Gary Busey as Buddy Holly - Live at The Apollo

[@TheHardcoreRob]

Before his motorcycle accident, Busey was star bound. I dare anyone to say he wasn’t a great actor!!! This is his greatest role.

[@robertpietsch9382]

Absolutely yes I agree. I never expected him to sing & not lip sink

[@ChrisWilliams-fs1zp]

He is an iconic actor

[@frankyoung7497]

Buddy Holly was away ahead of his time. Imagine what he could have done if he hadn't got on that plane. The world was robbed of a musical genius. RIP Buddy

[@clarkstertz4084]

Fuckin zA

[@rockabilly127]

Un grand pionnier du rock qui aurait eu une grande carrière.

[@soheyman1]

Many, many losses. We were robbed indeed.

[@johnlawyer2122]

He would have broken another mold by being the best producer.

[@bo12hughes]

Gary Busey pre brain injury, really deserved the Academy Award for best actor. He sang every song in that movie himself!

[@strumminfuel4625]

Haaaa this makes so much more sense now. I didn't realize it was a movie-pretty strange show otherwise

[@bwhllh]

Gary Busey should have received an Oscar for this performance. It was that good and I hate that he did not get it.

[@TheFarmerfitz]

I agree....He sure should have....

[@knapper2000]

Damn Right.

[@natecarson5269]

Texasbil Henson Damn right!

[@darkhorse651]

Texasbil Henson his shining moment and to say it was Buddy pretty much says it all

[@MarioMartinez-ek5ev]

Oscars suck, more political than anything else...remember when Saving Private Ryan lost to that piece of shit movie, Shakespeare in Love???

[@bigclintfan3679]

Busey should have won the Oscar that year....Excellent !!!!

[@petersandoval7339]

Busey not only really sang, but also played the guitar! Great job!

[@1punch_man]

Yep.. phenomenal

[@jeffhoag3812]

It’s easier to teach a musician to act. However,in this case you have actors that are also musicians.

[@brucegraystaff7428]

If only he had worn the motorcycle helmet those two times he crashed up.

[@wesleycook7687]

HE DOESN'T SOUND LIKE BUDDY HOLLY! AND THE WHOLE MOVIE WAS INACCURATE! BUSEY WAS TERRIBLE AS BUDDY! SEE Y'ALL NEXT YEAR.. WHAT A WAY TO END THE MOVIE.

[@kevincooper5075]

This has to be one of the best scenes from any film ever made....in my humble opinion.

[@EthosF4ded]

How so? In other words, what is so appealing about it to you?

[@RicoChrisRage]

@@EthosF4ded White Boy in the 50 's Performing to a Non White audience....!...Black Folk were more appreciative Bout Music back then..The Fact Holly Sang that night grew a Great Appreciation And started a new Relationship between those...WOKE

[@Antimarx999]

The croud is full of some good actors or Rock n Roll aficionados for sure. Beautiful scene.

[@user-hy2xf8ke8w]

@@RicoChrisRageyea when white boys like Pat Boone and Elvis were singing milk toast versions and making money off of the true R & B greats like Big Joe Turner , Little Richard and Fats Domino.

[@michaelhowell2655]

@@EthosF4ded Not answering for Kevin Cooper, but for myself. I love movies and love epic scenes, and when I do find them - I play them over and over. I've probably watch THIS SCENE more than 100 times in my life ... vs. "the 'You Can't Handle the Truth' scene ( from A Few Good Men ), the "I'll Make it Scene (from Hoosiers), the "Is This Heaven?" Scene (from Field of Dreams), etc. THIS scene from the Buddy Holly Story is EPIC and will stand the test of time!

[@delang65]

Gary Busey is a highly underrated actor

[@skipmichaels6184]

Gary Busey worked his tail off to bring Buddy Holly to life in this movie. What a talented man !

