The day the music died.

Waylon, who was playing bass for Buddy.
But, Audiofeil said it best.

Buddy's two biggest quantifiable achievements:

1 - Being the first pop/rock star to write his own material

2 - popularizing the standard 4-piece rock band setup.

Favorite song: Everyday

No Buddy = nothing would be as it is

I'm sure you all know that the Beatles took their name from the Crickets.

Seditious,
I read an interview with Lennon in which he said "the Beatles" is derived from the word "beat". They keep the beat.
But his earlier band, The Silver Beatles, may have come from the Crickets. Lennon was definitely into Buddy's music.
My guess is if The Beatles were taken from the Crickets, it would have most likely been spelled, The Beetles.
But what do I know, I'm just a hillbilly from Oregon.
All we know is Reggae- Louie Louie.

The Beetles was the original name in tribute to Buddy Holly.

It was Stuart Sutcliffe's idea not John Lennon's. This is well documented.

It was later changed to the Beatles as a play on words.

What Audiofeil said.