Peggy Sue dead: How did Buddy Holly's muse die? What was the cause of death?
PEGGY SUE, the inspiration behind Buddy Holly’s 1957 classic song, named in tribute to her, has died at the University Medical Centre in Lubbock, Texas aged 78. But how did she die and what was the cause of death?
Buddy Holly and The Crickets perform 'Peggy Sue' in 1957
Peggy Sue Gerron, best-known for having Buddy Holly’s 1957 hit song named after her, passed away on Monday at the University Medical Centre in Lubbock, Texas.
Hospital spokesman Eric Finley was given permission by her family to confirm her death, but was asked to withhold other confidential information.
It has not yet been revealed how Peggy died, as Eric did not disclose the cause of death when he announced her passing.
Peggy, who inspired Buddy’s band The Crickets' song Peggy Sue, dated his bandmate and drummer Jerry Allison.
I was just delighted, I thought it was a fascinating song
According to Peggy’s son-in-law, the track was meant to be titled Cindy Lou, but Jerry wanted to “impress” her.
Tom Stathos told KCBD TV: “It was originally going to be Cindy Lou (Buddy’s niece) and he (Jerry) wanted to impress Peggy Sue so he got Buddy to change the name.”
Peggy first heard the song in a school auditorium, with hundreds of screaming teenagers and said she was “delighted” when she listened to it.
She told the BBC in 2009: ”I was just delighted, I thought it was a fascinating song. It's really hard to stand still when you're listening to Peggy Sue.”
Peggy married Jerry in 1958, inspiring Buddy’s sequel song, Peggy Sue Got Married, which was released after he died in a plane crash in 1959.
The fatal crash also killed Ritchie Valens and J.P. 'The Big Bopper' Richardson.
Born in Olton, Texas, in 1940 Peggy was brought up in Lubbock, Texas and went to high school with Buddy and Jerry.
Peggy recalled first meeting Buddy when he knocked her over on his way to a gig and some weeks later she was on a date with Jerry, who introduced her to him.
“He started laughing," Peggy said. "Jerry asked him what was so funny.”
She continued: “He said 'I've already overwhelmed your Peggy Sue'."
In 2008, Peggy released her autobiography, Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue?, to mark the 50th anniversary of the song.
Speaking about the book, Peggy said: “I wanted to give him [Buddy] his voice. It’s my book, my memoirs.”
“We were very, very good friends. He was probably one of the best friends I ever had.”
Buddy wrote several popular songs before his untimely death in 1959, including That’ll Be The Day and Maybe Baby.
A 1978 movie, titled The Buddy Holly Story, featured Gary Busey as the lead role, chronicling the brief career of the rock ’n’ roll star.
The Buddy Holly Centre in Lubbock described the singer, musician and songwriter as “Lubbock’s most famous native son”.