[@billdornan4379]

September 2023 Gary Busey should have received an Oscar. 👍❤️🇨🇦

[@clydeb7713]

When The Apollo booked Buddy Holly and The Crickets they thought they were African American. When they showed up, they didn't want them to play. Buddy said I have a signed contract and I'm playing! He told the story to the audience before he began and told them I hope you like my music. He brought the house down! To think Buddy was only 22yrs old when he was killed. He was a genius and way ahead of his time. True story.

[@guitar78ish]

What they didn't show was the first two days at the Apollo. Niki Sullivan(Buddy's guitar player), is quoted as saying: But some things were incorrect: the first two days that we played the Apollo, we were booed. The third day, Buddy said, ‘Let’s do Bo Diddley,’ and from that moment on we were a hit.”
source:www.rollingstone.com/music/music-news/the-truth-behind-the-buddy-holly-story-49546/

[@geraldking4080]

No one who saw Buddy at the Apollo ever forgot it. We owe him.

[@jonhantsbarger6196]

Busey made Buddy come alive for me. Great performance

[@bmt3315]

Jon Hantsbarger Absolutely.

[@CADWALLATER]

For my money, that was the best biopic ever made, with an Oscar winning performance by Busey. A Texas boy paying homage to a musician whose music defined a generation, as if the spirit of Holly lived again through his performance. This was, I think most will agree, the shining moment of Busey's career, and for those of us who were there when it happened, when we turned on our radios one day and first heard that magical sound, it brings back all the sweetness and innocence of those years, of our youth, with heartbreaking clarity. It is the music that we love best, and even though we have grown old, the music never has.

[@gingercarco426]

Gary was Fantastic, as Buddy! He shouldhave gotten the Academy Award, He looked and sang Just like him!

[@RickaramaTrama-lc1ys]

If anyone ever got screwed out of an Oscar it was Gary Busey--He did all the music and didn't pantomime any of it and did some great acting also. I always felt bad for him because before he could do it again he had the motorcycle accident. I also loved the part he played in Under Siege!!! He did Buddy proud with this performance. Thanks Gary!!!!!!

[@samanthawylie893]

Fellow Gary Busey lover here.

[@actionsub]

This movie right here was both my introduction to Gary Busey and many of Buddy Holly's songs.

[@user-py5ct1go2s]

I am sorry that I am a bit late Rick but you are so right. Gary is a great actor and should have cleaned up all the awards that were going. I am a fan of Gary and I am glad we share the same birthday. June 29th.

[@JuneLynn]

Gary Busey was born to play Buddy Holly.....his amazing, energizing performance was thrilling to watch

[@user-hy2xf8ke8w]

The night Buddy Holly and the Crickets rocked the Apollo , history being made on August 16th 1957 by the first white rock act to ever play at the Apollo Theatre.

[@bluefm7370]

Gary, Don, Charlie did a remarkable job bringing Buddy and the Crickets to life....how he did not get recognized beyond criminal

[@katford7286]

Gary Busey was phenomenal in this. He totally deserved his Oscar nomination for this role and who cares if he's playing a tele instead of a strat? He kills it

[@chaseg]

Not a huge Gary busey fan but when I learned he insisted on doing all the vocals for the movie I was impressed.

[@jackryan9183]

Great movie. Busey was nominated for best actor at the academy awards. He should have won..

[@MeeMee-gz5vp]

He really nailed this role.

[@AthelstanEngland]

Been lots of impersonators over the years, but Gary Busey in this is the best I've ever seen... fantastic energy. Even starting on the wrong verse, most likely just as Buddy did given the circumstances.

[@GrtSatan]

Saw it four times in the theater back in the day. Busey had charisma to burn and carried the film.

[@Jim4979]

Buddy Holly music will never die!!!!!

[@shelbeepollino6025]

I love when the two guys with the saxophones come out and they’re all playing together. This is my favorite scene from the movie!

[@ryleehill7952]

Mine too! The saxophones added the umph to Rave On.

