Ray Ruff

Producer and promoter Ray Ruff was instrumental in grooming the careers of countless Nashville stars--not bad for a failed Buddy Holly knock-off. Born Marvin Ray Ruffin in Amarillo, Texas in 1938, he was 18 when joined the staff of producer Norman Petty's Clovis, New Mexico recording studio, the site where Holly recorded his earliest hits. After Holly's tragic death, Petty groomed Ruff as the singer's replacement and assembled a backing band dubbed the Checkmates. Between 1959 and 1963 Ruff cut some two dozen Petty-produced sides and even often wore Holly's trademark horn-rimm...