A major international music project with deep roots in Harrogate will return home this month as Words of Love is presented at Bettys Café Tea Rooms.

The book celebrates the life and legacy of legendary 1950s rock n roll star Buddy Holly and features contributions from more than 80 global music stars, including Eric Clapton and Ed Sheeran.

But at its heart, this is a Harrogate story.

The project was co-founded by local photojournalist Jude Vidal and Peter Bradley, whose family business, Bradley’s Jewellers, has long been part of the town’s fabric.

Words of Love: Buddy Holly is not only the definitive account of the life of the great Buddy Holly, it also contains a series of stunning pictures by Harrogate photographer Jude Vidal. (Picture contributed)

placeholder image — Words of Love: Buddy Holly is not only the definitive account of the life of the great Buddy Holly, it also contains a series of stunning pictures by Harrogate photographer Jude Vidal. (Picture contributed)

The launch will take place at Bettys Café Tea Rooms, a location with a direct historical link to the 1958 UK tour of Buddy Holly and the Crickets, hosted by entertainer Des O’Connor, Holly and the band visited Bettys while staying locally – an account later personally confirmed by O’Connor during a visit to Bradley’s Jewellers in the town.

The book, published by Genesis Publications, has been seven years in the making and includes more than 400 rare items.

The event will also celebrate the work of the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, which supports young musicians through songwriting retreats and mentorship programmes.

Artists supported by the Foundation include Yungblud and rising star Toby Lee, who will perform on the night.

Harrogate photographer Jude Vidal who criss-crossed America take photographs of famous ambassadors for the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation. (Picture contributed)

New initiatives to support emerging artists in the north of England will also be announced, reinforcing the project’s commitment to ensuring that talent from Yorkshire and beyond can build sustainable careers without leaving the region.

From a global music legacy to a local story of creativity and collaboration, Words of Love is a project that brings it all back home.

Jude Vidal said: "A photojournalist's job is to be in the right place at the right moment and know what you're looking at.

"With this project, we didn't always know in the moment what we had.

"Some of these portraits turned out to be the last ever taken.

"That's the weight of the work - and exactly why it matters that it was done this way.’

Peter Bradley Jnr said: "It has been a tremendous honour and privilege to travel the world and go into the private homes of some of the world’s most iconic artists and photograph them, each with their unique Buddy Holly guitars.

"It is also very humbling that, decades after Buddy tragically died in a plane crash alongside Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, his enduring legacy continues to inspire future generations of artists.

"I am immensely proud that the Buddy Holly songwriting retreats we began nearly 15 years ago with Chris Difford continue to create life-changing opportunities for young, talented musicians.”

Words of Love is a private event taking place at Bettys Café Tea Rooms, Harrogate, on Thursday, May 21, bringing together leading voices from music and broadcasting for an evening of conversation, reflection and photography.

The project is supported by the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation, which works to preserve and promote music education inspired by Holly's legacy.