[@MrCtsSteve]

King Curtis ...Holly put him on Reminiscing . Check it out

[@steve4980]

I totally agree! Gary did great job and should have won an Oscar for this performance

[@denniz1990]

I am now 21, will be 22 in December. at that age buddy died .. He has achieved more than I ever achieve.. Simple music and lyrics yet soo good.
Great acting from Gary Busey btw

[@sangeetasanjiv]

My sister Sharon and I saw this movie back in college in the late 70s and immediately went out afterwards and bought the LP ...played it for ever ...still reminds me of my sister who is no longer with me ...still love this album !!!

[@garcemac]

Gary Busey was brilliant. I actually saw this in the theatre when it was released. Great movie, great actor.

[@MovieMakingMan]

I missed it and I used to go to movies every week. I bet the audience with you were pumped up with that music.

[@Andy13april64]

Buddy Holly is still a force to be reckoned with. Very hard to beat. RIP Buddy, Richie and JP👏👏👏👏👏👏

[@bluesatsunset]

Busey absolutely nailed this part. Great tribute movie.

[@misterbrymo]

Busey killed it.

[@normatible9795]

misterbrymo very underrated actor. Should have won that Oscar

[@nataliedeshow768]

misterbrymo he did!! I was very impressed with his performance!!

[@misterbrymo]

Natalie Deshow i bet he was too lol. he was fantastic in this role.

[@johnredpath]

Oh boy...to have seen him live.
The world was robbed of a very special talent. His music lives forever and still influences to this day.

[@will27ns]

Gary was a Texas boy, and he did a helluva good job portraying Buddy.

[@AlanFree]

I didn't know this was Gary Busey playing Buddy until I saw this. What a fantastic performance!!!

[@1916holton]

Gary became Buddy, its who I picture whenever I listen to Buddy.

[@tonyjablonski]

That folks is sheer immense talent.. The fact that they played the instruments and sang. Oh Boy!

[@kasperkjrsgaard1447]

Millions of bands does the same every night all around the world.

[@kennykij1]

Hahhaah true

[@kennykij1]

​@@kasperkjrsgaard1447hhhaaahhha. True

[@spoonerfive]

One of the greatest screen biographies of all time! Busey was phenominal, and definitely deserved the Oscar for this.

[@joltinjack]

I saw this movie in college in 1978. I noticed then that these three actors were really playing these instruments and were singing the vocals. This was the magic to make this movie so powerful to those who revered Buddy Holly & The Crickets.

[@classrockin]

Yes, they were singing and playing drums and bass, however, the guitar was dubbed, that's not Busey playing guitar

[@markferguson7528]

According to IMDB they all played including Gary, nothing was dubbed in.

[@alanfbrookes9771]

If they sang the vocals it was more than the Crickets did on the original versions. Buddy and the Crickets were on tour while the vocals were being dubbed on by the Pickering Brothers.

[@jameslindstrom1127]

only some lead parts are dubbed rhythm guitar is all gary he was a accomplished musician way before this movie he's a drummer the over dubbed guitar parts are played by the guy that plays eddie cochran later in the movie

[@sheriffburfordt.justice4488]

I thought Don Stroud was amazing on the drums too. They were all great.

[@bobbylitwin2769]

The movie, and Gary Busey, are still in my memory. I think it's his best performance, and isn't that what an Oscar represents? The Tribute Groups also did a wonderful job about 10 years ago covering lots of Buddy's songs.

[@jamessolomon4252]

Charles Smith one of my favorite actors it's a shame he never got more recognition.

[@MovieMakingMan]

I agree! I loved all of the roles he played. Such a great actor. He was also in the Untouchables movie.

[@PRR5406]

Buddy wasn't above anyone. He appreciated people for who they were and he learned from anyone who played.

[@mikep6043]

To say Gary Busey is on a whole other level would be an understatement. Lol
Love this guy

[@Iwastherein1969]

Buddy Holly, yet another great musical artist from the South.....this guy wrote his own lyrics and music....the brilliance, even genius is how little accompaniment was required with only a bass and drums along with Buddy's superior lead guitar skills....as Don McClean sang, when Buddy left us, it was the day the music died.

