Rock n' Roll

From left: Danny Todd; Kevin Terry; Graham Pugh; Col. Mona Lisa Tucker, 72nd Air Base Wing vice commander; Dan Bell, 72nd Force Support Squadron director and Col. James Eilers, 72nd Mission Support Group Commander, look over the plaques presented to the Tinker club which will now more officially link a long-rumored Buddy Holly recording session to Tinker’s old Officer’s Club.(Air Force photo by/Margo Wright)

Buddy Holly recording now fixed to Tinker with help of local historian

Published Dec. 11, 2008
By Danielle Gregory
Tinker Public Affairs

TINKER AIR FORCE BASE, Okla., -- The old Tinker club, now a warehouse, is quickly becoming famous for housing the acoustics Buddy Holly thought would be great for his song "Maybe Baby."

Last week, Buddy Holly historian, Graham Pugh of Choctaw, Okla. returned the original plaque commemorating the only Top-10 rock hit recorded on an Air Force base. The plaque was dedicated in 1992 then lost, but Mr. Pugh brought it back and also presented a new plaque to the Tinker Officers Club. Mr. Pugh re-wrote and corrected the tale of Buddy Holly and the Crickets late-night recording session and framed it along with a replica of the million-selling single.

Mr. Pugh who was no stranger to either officers clubs, having played in them himself, said Mr. Holly chose the club for its "unique acoustics."

Several years ago a Tinker Club worker recovered the original plaque from being thrown away and kept it in her possession. She later loaned the plaque to Mr. Pugh, who simply forgot to return it, until now.