Norman Petty
Encyclopedia
Record producer
A record producer is an individual working within the music industry, whose job is to oversee and manage the recording of an artist's music...
who helped shape modern popular music, including pop
Pop music
Pop music is usually understood to be commercially recorded music, often oriented toward a youth market, usually consisting of relatively short, simple songs utilizing technological innovations to produce new variations on existing themes.- Definitions :David Hatch and Stephen Millward define pop...
and rock
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
.
Born in the small town of Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis, New Mexico
Clovis is the county seat of Curry County, New Mexico, United States. Its population was 32,667 at the 2000 census; according to 2010 Census Bureau estimates, the population had risen to 37,775....
, near the Texas border, Petty began playing piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
at a young age. While in high school, he was regularly heard on a fifteen minute show on a local radio station.
Petty and his wife Vi founded the Norman Petty Trio, along with guitarist
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
Jack Vaughn. They landed a recording contract and were voted Most Promising Group of 1954 by Cashbox Magazine. In 1956, their major hit "Mood Indigo
Mood Indigo
"Mood Indigo" is a jazz composition and song, with music by Duke Ellington and Barney Bigard with lyrics by Irving Mills.-Disputed authorship:In a 1987 interview, Mitchell Parish claimed to have written the lyrics:...
" had sold a half million copies and enabled Norman to expand his recording studio, considerably. In 1957, their song "Almost Paradise" hit #18 and Norman won his first BMI
Broadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
writers award.
Despite the success with his own records, Petty is most famous for his recording studio in Clovis. In his homespun studio, he made 78 and 45 rpm singles
Single (music)
In music, a single or record single is a type of release, typically a recording of fewer tracks than an LP or a CD. This can be released for sale to the public in a variety of different formats. In most cases, the single is a song that is released separately from an album, but it can still appear...
for his own musical group and for then-unknown Texan singers Roy Orbison
Roy Orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison was an American singer-songwriter, well known for his distinctive, powerful voice, complex compositions, and dark emotional ballads. Orbison grew up in Texas and began singing in a rockabilly/country & western band in high school until he was signed by Sun Records in Memphis...
, Buddy Knox
Buddy Knox
Buddy Knox was an American singer and songwriter, best known for his 1957 rockabilly hit song, "Party Doll".-Biography:...
, Waylon Jennings
Waylon Jennings
Waylon Arnold Jennings was an American country music singer, songwriter, and musician. Jennings began playing at eight. He began performing at twelve, on KVOW radio. Jennings formed a band The Texas Longhorns. Jennings worked as a D.J on KVOW, KDAV and KLLL...
, Carolyn Hester
Carolyn Hester
Carolyn Hester is an American folk singer and songwriter. She was a figure in the early 1960s folk music revival.-Biography:...
and Buddy Holly
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, with whom he is most closely associated in the public mind. "Sugar Shack
Sugar Shack
"Sugar Shack" is a song written in 1962 by Keith McCormack & Jimmy Torres. Jimmy then gave his song rights to aunt Fay Voss for a birth day present. The song was recorded in 1963 by Jimmy Gilmer & the Fireballs at Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico...
" and "Bottle Of Wine" by Jimmy Gilmer and the Fireballs and "Wheels
Wheels (The String-A-Longs song)
Wheels is The String-A-Longs' biggest hit single , in 1961 . The tune peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the number 8 single of 1961 according to Billboard. The track reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart...
" by the String-A-Longs
The String-A-Longs
The String-A-Longs were an instrumental group from Plainview, Texas, produced by Norman Petty on Warwick Records. They consisted of Richard Stephens, lead guitar, Keith McCormack and Jimmy Torres, rhythm guitars, Aubrey de Cordova, bass guitar and Don Allen, drums.Their biggest hit single was...
were recorded at Petty's studio. Petty produced a number of Canadian groups including Wes Dakus & The Rebels, Barry Allen, Gainsborough Gallery, and the Happy Feeling; all which had chart success in their homeland.
Petty served as Buddy Holly's recording engineer and also as his first manager and producer until late 1958. Many of Holly's best and most polished efforts were produced by Petty at the Clovis studio. After Holly's death, Petty was put in charge of overdubbing
Overdubbing
Overdubbing is a technique used by recording studios to add a supplementary recorded sound to a previously recorded performance....
unfinished Holly recordings and demos to add to Holly's record output. According to Buddy's immediate family and his wife, Petty refused to pay Holly money contractually owed the composer-singer. Petty reportedly told Holly, "I'd rather see you dead than to give you the money now."
In 1963 Petty launched the FM radio station KTQM next door to the recording studio; he added the AM station KWKA in 1971. Petty ran both stations until 1979, when they were sold to their current owner. Petty posthumously was named Clovis Citizen Of The Year in 1984.
Norman Petty died 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...
, in August 1984 of leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
. His wife Vi died in March 1992. The original 7th Street Studio is available for tours by appointment only. Originally named "The Norman & Vi Petty Music Festival" which featured many artists that recorded at the Studios, the event halted in 2002, later to resurge as "The Clovis Music Festival" which is held in September.