[@4100susie]

I loved this evocation of Buddy Holly - who died when I was 12 years old. Gary Busey captured Buddy perfectly (one or two unmusical moments - but we can overlook those!). The whole performance was brilliantly evocative of Buddy. Thank you, Gary!

[@trustmeimblack1620]

I'm here to say, it happened exactly like in the movie.

[@deneman3298]

A sight to see ! I can only imagine this historical moment and many like this . This is cool . Your Cool Man wish I was there .

[@jameswheeler3584]

I hear tell that the Apollo would let you know when they did not like what they heard.

[@teacup3133]

You were there?! I love it when people get together like that.

[@peterkoulouris8900]

Fucking A! I was hoping it was really like that. I'm blown away!

[@mikeh92467]

It's such a great scene..somethings are just so cool, that Hollywood doesn't have to make them up!

[@TheMaineSurveyor]

Yes, those three actors are the ones making this great music. This was a daring directorial choice that paid off in spades. When making a movie about a music legend, you have to decide what best serves the story: miming to the recordings the audience knows and expects, or to bring the energy of making the music live on the set? There's probably not a one-size-fits-all answer here. The choice for the Buddy Holly Story was perfect. Gary, Charles, and Don became a band for this movie and their energy is real and enjoyable.

[@d.a.thorndike8772]

Miming is never cool- even in movies. It comes off as fake and takes away the authenticity of the performance.

[@stevemason5173]

Excellent movie... One ya could watch over and over...
The actors were outstanding!!!

[@bmt3315]

This is how I imagine how they really must have sounded. They really captured the energy and rawness of a young band. You can’t fake that. Great actors all.

[@DivineSimply]

Southern white boys rock Harlem blacks in 1950's America. If it hadn't actually happened, it would be almost science fiction. Music has the force to knock down some pretty powerful walls.

[@johnnypuente5837]

It happened! Well documented!

[@rockinmosquito]

I believe that the performers of the 50's, Buddy, Elvis, Chuck Berry, Fats Domino, showed that everyone has something in common.

[@joeljohnson8214]

Great music transcends all walks of life.

[@SuperChuckRaney]

Southern White Boys?
Hell, they are from Lubbock Texas .... that ain't anywhere NEAR Southern.
Appreciate the music, stop trying to label everyone.
His biggest influence is Western Swing, a form of Western .... before anyone thought of it as C&W.

[@glen7318]

@@SuperChuckRaney I kind of thought that Texas was in hte South,...

[@johnbrown8059]

Buddy Holly was born, lived his life and died before I was born and I've always felt my generation was cheated out of our opportunity to enjoy the music he could have made had he lived. I was born in 1961 and I still wonder what further musical innovations he would have developed over a LONG career... such a shame.

[@grappleduck57]

John,
Buddy was one of the 1st musicians to implement overdubbing in the recording studio. He was always thinking outside the proverbial box. Creative genius taken way to early.

[@coryzachariasen8100]

I was born April 17 1961 the years have gone by fast.......

[@TheForeverRanger]

Without Holly and the Crickets modern Rock N Roll probably wouldn't exist.

[@stewartmcmurry2452]

He topped Elvis imo

[@Smooth0vibrations]

me too...

[@moosey62]

Wow. Gary nailed that!

[@Dion1957]

Gary was Great! How about a little credit for Don and Charlie who learned their instrauments for the Film.

[@axiomist1076]

Charlie knew how to play. Hes playing his own drums here.

[@TheMaineSurveyor]

@@axiomist1076 Charlie is on the bass. Don is playing drums.

[@13leggys]

Gary has the correct energy for this actor!

[@joshuawaltz9484]

Gary Busey deserved the Academy Award for this movie.

