The Story of Rock's First Tragedy: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper Killed in Plane Crash REDDIT Hulton Archive, Getty Images Rock ‘n’ roll was still in its infancy when it suffered its first tragedy. On Feb. 3, 1959, three of its biggest stars — Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson, known as the Big Bopper — were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The three acts, along with Dion and the Belmonts, were on a package tour called the Winter Dance Party, which was to play 24 Midwestern cities in as many days. But the bus’ heating system was ill-equipped and broke down a few days later, which caused some musicians to catch the flu and Holly’s drummer Carl Bunch to be hospitalized for frostbite. By the time they reached the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake on Feb. 2, about a week and a half into the tour, Holly, after the show, decided to charter a plane from nearby Mason City to Fargo, N.D., just across the state line from their next gig in Moorhead, Minn.

As a bonus, Holly would be able to do his laundry, which had been neglected since the tour began. The plane, a Beechwood Bonanza, had room for only three passengers — Holly and his band — and the pilot, Roger Peterson. Holly’s bass player, future country legend Waylon Jennings , gave up his seat to Richardson, who was ill. According to Jennings’ autobiography, Holly teased his bass player by saying, “Well, I hope your ol’ bus freezes up.” To which Jennings responded, “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes.” There are conflicting stories as to how Valens wound up in the third seat. Tommy Allsup, Holly’s guitarist, claimed that he lost a coin flip to Valens in the dressing room. In 2010, Dion DiMucci, who had been silent about that night for 51 years, claimed that he, not Allsup, was slated for the third seat because he was one of the headliners. But after winning the coin toss, he balked at paying $36 for the flight — the amount his parents paid in monthly rent for the apartment where he grew up — and gave Valens the seat.

Local DJ Bob Hale, who was the MC for the concert, agrees that it was between Allsup and Valens, but that he, not Allsup, flipped the coin. Regardless of the contradictions, around 12:55AM on Feb. 3, the plane carrying Holly, Richardson and Valens took off in a snowstorm with strong winds. But the plane traveled only a few miles before crashing, killing all four men instantly. The federal investigation ruled that even though the weather played a large role in the accident, the 21-year-old Peterson was too inexperienced to have been flying in such conditions. In addition, he had most likely misread the altitude indicator, which was different than the one on which he had trained, and inadvertently brought the plane down instead of up. At the time, Holly’s wife of six months, Maria Elena, was two weeks pregnant. The day after the crash, she suffered a miscarriage from the emotional trauma. In March 1980, a long-missing piece of the plane crash was discovered. Holly’s signature black-rimmed glasses had landed in a snow bank and were discovered in the spring of 1959, after the snow melted.

They were brought to the Cerro Gordo County Sheriff’s office, sealed in a manila envelope and forgotten about for 21 years. Upon discovery, the glasses were returned to his widow and are currently on permanent display at the Buddy Holly Center in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas. Rockers Who Died at Age 27 Image of Buddy Holly Death - Plane Crash - Music History Question: How did Buddy Holly die in a plane crash? Answer: February 2nd, 1959: Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens , and The Big Bopper play their last show as part of the "Winter Dance Party" tour, stopping this night at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, IA. Admission: $1.25. The last song of the night: The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace." February 3rd, 1959: Within minutes of takeoff from the Mason City, IA Airport, at around 1:00 AM CST, the chartered Beech-Craft Bonanza airplane No. N3794N containing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper crashes into the Iowa countryside, killing all three in addition to pilot Roger Peterson.

The plane, headed for the next "Winter Dance Party" tour stop in Fargo, ND, had been chartered by Holly in order for the band members to travel in heated comfort and to arrive early for their next gig. When he learned that band member Waylon Jennings , who would eventually become a country star in his own right, had decided to take the freezing bus instead, Holly had joked, "Well, I hope your old bus freezes up." Jennings joked back, "Well, I hope your plane crashes." Another Holly band member, Tommy Allsup, flipped a coin with Valens for the last available seat, losing the coin toss. continue reading below our video 5 Classic Novels Everyone Should Read Valens exclaimed, "That's the first time I've won anything in my life!" Pilot Peterson, not having been informed of worsening weather conditions, decided to fly "on instruments," meaning without visual confirmation of the horizon, which led to the crash.

The tragedy was later immortalized as "The Day The Music Died " by Don McLean in his famous song " American Pie ." February 4th, 1959: Following the tragic plane crash the night before, Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton take over the headlining spots on the "Winter Dance Party" tour. February 7th, 1959: Buddy Holly's funeral is held at the Tabernacle Baptist Church in Lubbock, TX, drawing over a thousand mourners. Holly's widow does not attend. On the same day, Ritchie Valens is buried in San Fernando Mission Cemetery. Today in History: February 3, 1959 The death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” Today in History: February 3, 1959 The death of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and “The Big Bopper” Posted on February 3, 2013 by Art “The Day the Music Died” On February 3, 1959, rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P.

