Jerry Allison Obituary

Jerry Allison was an American musician best known as the drummer for The Cricket and co-writer of their hits, That’ll Be The Day and Peggy Sue, recorded with Buddy Holly.

Jerry Allison was born in Hillsboro, Texas in 1939 and started playing drums in the school band at the age of 10. He first encountered Buddy Holly a couple of years later, when the musicians sang the country song, Too Old to Cut The Mustard at a school assembly.

Allison also had a minor Solo hit, Real Wild Child, which he released under the name Ivan, with Holly backing him on guitar and vocals. The song later became a rock standard, covered by Iggy Pop and others.

Allison played his last gig with The Crickets in 2016 and spent his retirement living comfortably on a farm outside Nashville, Tennessee. he had been the last surviving member of the band’s original lineup.

Jerry Allison died at age 82. His death was announced on the official Buddy Holly Facebook page on Monday.