The Crickets were an American rock and roll band formed in January 1957 in Lubbock, Texas, by singer-songwriter Buddy Holly. The original lineup included Holly on lead vocals and guitar, Niki Sullivan on rhythm guitar, Jerry Allison on drums, and Joe B. Mauldin on bass. Their first hit, "That'll Be the Day," was released in May 1957 and reached number three on the Billboard Top 100 chart. The Crickets were instrumental in establishing the template for future rock bands with their guitar-bass-drums lineup and original material, influencing bands like The Beatles.

After Holly's tragic death in a plane crash in 1959, the band continued to perform and record with various members throughout the 1960s and beyond. Notably, they released the album "Remnants" in 1973 and "The Crickets and Their Buddies" in 2004, which featured collaborations with artists such as Eric Clapton and Waylon Jennings. Despite changes in their lineup, The Crickets remained active until 2016, leaving a lasting legacy in the rock and roll genre.