“The Big Bopper” Richardson were killed, along with the pilot Roger Peterson, when their plane went down during a snowstorm shortly after takeoff near Mason City, Iowa. The aviation accident is often referred to as “The Day the Music Died”, dubbed so by Don McLean’s song “American Pie”. Buddy Holly The rockers were part of the Winter Dance Party, a three-week tour across the Midwest opening on January 23, 1959. The tour also included Dion and the Belmonts, and was to cover 24 Midwestern cities in as many days. A few days into the tour the performers started to become adversely affected by the distance between venues, the mid-west winter, and the poorly equipped, unheated tour buses. Cases of flu spread among the band members, and Holly’s drummer, Carl Bunch, was hospitalized in Ironwood, Michigan for severely frostbitten feet. On February 2, the tour arrived in Clear Lake, Iowa, where they were to play at the Surf Ballroom. The venue had not been a scheduled stop, but the tour promoters, hoping to fill an open date, called Surf Ballroom manager Carroll Anderson and offered him the show.

He accepted and they set the show for Monday, February 2. By the time Holly arrived at the venue that Monday evening, he was frustrated by the conditions and decided to charter a plane to reach their next venue in Moorhead, Minnesota. Carroll Anderson, owner of the Surf Ballroom, chartered the plane from the Dwyer Flying Service. Originally, Holly and two members of his band, Tommy Allsup (guitar) and future country music legend Waylon Jennings (bass), were to take the flight to Moorhead, but Richardson, who was affected by the flu, swapped places with Waylon Jennings, taking his place on the plane. Tommy Allsup lost his place to Ritchie Valens on a coin toss. Dion DiMucci (of Dion and the Belmonts fame) was also offered a seat but decided not to board the plane since the $36 fare (approximately $270 in today’s money) equaled the monthly rent his parents paid for his childhood apartment and he could not justify the indulgence.

When Holly learned that Jennings was not going to fly, he said in jest, “I hope your ol’ bus freezes up.” Jennings responded, “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes,” a humorous but ill-fated response that haunted Jennings for the rest of his life. Photo of the plane wreckage that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. ‘Big Bopper’ Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson when it went down just outside Mason City, Iowa. Feb. 3, 1959 Ritchie Valens When the show ended, Carroll Anderson drove Holly, Valens, and Richardson to the airport. The plane departed from the ramp and taxied to then-Runway 17 at around 12:55 am Central Time on Tuesday, February 3 and took off. The results of the CAB investigation suggest that, soon after takeoff, Peterson became disoriented due to the unfamiliar way the attitude indicator in the aircraft functioned, combined with an inability to find a point of visual reference on a starless night with no visible lights on the ground. He lost control of the plane when the tip of the right wing hit the ground. The aircraft tumbled across a bean field belonging to Albert Juhl.

The Bonanza was at a slight downward angle and banked heavily to the right when it struck the ground at around 170 miles per hour. The plane tumbled and skidded another 570 feet across the frozen landscape before the crumpled wreckage came to rest against a wire fence at the edge of Juhl’s property. Photo of the plane wreckage that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. ‘Big Bopper’ Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson when it went down just outside Mason City, Iowa on Feb. 3, 1959 J. P. ‘The Big Bopper’ Richardson Hubert Dwyer, the owner of the plane and the flight service company, who had witnessed the takeoff, decided to establish radio contact, but all attempts were unsuccessful. The next morning, when Hector Airport in Fargo, North Dakota, had not heard from Peterson, Dwyer contacted authorities and reported the aircraft missing. Dwyer took off in his Cessna 180 and flew Peterson’s intended route. Within minutes he spotted the wreckage less than 6 miles northwest of the airport. The Sheriff’s office dispatched Deputy Bill McGill, who drove to the wreck site.

The bodies of Holly and Valens lay near the plane. Richardson’s body was thrown over the fence and into the cornfield of Juhl’s neighbor Oscar Moffett. Peterson’s body was entangled in the plane’s wreckage. With the other participants on “The Winter Dance Party” en route to Moorhead, it fell to Surf Ballroom manager Carroll Anderson, who drove the musicians to the airport and witnessed the plane’s takeoff, to make positive identifications of the musicians. The county coroner Ralph Smiley declared that all four had died instantly from “gross trauma” to the brain. Investigators look over the site of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, Jp ‘Big Bopper’ Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson on Feb. 3, 1959 Buddy Holly’s wife of six months, María Elena who was also pregnant, watched the first reports of his death on television. She miscarried the next day, reportedly due to psychological trauma. Holly’s mother, who heard the news on the radio in Lubbock, Texas, collapsed. Because of María Elena’s miscarriage, the authorities, in the months following, implemented a policy against announcing victims’ names until after families are informed.

