Page "Buddy Holly" Paragraph 15

In June 1958, he met Maria Elena Santiago, a receptionist for Murray Deutch, an executive for New York publisher Peer-Southern Music.

Holly managed to have Santiago invited to a luncheon at Howard Johnson's, thanks to Deutch's secretary, Jo Harper.

He asked her to have dinner with him that night at P. J. Clarke's.

Holly proposed marriage to her on their very first date.

" While we were having dinner, he got up and came back with his hands behind his back.

He brought out a red rose and said, ' This is for you.

Would you marry me?

' Within the beautiful red rose, there was a ring.

I melted.

" Holly went to her guardian's house the next morning and Maria came running at him and jumped into his arms, which was a sign to him that it was a " yes ".