[@MatineeIdyll129]

My mum showed me this film when i was about 10 (to this day i still dont know why she did), after this scene that was it! i wanted to be a musician. So you can say whatever about it not being a true account and whatnot (the film was made for only 1 million dollars which is paultry for a major studio production so sacrifices had to be made obviosly) but it gave some australian kid (now an adult) a direction to go with his life. Thats why this is one of my fave films, it shows the power of music.

[@davebeach2343]

This just demonstrates the power that music has to overcome the barriers artificially separating us. These songs still resonate 60 years later, showing just how finely crafted they were. Beautiful.

[@michaelhaggerty6126]

Greatest bio of a music star ever. Busey, Smith, Stroud are excellent.

[@davidrichter9164]

And to have King Curtis play along with you.
Buddy was, and is, one of the true greats in rock and roll.
Thanks Buddy.

[@joejackson4622]

Sound track of mt life.. White boy from west Texas brought the house down at the Apollo. We'll not see his like again..

[@4100susie]

Such a brilliant evocation of Buddy Holly. Could be the real deal. Go, go, Gary!

[@user-nq4sc4tg2r]

I once road on a airplane with Gary Busey in the spring of 2016. We were heading from Dallas to Little Rock. He told us to take pictures and call the tabloids.

[@jpower316]

This is so cool when the actors learn and play all the songs!!! Just makes it so much more real. Better than all that lip sync crap

[@MichaelSmith-jw8qw]

terrific film--almost 40 yrs. old. love every song and performance

[@Dreamskater100]

Brilliant. Gary did a great job.

[@bigclintfan3679]

Busey should have won the Oscar for this....best Rock-N-Roll movie EVER !!!!

[@mindeloman]

This is probably an accurate portrayal of buddy's on-stage persona. They kept it pretty neat and tidy for television performance.....had to make rock n' roll presentable to parents. There is some 8mm home movie camera footage of him and he got pretty rowdy by the day's standard and had a lot of energy.

[@PFNel]

Very interesting, and it answers the question I posed elsewhere in these comments.

[@chantaldeltour4559]

Funny moment ! Great performance Gary Busey 🎸🎼👍
Thank you so much 😘

[@davegeisler7802]

Imagine a white group from Texas playing at the Apollo Theatre in the 1950s in a segregated America. This was unheard of for that time !!!

[@3315nostrand]

It sure was

[@virginiaallison7110]

I love to watch this. And Gary Busey should have received a Oscar for this performance. All three of them were so good in this. And to really be playing and singing too, well that is special to. TY. And TY Gary for all your movies from a Coffeyville, Ks old woman.

[@vintagesavoiur]

Busey should have got that Oscar

[@Ronbo710]

Definitely.

[@JR-zv6qm]

Jon Voight was great in "Coming Home", but Busey was robbed.

[@normatible9795]

I agree. Seldom we see actors using their own voices and sing and act like those legends

[@dianemillican9227]

Dam right Gary deserved the Oscar for his realistic BUDDY HOLLY!HE SURE DID GET ROBBED!FU CKIN HOLLYWOOD DONT KNOW NOTHING😡😠

[@jamessolomon4252]

He was robbed of that Oscar.

[@chomsky88]

Best musical sequence in the movie; it was a great idea to film them performing live instead of pre-recording and lip synching. Great energy. Busey does Buddy Holly proud.

[@stanhin]

Gary Busey is one crazy son of a gun, but he was perfect for this part. This remains one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies of all time.

[@garyholder4348]

As a grade school kid, got to see Buddy at the roller skate rink inLubbock.

[@stanhin]

You are one lucky guy. I'm jealous

[@ja1sherwood]

Buddy should have easily got an Academy Award for this movie.

[@tonyfrancesco3701]

He will always be the King, there is no other, Buddy Holly will always wear the crown 👑

[@anthshar]

Wow! What a performance by Gary Busey!! Apparently according to the comments below, he did all the vocals to it also! What a talent!!! Who knew!!!!!!

