Buddy Holly: At 75, An Icon Gets A Star-Studded Tribute

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Buddy Holly onstage in 1958.

V&A Images/Getty Images

Buddy Holly onstage in 1958.

Nearly 75 years ago, a rock 'n' roll legend was born in Lubbock, Texas: Charles Hardin Holley. But most people — by the time he was in his 20s, "most people" meant millions — called him "Buddy."

Buddy Holly died just 22 years later in a plane crash that has come to be known as The Day the Music Died. But Holly's music and influence have lived on to inspire countless musicians, including 19 who perform on a tribute album that's out this month, titled Rave On Buddy Holly.

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First Listen: 'Rave On Buddy Holly'

Producer and Hollywood music supervisor Randall Poster masterminded the project, which includes interpretations of Holly classics by Paul McCartney, The Black Keys, Florence and the Machine and Patti Smith, to name a few. Poster and contributing artist Jenny O. recently spoke with Weekend Edition Saturday host Scott Simon about the astounding impact of Holly's short life and career.

"There are people who think these songs belong to different generations of artists," Poster says. "We have 'Not Fade Away,' which for some people is one of their favorite Rolling Stones songs, or their favorite Grateful Dead song. Maybe now, some people think it's their favorite Florence and the Machine song."