María Elena Holly did not attend the funeral, and has never visited the gravesite. She later told the Avalanche-Journal: “In a way, I blame myself. I was not feeling well when he left. I was two weeks pregnant, and I wanted Buddy to stay with me, but he had scheduled that tour. It was the only time I wasn’t with him. And I blame myself because I know that, if only I had gone along, Buddy never would have gotten into that airplane.” Monument to Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. Richardson at the crash site, September 16, 2003. In 1988, Ken Paquette, a Wisconsin fan of the 1950s era, erected a stainless steel monument that depicts a guitar and a set of three records that bear the names of each of the three performers. The monument is on private farmland, about one quarter of a mile west of the intersection of 315th Street and Gull Avenue, five miles north of Clear Lake. A large plasma-cut-steel set of Wayfarer-style glasses, similar to those Holly wore, sits at the access point to the crash site.

In February 2009, a new memorial made by Paquette for pilot Roger Peterson was unveiled at the crash site. A road originating near The Surf Ballroom and extending north past the west of the crash site is now known as Buddy Holly Place. A roadside sign in the form of Buddy Holly’s glasses, located close to the location where he was killed in a plane crash on February 3, 1959. The day the music died - Feb 03, 1959 - HISTORY.com The day the music died Share this: The day the music died Author The day the music died URL Publisher A+E Networks On this day in 1959, rising American rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff from Mason City on a flight headed for Moorehead, Minnesota. Investigators blamed the crash on bad weather and pilot error. Holly and his band, the Crickets, had just scored a No.

1 hit with “That’ll Be the Day.” After mechanical difficulties with the tour bus, Holly had chartered a plane for his band to fly between stops on the Winter Dance Party Tour. However, Richardson, who had the flu, convinced Holly’s band member Waylon Jennings to give up his seat, and Ritchie Valens won a coin toss for another seat on the plane. Holly, born Charles Holley in Lubbock, Texas, and just 22 when he died, began singing country music with high school friends before switching to rock and roll after opening for various performers, including Elvis Presley. By the mid-1950s, Holly and his band had a regular radio show and toured internationally, playing hits like “Peggy Sue,” “Oh, Boy!,” “Maybe Baby” and “Early in the Morning.” Holly wrote all his own songs, many of which were released after his death and influenced such artists as Bob Dylan and Paul McCartney. Another crash victim, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, 28, started out as a disk jockey in Texas and later began writing songs.

Richardson’s most famous recording was the rockabilly “Chantilly Lace,” which made the Top 10. He developed a stage show based on his radio persona, “The Big Bopper.” The third crash victim was Ritchie Valens, born Richard Valenzuela in a suburb of Los Angeles, who was only 17 when the plane went down but had already scored hits with “Come On, Let’s Go,” “Donna” and “La Bamba,” an upbeat number based on a traditional Mexican wedding song (though Valens barely spoke Spanish). In 1987, Valens’ life was portrayed in the movie La Bamba, and the title song, performed by Los Lobos, became a No. 1 hit. Valens was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Singer Don McLean memorialized Holly, Valens and Richardson in the 1972 No.

1 hit “American Pie,” which refers to February 3, 1959 as “the day the music died.” Related Videos Ritchie Valens - Songwriter, Singer - Biography.com Ritchie Valens Mexican-American musician Ritchie Valens is best known for his hit "La Bamba." His successful career was cut short when he died in a plane crash at age 17. IN THESE GROUPS Ritchie Valens - Mini Biography (TV-14; 2:21) Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter influential in the Chicano rock movement. He recorded numerous hits during his short career, most notably the 1958 hit "La Bamba." Synopsis Ritchie Valens was a Mexican-American singer and songwriter influential in the Chicano rock movement. He recorded numerous hits during his short career, most notably the 1958 hit "La Bamba." Valens died at age 17 in a plane crash with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and J.P. Richardson on February 3, 1959.

The tragedy was later immortalized as "the day the music died" in the song "American Pie." Early Life Born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima (near Los Angeles), California, Ritchie Valens made history as rock music's first Latino star. His promising career, however, was cut short by tragedy. Valens died in a 1959 plane crash while on tour, along with Buddy Holly and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson. Growing in Pacoima, Valens developed a love of music early on and learned to play a number of different instruments. But the guitar soon became his passion. And he found inspiration from various sources, ranging from traditional Mexican music to popular R&B acts to innovative rock performers like Little Richard. At 16, Valens joined his first band, the Silhouettes. The group played local gigs, and Valens was spotted at one of these performances by Bob Keane, the head of the Del-Fi record label. With Keane's help, the young performer was about to have a career breakthrough. Career Highlights Valens auditioned for Keane's record label in May 1958.

