When you think of rock and roll, you probably don't think of Nick Kelsh.
But Nick is a part of rock and roll history in a unique way.
Born in 1953 in Fargo, North Dakota, Nick Kelsh became a huge Buddy Holly fan and was interested in his story -- especially his music and the plane crash that killed him on the early morning of Feb. 3, 1959.
An accomplished photojournalist and author, Nick had heard a story that the spring after the crash, the farmer whose land was the site of the accident, was plowing his fields to prepare them for planting. The night of the crash had experienced a harsh blizzard with snow and cold temperatures, so it was possible some debris would have remained in the fields' vicinity.
We know that the accident spread personal belongings and the bodies of J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), Ritchie Valens, and Holly throughout the landscape of the frozen Iowa cornfield.
Months later, as the farmer drove his tractor and plow toward the area of the crash site, something caught his attention -- an object shimmering in the sunlight. As he jumped down to investigate, the man leaned in and discovered a watch, a cigarette lighter... and a pair of glasses.
The cigarette lighter and watch had J.P. Richardson's initials engraved on it. While the glasses had no identification, it was no mystery who they may have belonged to. The farmer picked up the items and called the sheriff's office to report he had found some things related to the crash. A deputy was dispatched and upon collecting the items, placed them in an envelope labeled, "Charles Hardin Holley, rec'd April 7, 1959." The envelope was taken back to the county courthouse and somehow got filed away in a cabinet drawer.
Fast forward to 1980, over 20 years after the last concert of the three young musicians. The current sheriff was looking through some old filing cabinets in the courthouse's basement when he came across an envelope and immediately recognized the familiar name printed on the outside.
The glasses were eventually returned to Buddy Holly's widow, Maria Elena Holly Diaz. Nick Kelsh-- then working for The Philadelphia Inquirer-- heard about the farmer's story from a friend. Being a fan and a journalist, Nick contacted Maria in Texas and asked if he could make an appointment to visit with her about Buddy and the story of the glasses. According to Nick, she was more than accommodating during the visit. She shared stories and went through pictures of their wedding album, talked about her life after the accident (she had remarried and had three children), and numerous stories about Buddy and his music.
When Nick asked about the glasses, she went to the bedroom and brought out a shoebox. She took off the lid, and there were the glasses that had been returned to her from the Iowa cornfield. Nick must have been in awe-- and rightfully so.
He said in an online interview with Photo Lounge:
"I set up a little still life table in her living room and she sat and watched me and asked me all kinds of questions about photography because she happened to be taking a photography course. Then, at the end I asked her if I could put the glasses on, which she was completely comfortable with. Then because she was doing a photography class, she took my picture wearing the glasses. So I have a picture of myself taken by Buddy Holly's widow wearing the glasses Buddy Holly was wearing when he died in the plane crash. It's pretty crazy."
Nick said that after his visit with Maria, he wrote a detailed letter to the director of the Buddy Holly Museum in Lubbock, Texas. In 1998, Maria arranged to have the glasses displayed there in return for the sum of $80,000, where they, along with the story Nick brought to light, have become the premier exhibit at the museum.
When I present my class on Buddy Holly, one of the true pioneers of rock and roll, I always share this story and it gives me shivers to think about this discovery of an iconic piece of rock and roll history. And I think we owe this story being shared to former Fargo resident Nick Kelsh.
Thank you, Nick.
Nick Kelsh is retired (sort of). From his website howtophotographyourlife.com, it appears he is quite busy helping others learn the joys of taking pictures through workshops and courses. Check it out when you have time.
Have a great week all. Rob
Great story. Great-looking pair of glasses.