The nearest they would probably have come to meeting was during Willie’s stints as a radio DJ, firstly on KCNC out of Fort Worth in 1956 and then on KVAN in Vancouver, Washington throughout 1957, after which Willie quit the radio business to become a full-time musician. It’s entirely probable that among the songs he played during those radio times were Buddy’s latest singles!

However, there are some connections that are much more clearly defined, particularly their mutual friendship with Waylon Jennings, who was Buddy’s protégé and played bass for him on the Winter Dance Party tour, and who gave up his seat on that fatal plane to the Big Bopper. It was Willie who then helped transform Waylon into the outlaw country superstar that he became.

And there’s perhaps the most important link between Buddy and Willie – the Texas spirit. It’s a mix of individualism, stubbornness and a total determination not to compromise. Both men had it in spades. The critics didn’t matter.

It’s a mindset that comes from history and the rich heritage of Texas that is still prevalent today. It was, after all, an independent country for the decade between 1836 and 1845, before joining the Union. Texas has forever had its own identity and the energy of rebellion is still a huge part of the culture of the Lone Star state.

And there are few better examples of that free spirit than Buddy and Willie. Both were pioneers in their own field, neither was willing to compromise their music and both were prepared to walk away from something they didn’t want to do. They were Texan titans and musical ground-breakers.

Who knows what would have happened if they’d ever had the chance to work together…

Bob Harris