And before long, he had his first single out on Del-Fi. The song, "Come On, Let's Go," became a minor hit. Keane also encouraged the young singer to shorten his last name to "Valens" to make it more radio friendly. Valens had even greater success with his second single, which featured "La Bamba" and "Donna." "Donna," an ode to his high school girlfriend Donna Ludwig, became a popular ballad, eventually climbing as high as the number two spot on the pop charts. While not as big a hit, "La Bamba" was a revolutionary song that fused elements of a traditional Mexican folk tune with rock and roll. Valens was not a native Spanish speaker and had to be coached on the all-Spanish-language song. Riding the success of his latest single, Valens entertained a national audience on American Bandstand that December. He also appeared on Alan Freed's Christmas Show around that time. In January 1959, Valens went on the road with the Winter Dance Party tour. The tour featured such acts as Buddy Holly, Dion and the Belmonts, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.

Over three weeks, these performers were set to play 24 concerts in the Midwest. The Day The Music Died On February 2, 1959, the Winter Dance Party tour played the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. The tour was set to perform the next day in Moorhead, Minnesota. Holly had chartered a plane to get there after experiencing trouble with his tour bus. According to some reports, Valens won a seat on the plane in a coin toss with Holly's guitarist Tommy Allsup. J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson also traded places with another original passenger, Waylon Jennings. During a light snowstorm, the plane took off but it only traveled about five miles before crashing into a cornfield. All four passengers—Richardson, Holly, Valens and the pilot—were killed. As the news of the accident spread, many were shocked by the loss of these three talents. The tragedy was later memorialized in the Don McLean song "American Pie" as "The day the music died." Legacy Only 17 years old when he died, Valens left behind a few recordings. His first, self-titled album was released shortly after the accident and did well on the charts.

A live recording was later released as Ritchie Valens in Concert at Pacoima Junior HIgh. And his life story was memorialized on the big screen in the 1987 hit La Bamba, which introduced a new generation of music fans to the pioneering Latino performer. Lou Diamond Phillips played Valens, and the band Los Lobos recorded the soundtrack. Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Fact Check We strive for accuracy and fairness. If you see something that doesn't look right, contact us ! Citation Information The Curse of Buddy Holly The Curse of Buddy Holly The Curse of 27 The Curse of Buddy Holly Anyone familiar with the history of Rock knows the story of Buddy Holly: A charismatic and wildly talented songwriter/performer, Holly achieved enormous success while just barely into his 20s. After breaking with his band, The Crickets, Holly sets out on a disastrous national tour (the Winter Dance Party) with other Rock luminaries, in order to support his new wife and unborn child.

After a performance at the Surf Ballroom on 3 February 1959, he charters a plane to take him, "The Big Bopper," and Ritchie Valens to the next gig. Tragically, the plane crashes, killing all three. (For a detailed account of that night's events, please visit the Holly-Bopper-Valens Tribute .) There is more to Buddy Holly's story. An ominous undertone supports the events leading up to Holly's death, and continues through to recent times, dispensing tragedy and claiming the lives of many artists associated with the legendary performer. Continue reading for a brief overview of the strange events surrounding Holly's death, followed by a list of musicians who died early and tragically and their connection to the singer-songwriter. Buddy Holly Premonitions Shortly before embarking on the Winter Dance Party Tour, both Buddy Holly and his new wife, Maria Elena, were simultaneously disturbed by violent and eerily prophetic dreams. Maria Elena had dreamt of a fireball descending to earth in the middle of a field, followed by an explosion that left a great gaping hole in the ground. When she woke up Holly, he related that he had also just had a strange dream.

He dreamt that he, his wife, and his brother were in a plane. His brother persuaded Holly to leave Maria Elena on top of a building, with the intention of returning for her. Reportedly, Holly was wracked with guilt for having left her behind in the dream. Maria Elena was supposed to accompany her husband on the Winter Dance Party tour. He had convinced her to stay behind, because of her morning sickness. Warnings While Holly was touring England in 1958, he received an ominous message from Joe Meek, a British recording engineer and producer. On a night in January of that year, Meek had attended a tarot reading. The message delivered that night was "February third, Buddy Holly, dies." Holly thanked Meek for the warning, but did not seem concerned since February the third had already passed. Buddy Holly would die on 3 February 1959. The crash site. The Winter Dance Party The Winter Dance Party was plagued with problems. The tour buses continually broke down, the heaters refused to work, and both The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens had taken ill. Holly's drummer, Carl Bunch, had to leave the tour after he suffered severe frostbite on his feet.

