Buddy Holly songwriter, Sonny West, buried in Chillicothe Wednesday

Sonny West, noted songwriter of Buddy Holly’s hit songs “Oh Boy” and “Rave On” passed away on September 8, 2022 in Grove, Okla. at the age of 85. West and Holly were boyhood friends.
West was born as Joe Bob West on July 30, 1937 to Hardeman County sharecroppers. West was buried in a service at the Chillicothe Cemetery on Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022.
Before his songs made the Billboard charts with Buddy Holly’s rendition, Sonny had recorded the double-sided 45 record “Rock-ola Ruby” and “Sweet Rockin’ Baby” in 1956. These songs are considered by many to be the beginning of Rockabilly genre, which led to Rock-n-Roll music.
West was also a member of the Crickets, which was Holly’s band, when Holly died in a plane crash in 1959.
West is one of the original inductees of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame, the West Texas Musicians Hall of Fame, and is a recipient of BMI’s Million Airplays Award.