American rock Building Sound and the polished production values of soul, have been seen as influencing the Merseybeat sound, particularly the early work of The Beatles, and through them and others the form of later rock music. Some historians of music have also pointed to important and innovative technical developments that built on rock and roll in this period, particularly the Wall of Sound pursued by Phil Spector. Commentators have traditionally perceived a decline of rock and roll in the late 1950s and early 1960s. By 1959, the death of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens in a plane crash,
Listen to Me: Buddy Holly Richards, Ringo Starr, Jackson Browne, David Campbell and others who were inspired and touched by Holly’s music shared memories via video message. Buddy's widow Maria Elena Holly, seated beside Phil Everly was in attendance, singing along with every song. The event was filmed for a PBS pledge drive special featured throughout USA during December 2011. Listen to Me: Buddy Holly Listen to Me: Buddy Holly is a tribute album to rock ‘n roll pioneer Buddy Holly, in celebration of what would have been his 75th birthday in 2011. The album was released by Verve Forecast in the United States on