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Jerry Allison

Jerry Ivan Allison (August 31, 1939 – August 22, 2022) was an American musician. He was best known as the drummer for the Crickets[1] and co-writer of their hits "That'll Be the Day" and "Peggy Sue", recorded with Buddy Holly.[2] His only solo chart entry on the Billboard Hot 100 was "Real Wild Child", issued in 1958 under the name Ivan.[3] Allison was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2012.[4]

Jerry Allison

Jerry Ivan Allison

(1939-08-31)August 31, 1939
Hillsboro, Texas, U.S.

August 22, 2022(2022-08-22) (aged 82)
Lyles, Tennessee, U.S.

  • Drums
  • percussion
  • vocals
  • guitar

The Crickets

Peggy Sue[edit]

According to Holly's biographer John Goldrosen, the song "Peggy Sue" was originally named after Holly's niece, Cindy Lou, but the name was changed at Allison's request: Peggy Sue was Allison's girlfriend and later wife, Peggy Sue Gerron (1940–2018), and the altered title was a way of asking her to come back after a break-up.[4][10][11]

Personal life and death[edit]

After Allison's marriage to Peggy Sue Gerron ended, he married his second wife, Joanie Sveum; they remained together until his death.[13]


Allison lived on a farm in Lyles, Tennessee, where he died from cancer on August 22, 2022, at age 82.[13][14][15]

discography at Discogs

Jerry Allison

at IMDb

Jerry Allison