Holly's last song, "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," was released shortly before his death. After the fatal plane crash, Maria Elena Holly miscarried the only child of Buddy Holly. "The Big Bopper" Jiles Perry (J.P.) Richardson - a.k.a. "The Big Bopper" - was on the Winter Dance Party tour, enjoying the success of his single, "Chantilly Lace." Richardson, who had the flu, persuaded Waylon Jennings (member of Holly's backing band) to give up his seat on Holly's rented plane. "The Big Bopper" was the oldest person on the plane to perish. He was 28. Ritchie Valens Ritchie Valens ("La Bamba," "Oh Donna") was also a member of the Winter Dance Party. He convinced Tommy Allsup, another member of Holly's backing band, to flip a coin for the third seat on Holly's chartered plane. Valens, like "The Big Bopper," was also sick. He called "heads" and won, commenting that it was the first time he had ever won anything. Valens was only 17 at the time of the crash.

(Years later, Tommy Allsup would open a club named "The Head's Up Saloon" to commemorate this life-saving coin toss.) Eddie Cochran and Gene Vincent Singer Eddie Cochran (above) recorded "Three Stars," in honor of the performers killed in the plane crash. Cochran ("Summertime Blues") was supposed to have been on the Winter Party Dance tour. When he heard of the crash, Cochran felt as though he had cheated death, and was supposedly plagued by guilt and fear that death would soon come for him. On 17 April 1960, Cochran, his girlfriend, hit songwriter Sharon Sheeley (Ricky Nelson's "Poor Little Fool," Ritchie Valens's "Hurry Up"), and singer Gene Vincent ("Be-Bop-A-Lula") were on their way to London's Heathrow Airport for a return flight to the U.S. On the way, the Ford Consul they were riding in blew a tire. Vincent (above) re-injured the knee that had previously been hurt in a motorcycle accident. He would walk with a limp for the rest of his life. Sheeley suffered a broken neck and back.

Cochran was thrown from the vehicle and rushed to St. Martin's Hospital, where he was visited by the original Crickets (Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis and Joe B. Maudlin) who were touring in England at the time. He died the next day of massive head injuries. He was 22. The last single released by Cochran was "Three Steps to Heaven." The Crickets were the backing band. (Vincent would die in 1971 of internal bleeding from a ruptured stomach ulcer; he was 36. Sadly, his family lacked sufficient funds and the city of Los Angeles had to bury him.) Ronnie Smith Singer Ronnie Smith was hired to replace Buddy Holly for the remainder of the Winter Dance Party. He joined Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup, and Carl Bunch. The band later recorded as the Jitters. (Jerry Allison, Sonny Curtis and Joe B. Maudlin retained the rights to the name, the Crickets.) Ronnie Smith was committed to a state hospital in Texas for drug abuse. On 25 October 1962, he hanged himself in one of the bathrooms. He was approximately 24.

Cowboy Copas Cowboy Copas (Lloyd Estel Copas) was a chart-topping country singer with hits like "'Tis Sweet to Be Remembered," "Alabam" (number-one for three months), "Flat Top" and "Signed, Sealed and Delivered." In 1956, Cowpas took part in a 14-date country & western tour in Little Rock, Arkansas. Also on the bill were Hank Thompson, George Jones, Wanda Jackson, and Buddy Holly & the Two-Tones (Sonny Curtis and Don Guess). On 5 March 1963, Copas was returning from a benefit for the widow of "Cactus" Jack Call, a local disc jockey who died in a car crash. He was riding in a single-propeller Piper Comanche with fellow country musicians Hawkshaw Hawkins and Patsy Cline. Pilot Randy Hughes lost visibility around Camden, Tennessee and he hit some trees. The plane crashed in Fatty Bottom (70 miles west of Nashville). All onboard were killed. (For the complete story, visit the Archive's Patsy Cline Tribute .) Cowpas was 49.

David Box The original Crickets (Allison, Curtis, and Maudlin) also had their share of continuing tragedy. Seventeen-year-old David Box was brought on as their new singer ("Peggy Sue Got Married"). He recorded with the band for a few years before going solo. On 23 October 1964, Box was killed when the Cessna Skyhawk 172 he was riding in crashed. He was 22 - the same age as Holly was when he died. Bobby Fuller Bobby Fuller admired and emulated Buddy Holly. He had given a demo tape to Holly's parents, who forwarded it to Norman Petty, Holly's former producer. The Bobby Fuller Four had a hit with"I Fought the Law," which was penned by Sonny Curtis (of the original Crickets). The last song Fuller recorded was "Love's Made a Fool of You," which was written by Buddy Holly. On 18 July 1966, Fuller's body was found in his car at his house. He had been severely beaten, one of his right fingers was broken, and he was drenched in gasoline.

Friends stated that Fuller had recently been harassed by local mobsters, possibly in connection with a woman. But the police judged his death a suicide. His death certificate states the causes of demise as asphyxia and inhalation of gasoline, ruled as an "accident." Fuller was 23. For more information on the life and death of Bobby Fuller, visit The Archive's Bobby Fuller Tribute . Joe Meek Joe Meek (Robert George Meek) was a pioneering record producer and songwriter. Meek's works include The Tornados' "Ridin' the Wind" and "Telstar," which was the first song by a British act to reach #1 on the US Hot 100. Meek suffered from bouts of rage, paranoia and depression which were exacerbated by his drug use. He became obsessed with Buddy Holly, whom Meek claimed visited him in dreams. On the eighth anniversary of Holly's death (3 February 1967), Meek shot and killed his landlady before turning the single-barreled shotgun on himself. He was 37. Clyde McPhatter Clyde McPhatter was the lead singer with The Drifters before going on to a successful solo career.

