The Buddy holly Story (1978). From the time he was a high school student in Lubbock, Texas until his tragic death at age 22 in 1959, Buddy Holly ignored the condemnation by townspeople and his conservative relatives and dedicated his life to the new music he became famous for performing, Rock ’N Roll. Gary Busey stars as Buddy Holly in this widely acclaimed big screen biography in which he won an Oscar for his performance. Oh! Boy, That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue and Not fade away are among the many big hits he wrote and recorded.