Peggy Sue Gerron, who inspired one of the most famous songs of the '50s, and later a hit '80s movie, died today (Monday) in Lubbock, Texas. She was 78.
Buddy Holly's high school friend, who became the first wife of Crickets drummer Jerry Allison, inspired the song "Peggy Sue." She later worked as a dental assistant and -- after remarrying -- became the first licensed woman plumber in California.
But she never lost her ties to Lubbock's most famous musical sons. Gerron served as a consultant to several theatrical productions of the stage musical Buddy. In 2008, she published a memoir, Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue. Five years later, she announced plans for a series of mystery-themed comic books, including one about "The Day the Music Died."
Her name also inspired the 1986 film Peggy Sue Got Married, starring Kathleen Turner and directed by Francis Ford Coppola. (Lubbock Avalanche-Journal)
In 2008, Peggy Sue Gerron told us the movie The Buddy Holly Story played fast and loose with the facts:
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In 2013, Peggy Sue Gerron discussed plans for a mystery comic book tied to the story of Buddy Holly:
Crickets drummer Jerry Allison recalls marrying Peggy Sue Gerron a year after "Peggy Sue" was recorded on June 29th, 1957: