The life and music of Buddy Holly is told in story and song in “Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story,” through July 16, Bucks County Playhouse, New Hope.

The energetic, talented and engaging cast performs some 27 songs written, co-written and-or popularized by Holly, born in 1936 in Lubbock, Tex. His meteoric rise burned out at age 22 when he was killed in a plane crash in 1959, along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, while on the “Winter Dance Party” tour near Clear Lake, Iowa, a tragedy memorialized by Don McLean in his song “The Day the Music Died” (1971).

“Buddy” includes “That’ll Be the Day,” a No. 1 charter-topper in the United States in 1957, and later that year, another hit, “Peggy Sue,” and a second single by Buddy Holly and the Crickets, “Oh, Boy!,” b/w “Not Fade Away.” In 1958, “It’s So Easy” and “Heartbeat” were released, and later that year, Holly backed by an 18-piece orchestra, on “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore,” “Raining in My Heart” and “True Love Ways.”

“Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story,” which debuted in 1989 on London’s West End (with financing by Paul McCartney, who owns the Holly song catalogue) and on Broadway in 1990, is regarded as the first, or one of the first, “jukebox musicals,” so-called because of a preponderance of songs and less emphasis on book.

“Buddy” is certainly that, with scant biographical information in the first act in the book by Alan Janes. The Bucks’ production is directed by Hunter Foster with music director Paul Masse, sound design and director of production Matthew Given and choreographer Lorin Latarro.

The inviting scenic design by Adam Koch and lighting design by Gina Scherr conveys, in addition to the concert stage, a record company office and other locations. The costume design by Nicole V. Moody authentically recreates the attire of the mid- to late-1950s.

John Dewey has the looks, the moves and the voice as Buddy Holly. The Crickets include James David Larson (Joe B. Mauldin), who does some great stunt-playing on the stand-up bass; Zach Cossman as Jerry Allison, the drummer, and Maximillian Sangerman as Tommy Allsupp, guitarist. It’s a tribute to these actors-musicians that they play as a cohesive and entertaining tribute band.

The cast includes Karak Osborn (J.P. Richardson “The Big Bopper”), who projects the character’s big personality; Gilbert D. Sanchez (Ritchie Valens), who sings and dances a great “La Bamba,” and Natalie Haro (Maria Elena Santiago), exuberant as Holly’s wife.

The cast includes Andrew Frace (Hipockets Duncan), Kent M. Lewis (Norman Petty, Holly’s producer-manager), Elizabeth Nestlerode (Vi Petty) and Brandi Massey (a show-stopper as an Apollo Theatre performer).

The two-hour show (with 15-minute intermission seen July 1 for this review) is the “jukiest” of jukebox musicals. In this, the musical is fun, even if Holly as a person, is somewhat missing in action. I would’ve preferred more back story, context and insight into Holly’s upbringing, viewpoints and songwriting inspiration.

In his brief career, Holly touched the lives of rock music pioneers. As teens, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, as well as Eric Clapton, saw Holly perform on the ”Sunday Night at the London Palladium” TV show. The name, The Beatles, was an homage to Holly’s Crickets. Lennon’s The Quarrymen covered “That’ll Be the Day” in 1958.

Two nights before Holly’s death, Bob Dylan, 17, saw Holly’s concert in Duluth, Minn. Mick Jagger saw Holly in concert in London. The Rolling Stones had a hit with “Not Fade Away” in 1964. As a teen, Elton John wore horn-rimmed glasses similar to Holly’s.

“Buddy - The Buddy Holly Story” will touch your life, too. His story does “Rave On” at Bucks County Playhouse.