Among the backing bands that weren’t inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame with their frontmen, The Crickets seem to have gotten the rawest deal.
While Buddy Holly did release a solo album before his death, his first release was credited to a proper band — The Crickets. That album, 1957’s The “Chirping” Crickets, is considered one of the great early rock records and an inspiration for countless other artists.
And sure, Holly was the lead singer and wrote the most songs, but the other Crickets (Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin, and Niki Sullivan) had writing credit on a few tracks and played on every one of them. Holly is credited with popularizing the traditional rock lineup of two guitars, bass, and drums, and it sure seems like you need three other people to make that work.
The Crickets’ sole #1 hit (and Holly’s) was ‘That’ll Be the Day,’ written by Holly and Allison. This was the first song recorded by The Quarrymen before they became The Beatles.
Well, that’ll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that’ll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you’re gonna leave, you know it’s a lie
‘Cause that’ll be the day when I die
[Verse 1]
Well, you give me all your lovin’ and your turtle dovin’
All your hugs and kisses and your money too
Well, you know you love me baby
Still you tell me, maybe
That someday, well, I’ll be through
[Chorus]
Well, that’ll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that’ll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you’re gonna leave, you know it’s a lie
‘Cause that’ll be the day when I die
[Instrumental]
[Chorus]
Well, that’ll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that’ll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you’re gonna leave, you know it’s a lie
‘Cause that’ll be the day when I die
[Verse 2]
Well, when Cupid shot his dart
He shot it at your heart
So if we ever part and I leave you
You sit and hold me and you tell me boldly
That someday, well, I’ll be blue
[Chorus]
Well, that’ll be the day, when you say goodbye
Yes, that’ll be the day, when you make me cry
You say you’re gonna leave, you know it’s a lie
‘Cause that’ll be the day when I die
[Outro]
Well, that’ll be the day, hoo-hoo
That’ll be the day, hoo-hoo
That’ll be the day, hoo-hoo
That’ll be the day
Meet Me In Montauk 
I wonder if Holly’s well publicized untimely death elevated him into the Rock Hall without the Crickets. Things might have been different if the Crickets had continued in the decades leading up to the induction. On the other hand, if Holly had spent those decades recording without the Crickets, maybe their exclusion would have seemed far more justifiable.
The Beatles used to be called Quarrymen?
It was a band John, Paul, and George were in before they formed The Beatles.