McPhatters's solo hits include "A Lover's Question," "Little Bitty Pretty One," and "Lover Please." In 1958, McPhatter participated in "The Biggest Show of Stars for 1958 — The Autumn Edition," with Bobby Darin, Dion and the Belmonts, The Coasters - and Buddy Holly and the Crickets. In 1972, McPhatter succumbed to liver, kidney, and heart failure. He was just 38. Bobby Darin In 1958, Buddy Holly recorded Bobby Darin's song, "Early in the Morning." Also that year, Bobby Darin participated in "The Biggest Show of Stars for 1958 — The Autumn Edition," with Clyde McPhatter, Dion and the Belmonts, The Coasters - and Buddy Holly and the Crickets. Darin died in 1973 from complications of heart surgery which was needed to repair a faulty valve. He was 37. Five years earlier, Darin found out that his older sister was actually his mother; the woman he believed to be his mother was actually his grandmother.

Phil Ochs Phil Ochs was an anti-establishment folk singer, who used his songs to protest against the Vietnam War and to campaign for civil, student, and labor rights. The FBI maintained a file on the singer nearly 500 pages long. Ochs sang a tribute to Buddy Holly on his final album, Gunfight at Carnegie Hall (recorded in 1970; released in 1975). In 1973, Ochs was assaulted and almost killed. During the attack he was strangled which permanently damaged his vocal chords. Sunken into depression, he hanged himself in 1976 at the age of 36. The Buddy Holly Story In 1977, a film was made depicting Buddy Holly's life and career. Gary Busey was nominated for an Oscar for his portrayal of Holly, and the screenplay was written by Robert Gittler. After completing the film, Busey was involved in a nearly fatal motorcycle accident. Gittler committed suicide shortly before the film's release. Elvis Presley Elvis Presley was The King of Rock & Roll, the most popular secular musician of all time.

In October of 1955, Buddy Holly & the Crickets opened for The King in Lubbock, Texas. (Interesting aside: After Holly's fatal plane crash, Presley sent a flower arrangement to be displayed at the wake of "The Big Bopper.") On 16 August 1977, Elvis Presley died as the result of too many drugs being present in his system. Elvis was 42. One version of T.Rex: Tribute: The Day the Music Died The Day the Music Died: Buddy Holly, "The Big Bopper" and Ritchie Valens "The Big Bopper," Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly. Following are a detailed history and numerous images chronicling the early hours of 3 February 1959. This page is dedicated to the royal trinity of Rock & Roll: Charles Hardin Holley (Buddy Holly), Richard Steven Valenzuela (Ritchie Valens), and Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr. ("The Big Bopper"). These three performers perished on that date ("The Day the Music Died") in a plane crash in a snow-covered Iowa field. They continue to command our appreciation and our respect.

Some of the following information tends to lean on the morbid side; it is provided for the sake of a complete record of events. Anything deemed especially macabre has a link to it - not an initially displayed image or description - for people who do not appreciate those kind of surprises. For additional information, read about the Curse of Buddy Holly . The Story Buddy Holly needed money. He was recently married with a child on the way, had broken up with his group, the Crickets, and had left his record company. Holly decided to participate in a tour deemed, "The Winter Dance Party," with a revised version of the Crickets: Tommy Allsup, Carl Bunch, and Waylon Jennings. The other headliners were Ritchie Valens, J. P. Richardson ("The Big Bopper"), and Dion and the Belmonts. The group traveled by bus in temperatures that were frequently below-freezing. The bus often broke down and had no heat. Ritchie Valens and "The Big Bopper" had caught colds. One member of the group, drummer Carl Bunch, suffered frostbite and had to be hospitalized.

(Frostbite might have saved his life - he missed the fatal plane crash, rejoining the tour on 5 February 1959. He passed away of complications from diabetes in 2011; he was 71.) Interesting aside - Due to Carl Bunch's hospitalization for frostbite, it is said that Ritchie Valens sat in on drums for Buddy Holly, and Holly played for Valens, as a means of temporarily replacing the ailing drummer. Buddy Holly on a tour bus with two unidentified people, circa 1958. Photographer: Lewis Allen, Rolling Stone Images of Rock. 2 Feruary 1959, was supposed to be a day off for the performers, but a show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa was added at the last minute. Following the show, Holly chartered a plane for his band to take to Fargo, North Dakota. However, Waylon Jennings exchanged his seat with The Big Bopper because Richardson was sick. Tommy Allsup flipped a coin with Ritchie Valens for the coveted third seat. The local host of the "Winter Dance Party," Bob Hale, flipped the coin.

