Jerry Naylor

In 1961, Jerry Naylor became the lead singer for the Crickets. This was two years after the tragic death of Buddy Holly and the departure of other singers (Earl Sinks, David Box) from the group. Jerry Allison, Buddy Holly’s drummer and co-songwriter, owned the name and trademark of “The Crickets”. Allison, now the sole owner of “The Crickets” and their manager, H. Daniel Whitman, offered Naylor the lead singer position with The Crickets following their signing with Liberty Records, Hollywood, California. He recorded as lead singer with the Crickets until 1964. Their first hit for the label was “Don’t Ever Change”, a Carole King/Gerry Goffin written song, which reached the number 5 position on the national charts in the UK. The very first song the new Beatles group performed live on BBC, in 1963, was The Crickets’ hit, “Don’t Ever Change.” and the Beatles all acknowledged the Crickets influence in a letter sent to them following a Crickets tour of the UK in 1962. More hit singles followed and the Bobby Vee Meets the Crickets Album was a best-selling album in the UK and Europe. The Crickets also had a hit EP recording on EMI/Liberty Records in 1963, featuring four tracks including, “My Little Girl” and “Teardrops Fall Like Rain,” both featured in the Columbia Motion Pictures Movie, Just for Fun.