I was reading about Ed Sullivan the other day and came across a tidbit I never heard before. I knew the legendary variety show host was known for holding grudges against performers who angered him, including Bo Diddley and the Doors, but I never realized he also feuded with Buddy Holly.
When Holly and the Crickets appeared Jan. 26, 1958, to perform their new single, “Oh, Boy!” Sullivan asked them to play something else — apparently he found “Oh, Boy!” too raucous. Holly refused, so Sullivan cut their airtime from two songs to one, mispronounced Holly’s name in his introduction, and had the feed turned down on Holly’s guitar.
Unlike other acts Sullivan feuded with, Holly was invited back. He responded that Sullivan didn’t have enough money to make that happen.