Ritchie called "heads" and won; he commented that it was the first time he had ever won anything. (Years later, Tommy Allsup would open a club named "The Head's Up Saloon" to commemorate this life-saving coin toss.) Dion DiMucci of Dion and the Belmonts was offered a chance at a seat, but replied that the thirty-six dollar fee was too high a price to pay for a short plane ride. (The Belmonts' songs include "Teen Angel," "I Wonder Why," and "A Teenager in Love"; Dion would later have a successful solo career with hits like "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer.") The Surf Ballroom, Clear Lake, Iowa. The interior of the Surf Ballroom, facing the stage, from the Surf's official web site . The airplane was a small four-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza, serial number N3794N, piloted by 21-year-old Roger Peterson. It was painted red, with white and black trim. The National Weather Service had issued a storm warning, but it had not been received by the pilot or by Jerry Dwyer, owner of the Dwyer Flying Service.

Before departure, Holly teased Jennings, because he wasn't joining him on the plane. Buddy said, "So you're not going with us tonight on the plane, huh? Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up." Jennings retorted, "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes." Jennings would later comment that it took him years to get over making that comment. (Jennings died in 2002 from diabetic complications at the age of 64. He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 1999.) At about 1:00 am on 3 February 1959, the plane carrying rock's royal trinity took off into a blinding snow storm and crashed into Albert Juhl's corn field in Cerro Gordo County, Iowa. There were no survivors. At the time of their deaths, Buddy Holly was 22, Ritchie Valens was 17, and J. P. Richardson was 28. This is the detailed Civil Aeronautics Board Aircraft Accident Report . When Jerry Dwyer did not receive news of the safe landing of the plane in Fargo, he decided to mount a search.

The next morning was foggy, delaying his flight until about 9:00 am. He took off along the same flight path as Peterson and found the wreckage. It had gone unnoticed for eight hours along a fence in that snow-covered field, about a quarter mile from the nearest country road. Holly and Valens were each found approximately 17 feet away from the wreckage. The pilot, Roger Peterson, was still trapped inside. Richardson's body was found 40 feet from the plane wreckage. By 11:15, Dr. Ralph E. Smiley, coroner, had arrived. For the coroner's report , access this link. Be advised, the document is graphic. Peterson was taken to the Wilcox Funeral Home, and Richardson and Valens were taken to the Ward Funeral Home. It is unclear if Holly accompanied them. On Friday, 6 February 1959, Roger Peterson was buried in the Buena Vista Memorial Cemetery, in his hometown of Alta. J. P. Richardson's wake was held in the Broussard's Funeral Home, in Beaumont, Texas, where he was buried. Private soldier Elvis Presley and Colonel Tom Parker sent yellow roses to his funeral.

(This is a photo of J.P. Richardson's casket at his wake , with flowers from Elvis.) On Saturday the 7th, Ritchie Valens' body was taken from the Noble Chapel Funeral Home in the San Fernando Valley, to San Fernando Mission Cemetery (California). His body was driven in a copper colored hearse. Buddy Holly was also buried on the 7th. The funeral was held in Lubbock, Texas, at the Tabernacle Baptist Church. The service was performed by Ben D. Johnson, who had also officiated at Holly's wedding just six months earlier. Pallbearers were the original Crickets: Jerry Allison, Joe B. Mauldin and Niki Sullivan; music producer Bob Montgomery, and musicians Sonny Curtis and Phil Everly (of the Everley Brothers). Over a thousand mourners attended the service, but his widow did not. Maria Elena Holly has never visited the grave of her husband. She told the Avalanche-Journal, "In a way, I blame myself. I was not feeling well when he left. I was two weeks pregnant, and I wanted Buddy to stay with me, but he had scheduled that tour. It was the only time I wasn't with him.

And I blame myself because I know that, if only I had gone along, Buddy never would have gotten into that airplane." The "Winter Dance Party" tour continued. An unknown-at-the-time singer named Bobby Vee was asked to open the concert in Moorhead, Minnesota. Two other new rock singers, Fabian and Paul Anka, were brought in to replace the recently deceased singers. Thirteen years later, Don McLean wrote a song dedicated to the crash victims that reached #1 in 1972: "American Pie." The telephone at the Surf Ballroom where Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens made their last calls. (Holly called his wife, Maria Elena, and Valens spoke to his brother, Robert Morales.) (From findadeath.com .) On the fiftieth anniverasry of "The Day the Music Died" (3 February 2009), the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame designated the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, as a "Rock & Roll Landmark." The following photo is from the Surf's official web site . The Crash Site For numerous black and white photos of very good quality, visit The Day the Music Died: Crash Site Photo Archive . Be warned!

