The Fireballs embody a bit of raw 1950s for me. Formed in Raton, New Mexico in 1957, they started as an instrumental group driven by George Tomsco's lead guitar.

They had some great early instrumental releases, most notably 1959's "Torquay".

Torquay by The Fireballs

I also find it highly amusing that that Torquay is also a town in Devon.

A view...you say madam how about ...a bunch of New Mexico teenagers playing some twang!

Yes, absolutely nothing screams rock and roll rebellion quite like the English Riviera! (Although it didn't stop Metronomy literally calling an album that.)

Anyway...Norman Petty, who ran the Clovis studio where The Fireballs recorded, was also Buddy Holly’s producer. After Holly died, Petty obtained the rights to Holly's early acoustic demos and had The Fireballs overdub them throughout the 1960s. 1960s DIY remix culture at its finest!

Now, you might notice Buddy Holly himself isn't in the 1000 Songs archive. The Fireballs are. For me they kind of represent the pioneers who actually built a sound, and that is why they fully deserve this spot.