[@bonsummers2657]

apparently did both the vocals and the guitar playing

[@natecarson5269]

anthshar He did both

[@MrYeloot]

anthshar You obviously know little or nothing about Buddy Holly. The movie was a sham and the soundtrack sounded nothing like Buddy.
Try watching the "Real Buddy Holly Story" here on RUclips if you want the real facts

[@JRec-ql5fc]

Busey was a musician before this movie.

[@gbelgie9146]

Buddy..the King. Not some puke form Missaloser

[@KaBoomChannel]

He absolutely killed it in this part, a lot of the script was bullshit but daaaamn, Busey just BECAME Buddy Holly.

[@deewilton7461]

I played in a band with a drummer who was once asked his biggest drummer hero and he answered " Don Stroud!" Made my day!

[@edwardrossman9448]

stunning tribute

[@michaelnadolski6196]

This is brilliant, Gary busy was absolute equal parts primal thespian and crazy person .. and Charles st Martin and Don stroud ...yall know this was filmed live and their actually playing

[@Georgie1954]

Great performances by all three actors!

[@josephADAMEK]

Extraordinaire Buddy HOLLY " OH BOY" et Eddy COCHRAN " SOMETHIN ELSE" Mes 2 plus beaux ROCK de l'histoire ! Morts si jeunes !

[@Keef19661]

Восхитительный и очень трогательный момент. Обязательно пополню свою домашнюю коллекцию этим фильмом

[@zekegarzaiii2012]

Yeah Buddy Holly and the crickets rock the house at the Apollo that night.

[@terriecotham1567]

When music is from the heart it's no evil, race and let's love cross into the hearts of all .
well done

[@siypic]

So true...

[@TheDeadhead56]

this sends chill up my spine. very well done.

[@andrewreynolds2647]

Great stuff here, Gary Busey killing it and the sax players wow. Thanks for sharing.

[@williammohan9293]

A Great Tribute to an 'ole Texas boy...Buddy Holly!!!!!!

[@Iyebaka]

Busey even did his own singing !

[@TheMaineSurveyor]

The three of them, Gary, Don and Charlie did their own playing for this movie. It brought such a real energy to the performance, much more so than miming to recordings of Buddy.

[@TheForeverRanger]

@@TheMaineSurveyor Only overdubbing they had to was for rhythm since for some reason they didn't cast someone to play Niki Sullivan.

[@youngmindedman]

great movie, and great singer!!!

[@cookiebarron16]

Perfect imitation ... not only does he actually sound like Buddy Holly, he looks like him, has the same mannerisms. I agree Gary Busey SHOULD have won the oscar! However, him not winning does not distract from the "perfect" impersonation of Butty Holly - Excellent Performance!!!!

[@Bacalao2929]

I loved this movie so much for Christmas I got a tape recorder I tape it right off of HBO, then I would sit in the subway and play it when I played hookie , I Loved this movie

[@ianclarke5296]

Busey really does a great job

[@EgbertWilliams]

Buddy, Elvis, Chuck, Jerry Lee and Little Richard - the five pillars of rock and roll.

[@Mason-zp8yb]

Elvis was a hack job that stole all his music.

[@nataliedeshow768]

EdD5 you forgot the Everly Brothers!!

[@EgbertWilliams]

@@Mason-zp8yb He was influenced by the black church music that he loved. You're a hack.

[@ricomajestic]

@@Mason-zp8yb Elvis was no hack!

[@srujan00]

Eddie Cochran would've been huge, same with Ritchie Valens

[@dwightb3405]

Best movie hes ever done. Couldnt have found anyone better for the role

[@lovesixtiesrockmusic5304]

best scene in the whole movie Thanks RIP Buddy 60 years gone Sad

[@tgrazatos3740]

this scene helps me to get on with things in life that are difficult..

[@ryanwest5832]

The best or one of the best musicians that ever lived or ever will live or will ever live again

[@crlguitar1]

Gary Busey did a great job as Buddy Holly. I loved this movie. Charles Martin Smith on bass....Go Terry the Toad!

[@brapmanbrap5188]

Gary was absolutely brilliant as Buddy he did him pound and this film was wonderful