Tetbury woman designs for Buddy (From Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard)

Tetbury woman designs for Buddy

ARTISANS in Tetbury needed to work around the clock this month to recreate Buddy Holly's original guitar cover.

Cotswold leatherworkers Valerie Michael and Neil MacGregor were commissioned to make the completely authentic cover for the musical 'Buddy', which begins its UK tour next week.

Buddy Holly made himself the original cover himself before he became famous more than 50 years ago.

Val said: "The design is carved into the leather using tools very similar to those that Buddy would have used himself. It was tricky to get the design to fit the shape of the guitar and it had to be as close as possible to the original."

Leather carving has a strong tradition in the USA, but the technique originated in Moorish Spain before making its way to North America.

Val says in 'Walking the Line', the award-winning film about Johnny Cash, Elvis Presley plays a guitar with an almost identical cover.

She said: "They were obviously made and used by many of the 1950s musicians."

'Buddy' is coming to Bristol in June. For tickets call 0207 240 9941.

The musical tells the story of the three-year period in which Buddy Holly became the world's top performing recording artist before his tragic death in 1959.

Valerie and Neil are also running a one-day course on Sunday, March 26 for those interested in carving leather. For more details visit www.leathercourses.co.uk