BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETS - CRICKETS LEGEND SULLIVAN DIES

Former BUDDY HOLLY AND THE CRICKETS bandmember NIKI SULLIVAN has died - he was 66.

The guitarist and backing singer, who worked alongside tragic Holly when he shot to fame in the 1950s, died in his sleep at his family home in Kansas City, America.

Sullivan played on such hits as THAT'LL BE THE DAY, MAYBE BABY and OH BOY before leaving the band after it became clear they no longer needed a second guitarist.

He went on to form two other bands - THE PLAINSMEN and the HOLLYHAWKS - after his departure from The Crickets.