Norman & Vi were given "Outstanding Graduate Accomplishment" awards (Class of '45 & '46 respectively) by the Clovis Municipal Schools Foundation and Alumni Association in April 2011. The awards go to Clovis High School graduates based on achievement in their realm of business. Graduates are chosen because their strengths of character and citizenship serve as models to inspire and challenge today’s CHS students. The plaques were given to Vi's relative Nick Brady who turned them over to Kenneth Broad of the Petty Estate to display during Studio tours.
Songwriting credits
The following songs that are wholly or partly credited to Petty have won BMIBroadcast Music Incorporated
Broadcast Music, Inc. is one of three United States performing rights organizations, along with ASCAP and SESAC. It collects license fees on behalf of songwriters, composers, and music publishers and distributes them as royalties to those members whose works have been performed...
awards:
- "Almost Paradise" (Norman Petty), #18 US for the Norman Petty Trio
- "EverydayEveryday (Buddy Holly song)"Everyday" is a song written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty, recorded by Buddy Holly and the Crickets on May 29, 1957 and released on September 20, 1957 as the B-side to "Peggy Sue". On the original single the Crickets are not mentioned, but it is known that Holly plays acoustic guitar; drummer...
" (Buddy HollyBuddy HollyCharles Hardin Holley , known professionally as Buddy Holly, was an American singer-songwriter and a pioneer of rock and roll...
, Norman Petty) - "It's So Easy" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty) (#5 US for Linda RonstadtLinda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
in 1977) - "Peggy Sue" (Jerry AllisonJerry AllisonJ.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"....
, Buddy Holly, Norman Petty), #3 US, #6 UK, 1957 - "That'll Be the DayThat'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...
" (Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Norman Petty), #1 US, #1 UK, 1957 (#11 US for Linda RonstadtLinda RonstadtLinda Ronstadt is an American popular music recording artist. She has earned eleven Grammy Awards, two Academy of Country Music awards, an Emmy Award, an ALMA Award, numerous United States and internationally certified gold, platinum and multiplatinum albums, in addition to Tony Award and Golden...
in 1976) - "True Love WaysTrue Love Ways"True Love Ways" is a song co-written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty and recorded with the Ray Ellis orchestra in October 1958, four months before the singer's death. It was first released on the posthumous "The Buddy Holly Story, Vol. 2"...
" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty), #25 UK, 1960 - "WheelsWheels (The String-A-Longs song)Wheels is The String-A-Longs' biggest hit single , in 1961 . The tune peaked at #3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and was the number 8 single of 1961 according to Billboard. The track reached number 8 in the UK Singles Chart...
" (Norman Petty, Richard Stephens, Jimmy Torres)
Other notable songs for which Petty received a songwriting credit include:
- "Listen to Me" (Buddy Holly, Norman Petty), #16 UK, 1957
- "Oh, Boy!Oh, Boy! (song)"Oh, Boy!" is a song originally performed by Buddy Holly's band The Crickets. It was written by Sonny West and Bill Tilghman; the band's manager Norman Petty added his name as co-composer. The song was recorded between June 29 and July 1, 1957, at Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico, with Holly...
" (Sonny WestSonny WestSonny West is a rock and roll-musician. West wrote and recorded both "Oh, Boy!" and "Rave On" on the Atlantic label in the late 1950s...
, Bill Tilghman, Norman Petty), #10 US, 1957 - "I’m Gonna Love You Too" (Joe B. MauldinJoe B. MauldinJoe 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...
, Norman Petty, Niki SullivanNiki SullivanNiki 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...
) - "Rave On" (Sonny West, Bill Tilghman, Norman Petty), #37 US, #5 UK, 1958
- "Think It Over" (Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly, Norman Petty), #27 US, 1958
- "HeartbeatHeartbeat (Buddy Holly song)"Heartbeat" is a rockabilly song written by Bob Montgomery and Norman Petty and recorded originally by Buddy Holly in 1958. The B side of the single was "Well.....
" (Bob MontgomeryBob Montgomery (musician)Bob Montgomery is an American singer, songwriter, and music producer/publisher.Montgomery was born in Lampasas, Texas. He was a songwriting partner and best friend of Buddy Holly, performing together as the duo "Buddy and Bob" while teenagers in high school...
, Norman Petty), #82 US, #30 UK, 1958
External links
- Norman Petty Studios official website
- Clovis Music Festival
- Interview with Norman Petty in International Songwriters Association's Songwriter Magazine, dealing mainly with songwriting
- Norman Petty interviewed on the Pop ChroniclesPop ChroniclesThe Pop Chronicles are two radio documentary series which together "may constitute the most complete audio history of 1940s-60s popular music." Both were produced by John Gilliland.-The Pop Chronicles of the 50s and 60s:...
(recorded April 1968). - BMI entry showing songs credited or co-credited to Petty
See also
- Buddy Holly discographyBuddy Holly discographyThis article serves as a discography for Buddy Holly. Holly recorded under several names, and with several different backing bands. The key for the Artist Credit below is as follows: Buddy Holly ; The Crickets ; Buddy Holly & The Crickets ; Buddy Holly & The Three Tunes The Crickets played on...