Well, a day that lives in musical infamy happened today (02/03/59) Clear Lake, Iowa when a private irplane carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The Big Bopper....
That 2/3/59 article came courtesy of:
http://www.buddyholly.com
And here's a comprehensive link dedicated to this very tragic event:
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/crash.htm
From Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Evening Edition
Tuesday, February 3, 1959
Page 1
LUBBOCK ROCK 'N' ROLL STAR KILLED
Buddy Holly, Three others In Air Crash
Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson, Pilot Also Dead Buddy Holly, 22-year-old Lubbock rock 'n' roll singing star, was killed along with three other men in the crash of a light chartered plane northwest of Mason City, Iowa, this morning, the Associated Press reported.
Two of the other victims, Ritchie Valens, 21, Los Angeles, and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson, Beaumont, also were nationally known rock 'n' roll singers.
The fourth person killed was Roger Peterson, the pilot, of Clear Lake, Iowa.
Parents Live Here
Holly, whose parents are Mr. and Mrs. L.O. Holly, 1911 37th St., was with a troupe of rock 'n' roll performers currently touring the country on one-night stands.
Young Holly married a native New York girl about six months ago. Her whereabouts was not immediately available.
The Associated Press said Holly, Valens, and Richardson had decided to fly ahead to Fargo, N.D., where the group was to appear tonight after a show Monday night in Clear Lake.
Other members of the troupe who were traveling by bus include Dion and the Belmonts, Frankie Sardo and the Crickets, a quartet which Holly organized and starred with until about three months ago.
Appeared at Clear Lake
The three singers had appeared at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Monday night. A strong southerly wind and light blowing snow filled the air when the plane took off about 1 a.m. today, the Associated Press said.
The Beachcraft Bonanza burned when it crashed in a field on the Albert Juhl farm 15 miles northwest of Mason City.
Holly was described by friends as "probably one of the biggest entertainment celebrities ever to hail from Lubbock"
Organized The Crickets
The young singer broke into the "big time" two years ago this summer when he organized the Crickets, a rock 'n' roll quartet who made several appearances on national television.
The Crickets rendition of "That'll Be The Day." Their first record, sold over a million copies. "Peggy Sue" was another of their best sellers.
Holly ad composed a number of songs including "Love Me," "Don't come back Knocking," "Words of Love," "Look at Me," and "Little Baby."
He started with a music at the age of 8 on violin. When he was 15 he switched to guitar and accompanied himself in his songs.
Made Other Recordings
Holly broke with the Crickets about three months ago in a harmonious move. Since the break he had recorded "It doesn't Matter Any More," and "Raining in My Heart," with a full orchestra in the background.
The record had been gaining in popularity, according to nationwide polls.
Valens' manager, Bob Keene, said "he was the hottest singer in the country. Everybody was saying he was the next Presley."
Was To Release Album
Keene said the singer, who would have been 18 in April, was to release his first record album later this month.
"The original plan called for us to introduce the album on Valentine's Day, and we planned to call it "Valens-Time Day." Keene said.
Valens is survived by his mother who resides in nearby San Fernando.
His record "Donna" was ranked sixth in the country in popular music.
UPI said the plane was demolished and the bodies mangled.
"They were hardly recognizable," a spokesman at the airport said. Jerry Dwyer, owner of the flying service who rented the craft to the trio, said the plane was in good condition.
He said he set out to look for the party when no word came back from Peterson, the pilot, and that the craft was discovered after a brief search.
Funeral arrangements for Holly were pending.
That 2/3/59 article came courtesy of:
http://www.buddyholly.com
And here's a comprehensive link dedicated to this very tragic event:
http://www.fiftiesweb.com/crash.htm
"American Pie"
Written by Don McLean
A long, long time ago...
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile.
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And, maybe, they�d be happy for a while.
But february made me shiver
With every paper I�d deliver.
Bad news on the doorstep;
I couldn�t take one more step.
I can�t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride,
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.
So bye-bye, miss american pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin� whiskey and rye
Singin�, "this�ll be the day that I die.
"this�ll be the day that I die."
Did you write the book of love,
And do you have faith in God above,
If the Bible tells you so?
Do you believe in rock �n roll,
Can music save your mortal soul,
And can you teach me how to dance real slow?
Well, I know that you�re in love with him
`cause I saw you dancin� in the gym.
You both kicked off your shoes.
Man, I dig those rhythm and blues.
I was a lonely teenage broncin� buck
With a pink carnation and a pickup truck,
But I knew I was out of luck
The day the music died.
I started singin�,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin� whiskey and rye
And singin�, "this�ll be the day that I die.
"this�ll be the day that I die."
Now for ten years we�ve been on our own
And moss grows fat on a rollin� stone,
But that�s not how it used to be.
When the jester sang for the king and queen,
In a coat he borrowed from james dean
And a voice that came from you and me,
Oh, and while the king was looking down,
The jester stole his thorny crown.
The courtroom was adjourned;
No verdict was returned.
And while lennon read a book of marx,
The quartet practiced in the park,
And we sang dirges in the dark
The day the music died.
We were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin� whiskey and rye
And singin�, "this�ll be the day that I die.
"this�ll be the day that I die."
Helter skelter in a summer swelter.
The birds flew off with a fallout shelter,
Eight miles high and falling fast.
It landed foul on the grass.
The players tried for a forward pass,
With the jester on the sidelines in a cast.
Now the half-time air was sweet perfume
While the sergeants played a marching tune.
We all got up to dance,
Oh, but we never got the chance!
`cause the players tried to take the field;
The marching band refused to yield.
Do you recall what was revealed
The day the music died?
We started singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin� whiskey and rye
And singin�, "this�ll be the day that I die.
"this�ll be the day that I die."
Oh, and there we were all in one place,
A generation lost in space
With no time left to start again.
So come on: jack be nimble, jack be quick!
Jack flash sat on a candlestick
Cause fire is the devil�s only friend.
Oh, and as I watched him on the stage
My hands were clenched in fists of rage.
No angel born in hell
Could break that satan�s spell.
And as the flames climbed high into the night
To light the sacrificial rite,
I saw satan laughing with delight
The day the music died
He was singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin� whiskey and rye
And singin�, "this�ll be the day that I die.
"this�ll be the day that I die."
I met a girl who sang the blues
And I asked her for some happy news,
But she just smiled and turned away.
I went down to the sacred store
Where I�d heard the music years before,
But the man there said the music wouldn�t play.
And in the streets: the children screamed,
The lovers cried, and the poets dreamed.
But not a word was spoken;
The church bells all were broken.
And the three men I admire most:
The father, son, and the holy ghost,
They caught the last train for the coast
The day the music died.
And they were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
And them good old boys were drinkin� whiskey and rye
Singin�, "this�ll be the day that I die.
"this�ll be the day that I die."
They were singing,
"bye-bye, miss american pie."
Drove my chevy to the levee,
But the levee was dry.
Them good old boys were drinkin� whiskey and rye
Singin�, "this�ll be the day that I die."