Some of the pictures are quite graphic and may be disturbing to some individuals. The following photos are some of the only to exist of the crash site in color. They are from Kevin Terry's collection from the former Buddy Holly Online web site. Buddy Holly Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Holly had an incredible talent for combining memorable melodies with creative rhymes. His entire body of work was created in just two years. He helped lay the foundation of Rock & Roll. "Peggy Sue," "It Doesn't Matter Anymore," "Oh Boy!" "That'll Be the Day," "True Love Ways," "Rave On," "Not Fade Away," "It's So Easy," "Crying, Waiting, Hoping" Buddy Holly, taken by Timothy Kehr at the 28 January 1959 Winter Dance Party show St. Paul's Prom Ballroom, MN. For those interested in the macabre, here are excerpts and the statement from Buddy Holly's death certificate . Be advised: this document is graphic. To view the original, click here .

Buddy Holly's grave, City of Lubbock Cemetery, Lubbock, Texas. The Buddy Holly Center in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas. For additional information, read about the Curse of Buddy Holly . Ritchie Valens Inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Also a member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Valens passionately crafted songs of energy and emotion, drawing on his Mexican heritage and his love of Rock & Roll. He was just 17 at the time of the crash. "La Bamba," "Oh, Donna," "We Belong Together," "Ooh, My Head," "Dooby Dooby Wah," "Come On, Let's Go" Ritchie Valens, taken by Timothy Kehr at the 28 January 1959 Winter Dance Party show St. Paul's Prom Ballroom, MN. You may view Valens's death certificate ; please give the image a moment to download. Be advised: the description of the accident's effects is graphic. Trouble reading the statement? Click here . Ritchie Valens's grave in San Fernando Mission Cemetery, Mission Hills, California.

Ritchie Valens's grave prior to being interred next to his mother. "The Big Bopper" Member of the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Has yet to be inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. An innovative performer and disc jockey, "The Big Bopper" embodied everything Rock & Roll was in the 1950s: care-free and fun-loving. Tragically overlooked by modern critics (and the R&R Hall of Fame), "The Big Bopper" was larger than life and twice as much fun. He was inducted into the Texas Country Music Hall of Fame in 2004 and he was also inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. "Chantilly Lace," "Little Red Riding Hood," "That's What I'm Talking About," "White Lightnin'," "Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor," and he wrote and sang back-up on Johnny Preston's "Running Bear" J. P. Richardson, taken by Timothy Kehr at the 28 January 1959 Winter Dance Party show St. Paul's Prom Ballroom, MN.

Somewhere along the way, someone obtained a photo of Richardson's coffin (closed) as it was displayed at his wake. The guitar flower arrangement was sent by Elvis. 8 March 2007 - "Big Bopper" exhumed. Almost 50 years after the legendary plane crash, "The Big Bopper" once again made headlines. J.P. Richardson's body was disinterred and examined in order to disprove rumors that he survived the fatal plane crash and actually died while trying to get help. Dr. Bill Bass, forensic anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, performed the exam at the request of Richardson's son, whose mother was pregnant with him at the time of his father's death. "There was no indication of foul play," Bass stated, referring to speculation that a gun was fired on the plane, causing the crash. (A firearm that belonged to Buddy Holly was found at the crash site.) "There are fractures from head to toe. Massive fractures. . . died immediately. He didn't crawl away. He didn't walk away from the plane." Speculation existed that The Bopper might have survived the initial impact because his body was found 40 feet from the plane wreckage.

(Holly and Valens were each approximately 17 feet away and the pilot was trapped inside.) This is a great article from the Beaumont Enterprise online, detailing Richardson's exhumation . There is also an excellent slideshow detailing the exhumation , with photos of the Bopper's descendents, x-ray results and a look at The Bopper's new coffin. The slideshow is accompanied by a radio eulogy which aired within days of Richardson's death. "The Big Bopper" is exhumed. His son, Jay Perry Richardson (left), looks on. Interested in owning the casket that previously held the earthly remains of "The Big Bopper"? Read this article from CNN.com about the sale of The Bopper's coffin. J.P. Richardson's original grave, Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home, Beaumont, Texas. After Richardson's exhumation in March 2007 (see above), his body was interred in a different plot (next to his widow), with room for a future graveside statue. (No photos yet available.) Boston Daily Record from 4 February 1959 announcing the crash. Monumuent erected outside the Surf Ballroom.

Memorial created by Ken Paquette, placed at the crash site. Two-dimensional, life-size stainless steel memorial at the Riverside Ballroom in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The "Winter Dance Party" performed at the Riverside on 1 February 1959, before heading on to the Surf Ballroom.

Question: Which US singer/guitarist was on the ‘Winter Dance Tour’ when he was killed in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper?
Answer: Buddy Holly