FOR the past 20 years Scot Robin has been walking, singing and playing guitar in someone else’s shoes.
Night after night he takes audiences back to where rock and roll all began, presenting Buddy Holly in concert.
And despite having been in the same role for all that time, he still manages to keep it fresh.
“Obviously there are no new Buddy Holly songs,” he said. “But the show still grows each year as we always have new stories to tell.
“Even though Buddy’s career only lasted two years he packed a lot into his life. There’s no way we’ll make it a history lesson but there are still a lot of interesting things behind the man.”
Holly died in a plane crash in 1959 at age 22, along with fellow musicians JP Richardson, 28, aka the Big Bopper and 17-year-old Ritchie Valens, of La Bamba fame, as well as pilot Roger Patterson, 21.
In the 56 years since there has been no shortage of rumours and conspiracy theories surrounding the event.
In the words of Don McLean’s American Pie, it was the day the music died, robbing rock and roll of one of its most promising singers.
And with The Guardian reporting earlier this month that the air investigation into the crash may be reopened, it appears fans are still searching for answers 56 years later.
“Whatever comes out of this renewed spotlight on the accident, the tragedy is certain to continue to obsess Holly fans, imbued as it was with so many searing details,” The Guardian reported.
Robin is proof of this, retelling Holly’s life story for packed-out audiences wanting to learn more about the late singer.
Part of the reason Robin has so many stories to tell are the encounters with Holly’s remaining family.
Not only has he performed in the late singer’s hometown of Lubbock, Texas to celebrate Buddy Holly Week, but has also met Holly’s wife Maria Elena numerous times.
Maria has even flown to Australia to see Robin perform as her late husband.
“Knowing a lot about Buddy is knowing why he wrote his songs,” Robin said. “For me playing with Holly’s original band is always a highlight because they have insight which is priceless. You can’t beat the original.
“Our band, from day one, has spent so much time perfecting the sound of Buddy Holly, but there is something about the original. They give you [shivers] down the spine.”
During this two-hour production Robin, who also played the lead role in the smash hit musical Buddy, will perform more than 30 Holly hits including That’ll Be The Day, Peggy Sue, Raining In My Heart and Oh Boy!
Buddy Holly in Concert will be at the Mandurah Performing Arts Centre on April 11.
For more information go to manpac.com.au or call 9550 3900.
