SAMPLE OUTLINE: Informative (time/chronological) -- Full Sentence
Buddy Holly
I. INTRODUCTION
A. (Attention Statement) “February made me shiver, with every paper
I’d deliver. Bad news on the doorstep, I couldn’t take one more step.
I can’t remember if I cried, when I read about his widowed bride.
But something touched me deep inside, the day the music died.” The
lyrics from this famous song are about the tragic and sudden death of
Buddy Holly, who died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959.
B. (Thesis) Today I am going tell you about the influences of the shortlived life of Buddy Holly.
C. (Significance to Audience/Credibility) Although you might not own
a Buddy Holly CD, many of music’s greatest artists have identified
Holly as a major influence. And, according to the official Rock and
Roll Hall of Fame web site, last view 4/19/07, Buddy Holly was
inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
D. (Preview of Main Points) To give you a better understanding of who
he was, I am going to tell you about Buddy Holly’s childhood and
then his impact on the music industry.
[Transition] But first let’s go back and look at Holly’s early years.
II. BODY
A. (Main Point 1) Buddy Holly’s Childhood
1. Birth and name
a. According to the book The Buddy Holly Story, written in 1979,
on September 7, 1936, Charles Hardin Holly was born in
Lubbock, TX. His parents decided his name was too formal
and started calling him “Buddy”
2. Lessons taught by parents
a. His parents teach him drive and determination from a
very early age.
b. Despite financial difficulties, he was given a piano and guitar
lessons as a young child. Buddy also learned to play the fiddle.
3. Early career
a. According to the previously cited Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
web page, Buddy formed his first band just after graduating
from school. The band was called Western and Bop Band and
played mostly country music.
b. Buddy was noticed by a talent scout in 1957 and signed to a
record deal, releasing a single under the name Buddy Holly
and the Three Tones
c. That year Holly opened for Elvis Presley at the Lubbock
Youth Center and he fell in love with rock and roll.
d. Later in 1957 Holly’s new band, The Crickets hit the charts
with That’ll be the Day and his career was launched.
4. His marriage
a. According to the video The Buddy Holly Story, released in
1978, Buddy met and fell in love with Maria Elena Santiago
on a trip to New York in June of 1958.
b. They were married two months later
c. Sadly, Buddy’s life would end abruptly in a plane crash
shortly after his wedding date.
[Transition] Now that you understand some of the early influences on
Buddy Holly, let’s take a look at how he influenced the music industry.
B. (Main Point 2) Buddy Holly’s Influence on the Music Industry
1. Influence on other musicians
a. Linda Ronstadt recorded many of his songs including “It’s
so Easy,” and “That’ll Be the Day.”
b. Other artists recording Holly songs include, John Denver,
Waylon Jennings, the Beatles, John Lennon, The Rolling
Stones, and Blondie.
c. Paul McCartney was so impress that he bought the publishing
rights to the majority of Holly’s songs.
d. Although he has not recorded music in several decades,
people still buy his music today.
e. He is considered one of the founders of rock-and-roll and is a
member of the Rock-and-Roll Hall of Fame.
III. CONCLUSION
A. (Review of Main Points) Hopefully you have a better understanding
of who Buddy Holly was by hearing about the influences on his
young life and how his music influenced others.
B. (Re-state Thesis or Significance) Today Buddy Holly’s music has
withstood the test of time, still being recorded by modern artist. He
is considered a founder of rock-and-roll and is in the Rock-and-Roll
Hall of Fame.
C. (Residual Message) So the next time you hear the song Bye Bye
Miss American Pie, you’ll have a better understanding of what the
song is about and why “the music died” on that tragic day Buddy
Holly was killed.
Works Cited
Buddy Holly. Rock and Roll Hall of Fame & Museum. Rock and Roll Hall
of Fame. 10 May 2007 <http://www.rockhall.com/inductee/buddy-holly>.
Cohen, Ed and F. Bauer (1978) The Buddy Holly Story. RCA/Columbia
Pictures Home Video.
Tabler, John (1979) The Buddy Holly Story, London: Plexus Publishing
Limited.