Biography: Maria Elena
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Born Maria Elena Santiago in 1935 in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Maria Elena moved to New York City as a young child, soon after her parents died. Maria Elena met Buddy Holly in 1958 while working as a receptionist for a music publisher. Buddy dropped by the company office and after a couple minutes of chatting, Buddy asked Maria Elena on a date – her first ever! Due to the strict nature of Maria Elena’s aunt, Buddy had to ask her aunt for her permission to date her niece. After negotiating with her aunt, Maria Elena and Buddy Holly went on their first date. After only five hours, Buddy asked Maria Elena to marry him! |
Thinking that he was kidding, she replied that he needed to ask permission if he wanted to marry her. The next morning, Buddy showed up at Maria Elena’s house and asked her aunt for Maria’s hand in marriage.
Buddy Holly and Maria Elena Santiago were married on August 15, 1958, only two weeks after they met. They married and settled down in Buddy’s hometown of Lubbock, Texas until a disagreement within the band led to Buddy breaking away from the Crickets. Buddy and Maria Elena soon moved back to New York where Buddy performed with a new group. Maria Elena would sometimes tour with Buddy, helping out with the laundry and finances.
In 1959, while Buddy was touring for the Winter Dance Party, his plane crashed while traveling to the next show. He died along with Ritchie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson. Maria Elena was six months pregnant with Buddy’s child at the time of the crash and miscarried soon after learning of her husband’s tragic death. Years later, Maria Elena remarried and had three children. She is now a grandmother and travels the world promoting Buddy Holly’s legacy.
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