
The guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
player, born in South Gate, California
South Gate, California
South Gate is a city in Los Angeles County, California, United States. The sixteenth largest city in Los Angeles County, it encompasses . South Gate is located just southeast of downtown Los Angeles It is part of the Gateway Cities region of southeastern Los Angeles County...
. He was one of the three original members of Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
's backing group, 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....
. Though he lost interest within a year or two of his involvement, his guitar playing was an integral part of Holly's early success. He also co-wrote a number of his hit songs and sang back-up vocals on 27 of the 32 songs Holly recorded over his brief career.
Becoming a Cricket
Prior to getting involved in the recording business, Niki Sullivan briefly served in the United States NavyUnited States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
. During the summer of 1956, the 19-year old Sullivan first met Holly, by way of his high school friend Jerry Allison
Jerry Allison
J.I. Allison is an American musician, best known for being the drummer for The Crickets and co-writer of their Buddy Holly hit "Peggy Sue"....
, at a jam session in Lubbock, Texas
Lubbock, 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...
. Holly was impressed by his guitar-playing talents and offered him the chance to join both of them, as well as Joe B. Mauldin
Joe B. Mauldin
Joe Benson Mauldin, Jr. is ranked among the top rock bassists and became a recording engineer at Gold Star Studios, the Los Angeles studio that became the hit factory for Phil Spector, Brian Wilson and other major 1960s rock performers...
in a band. Sullivan readily accepted the offer, and thus the Crickets were born.
While trying to record "Peggy Sue
Peggy Sue
"Peggy Sue" is a rock and roll song written by Buddy Holly, Jerry Allison, and Norman Petty, and originally performed, recorded and released as a single by Buddy Holly in early July of 1957. The Crickets are not mentioned on the single but both Joe B. Mauldin and Jerry Allison are known to be...
" after many dissatisfying takes, Sullivan flipped a switch on Holly's guitar, allowing him to break into the now-famous guitar solo. He also helped sing on back up and arrange the music to "Not Fade Away
Not Fade Away (song)
"Not Fade Away" is a song credited to Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and first recorded by Holly's band The Crickets in Clovis, New Mexico, on May 27, 1957...
" (which he helped write), "I'm Gonna Love You Too", "That'll Be the Day
That'll Be the Day
"That'll Be the Day" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Jerry Allison and recorded by various artists including The Crickets and Linda Ronstadt. It was also the first song to be recorded by The Quarrymen, the skiffle group that subsequently became The Beatles...
" and "Maybe Baby
Maybe Baby
Maybe Baby is a 2000 British comedy film, written and directed by Ben Elton based upon his novel Inconceivable, starring Hugh Laurie and Joely Richardson.-Plot summary:...
". It was around this period that he also wrote and produced the single "Look to the Future," which was recorded by Gary Tollett and The Picks
The Picks
The Picks is an American vocal trio that backed Buddy Holly and The Crickets' band on nine of the first twelve Crickets releases on Brunswick in 1957, as well as backing Buddy Holly solos for group sounds, beginning in 1984...
, who often did back-up vocals for the Crickets.
Since he had a slight resemblance to Holly in his skinny posture and spectacles, he was often called "the other guy in glasses" by critics in their reviews. Coincidentally, he and Holly were related third cousins, but it is not known whether they knew this or not. After their December 1, 1957 appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show
The Ed Sullivan Show is an American TV variety show that originally ran on CBS from Sunday June 20, 1948 to Sunday June 6, 1971, and was hosted by New York entertainment columnist Ed Sullivan....
, the group briefly went on hiatus to plan their next recordings. In early 1958, Sullivan formally announced that he had left the band for good. Exactly why he chose to do so remains in debate today. According to his memoir about life with Holly titled Rave On, he admitted that he was not comfortable with the amount of touring, and he felt that he did not fit in with Allison and Mauldin. Since Holly sang and played lead guitar, Sullivan was left without much of a role in the group.
Life after Holly
He eventually retired from the recording business altogether and took a job at SonySony
, commonly referred to as Sony, is a Japanese multinational conglomerate corporation headquartered in Minato, Tokyo, Japan and the world's fifth largest media conglomerate measured by revenues....
. Later, he married in 1967, which he considered the most rewarding experience of his life. In 1978, he reunited with Allison, Mauldin, and new-lead singer Sonny Curtis
Sonny Curtis
Sonny Curtis is an American singer and songwriter. Most of his work falls into the Pop and Country genres. He was a teenage pal and band member with Buddy Holly in Lubbock, Texas...
for a one-night performance at a Buddy Holly Festival. Over the years, he gave numerous interviews about his life with the Crickets and played at the Surf Ballroom
Surf Ballroom
The Surf Ballroom is a Historic Rock and Roll Landmark at 460 North Shore Drive, Clear Lake, Iowa. The Surf is closely associated with The Day the Music Died - early rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson gave their last performances at the Surf on...
in Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake, Iowa
Clear Lake is a city in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa, United States. The population was 8,161 at the 2000 census. The city is named for the large lake on which it is located. It is the home of a number of marinas, state parks and tourism-related businesses. Clear Lake is also a major stop on Interstate...
, where Holly had given his last concert.
For 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:...
, starring Gary Busey, his character was left out of the story line.
In the stage show The Buddy Holly Story, the character of Niki Sullivan plays a prominent role. This role was played by Andy Umscheid in the Klingenberg am Main
Klingenberg am Main
Klingenberg am Main is a town in the Miltenberg district in the Regierungsbezirk of Lower Franconia in Bavaria, Germany.- Location :...
festival's production of the show.,
Sullivan died suddenly of a heart attack
Myocardial infarction
Myocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
, aged 66, on April 6, 2004 in Sugar Creek, Missouri
Sugar Creek, Missouri
Sugar Creek is a city in Clay and Jackson counties in the U.S. state of Missouri. The population was 3,839 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Sugar Creek is located at ....
, near Kansas City
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
; despite his good health and no indications of any illness. He is survived by his wife Fran, his two sons, a granddaughter and his sister.