I had my first kiss to a Buddy Holly song — chosen by the boy who was narcissistically hooked on Brown Eyed Handsome Man and knew that he was truer to the title than the singer. With his trademark black‑framed glasses and prominent teeth, Buddy was sweet not sexy, the pioneer of geek-cool.

The images in this nostalgic group exhibition prove that he was no looker but his charming, open friendliness radiates through the decades since his tragic death 50 years ago. They include portrait and documentaries by Lewis Allen who got closest to the band, on the road and back stage, and with Harry Hammond and Bill Francis, will lure first-time fans who saw Holly at the Astoria, where Allen captured him dancing backstage.

The collection is a timepiece of new post-War teenage informality, and the occasional satin tuxedo fits incongruously against Holly’s new Fender electric guitar, the late 50s accessory.

On stage, Buddy patrols with his instrument –— marking its early fetishisation. Allen also captured silent moments , on the bus and disembarking with a little boy into a landscape piled with snow. The off‑stage outfits, Mod-cool duffel coats and crew-necked sweaters, were necessities on the freezing US tour that led his final, fatal flight.

These photographs aren’t astonishing artistically but possess a unique crispness and atmospheric cool. As historical documents, they rank alongside the singer’s sweetest, catchiest pop songs, precious preservers of the Buddy Holly’s legend.
To: 26 April (020 7839 4942 ,www.proud.co.uk).