CLUB SANDWICH 46

BUDDY HOLLY CONTEST

JIM IMRAY

A LEGEND IN BUDDY HOLLY'S LUNCHTIME

Gordon Haskell, Second prize

Jim Imray, First prize

John Carter and Geoff Stephens, Third prize

            1987's Buddy Holly Lunch took place on 9th September at the Dolphin Brasserie in Pimlico, London, Inside it was reminiscent of an ocean liner: light, spacious and with a stage ideal for the occasion.
            Paul and Linda, smartly casual in dress, greeted everyone on arrival, Paul looking relaxed and fit with the flowing locks of 1986 trimmed well back. Well-known faces mingled with those who've helped to keep the Holly name alive. Anne Diamond flitted in, exchanged a greeting or two and was gone. Actor Leigh Lawson (Travelling Man) and Twiggy lingered longer. Paul Gambaccini and David Jensen, the thinking person's DJ's, enjoyed themselves quietly.
            In fact, behaviour was pretty civilised all round. Animated conversation flowed, but missiles of all kinds (melon balls, rolls,' profiteroles) remained unthrown. Tough luck on Sketchleys, but there we are. McCartney musical colleagues included Andy Mackay (Tug Of War, Pipes Of Peace), Kenny 'Rockestra' Jones and Micky Gallagher from the recent rock 'n' roll sessions. (See 'Once Upon A Long Ago' story.) Duane Eddy was luckily able to attend, being in town to promote 'Rockestra Theme'. As friendly as he is massive, Duane sported an impressive grey hat and seemed pleased with life, autographing the Eddy feature in CS44 for the Sandwich editor.
            Ray Needham of the British Buddy Holly Society was there, distributing copies of their latest mag. John Beecher, coauthor of the splendid Remembering Buddy Holly, revealed how Jerry Allison became a director of his Rollercoaster Records. Despite John's earnest assurances that Rollercoaster would never make him rich, an insistent J.I., thoroughly taken with the idea, finally extracted a drunken promise in writing. The wretched Beecher awoke next day to find the promise dangled before his eyes by the leering drummer! The name 'J.I. Allison' adorns the company masthead to this day.
            But the main point of the lunch was to present the prizes for the MPL's Buddy Holly Song Contest. The brief, "to write an original song in the style of Buddy Holly", inspired both affectionate tributes and more indirect echoes of the Holly sound. When it comes to tributes, there are few older hands than Mike Berry, whose 'Tribute To Buddy Holly' hit the charts in 1961. Obviously not a quickie cash-in, its sincerity is still plain. ("He told me in 1962 he could last another year on that song," recalled Paul with amusement.) Jonathan Ross presented the runners-up prizes, giving Paul and him a chance to size each other up before the McCartney debut on Jonathan's last Resort show. Then once Mike and co. had run through some Holly favourites, it was Jim Imray's turn in the spotlight.
            From 'Blue Suede Shoes' to 'Money For

Paul on stage with, from the left, Mick Green, Alvin Stardust, Tony Prince and Brian Hodgson