The inspiration for one of the most famous songs in rock 'n roll history has died. Peggy Sue Gerron Rackham was 78 years old when she passed away in a Lubbock, Texas hospital earlier this week. The classic 1957 song was co written by Buddy Holly when the teenager girl was dating his Crickets band member Jerry Allison.

The real Peggy Sue traveled with the Crickets after Holly was killed in a 1959 plane crash, and she also made appearances on Roger Miller's television show in the 1960's. She published her memoir, called 'Whatever Happened to Peggy Sue: A Memoir By Buddy Holly’s Peggy Sue' in 2008.

Watch the Crickets perform the song on the Ed Sullivan Show below

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