ALS in pencil, signed “Love, Buddy,” one page, 7.25 x 10.5, postmarked in Nashville, Tennessee, on November 6, 1956. Beginning “Hi-chee-o-do,” a handwritten letter to his parents, L.O. and Ella Holley, in full: “Well we finally got here about 2:00 o’clock in the afternoon yesterday. (Monday) We are staying in the Bel Air Motel (same one as last time) right now but we are going to look for an apartment that we can rent by the week today. We saw Mr. Denny yesterday and talked to him for 10 to 15 minutes. He’s glad we came and he said as soon as Mr. Cohen gets here we will start working on material and things. We took in a movie yesterday evening and then we came back and went to bed about 8:30 and slept till just now (12:15). We were pretty tired. We left York, Nebraska, Sunday about 2:00 P.M. and drove straight through. Echo was sure glad to see me. We just rode around Sat. nite and looked at the town and the college. Sun. morning I went to church with her. Then we went out to eat and then Don & I left for Nashville. We don’t know anything for sure yet about when the session will be except that it will be after the 11th. I’ll write our new address as soon as I know it so Bye for now…P.S. Did Daddy find a car of some kind?” In fine condition. Encapsulated in a PSA/DNA authentication holder. Accompanied by the original mailing envelope addressed by Holly.
After opening for Bill Haley & His Comets, Holly was spotted by Nashville scout Eddie Crandall, who helped him get a contract with Decca Records. Holly recorded at the Nashville studio three times with producer Owen Bradley in 1956, but was displeased with the latter's creative control and selection of session musicians and arrangements. When Decca didn't renew Holly's contract in January 1957, the musician took his talents to Norman Petty in New Mexico where he would be allowed to record a demo of 'That'll Be the Day' and find the sound he was looking for. The recording earned him a basic agreement with Brunswick Records, but, still technically under contract with Decca, Holly would have to use a different name: The Crickets.
