On the 47th anniversary,let's spare a thought, today,
for Buddy, JP and Ritchie....

www.fiftiesweb.com:-

On a cold winter's night a small private plane took off from Clear Lake, Iowa bound for Fargo, N.D. It never made its destination.

When that plane crashed, it claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson and the pilot, Roger Peterson. Three of Rock and Roll's most promising performers were gone. As Don McLean wrote in his classic music parable, American Pie, (annotated) it was "the day the music died."


Performing in concert was very profitable, and Buddy Holly needed the money it provided. "The Winter Dance Party Tour" was planned to cover 24 cities in a short 3 week time frame (January 23 - February 15) and Holly would be the biggest headliner. Waylon Jennings, a friend from Lubbock, Texas and Tommy Allsup would go as backup musicians.

Ritchie Valens, probably the hottest of the artists at the time, The Big Bopper, and Dion and the Belmonts would round out the list of performers.

The tour bus developed heating problems. It was so cold onboard that reportedly one of the drummers developed frostbite riding in it. When they arrived at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, they were cold, tired and disgusted.

Buddy Holly had had enough of the unheated bus and decided to charter a plane for himself and his guys. At least he could get some laundry done before the next performance!

That night at the Surf Ballroom was magical as the fans went wild over the performers.

Jiles P. Richardson, known as The Big Bopper to his fans, was a Texas D.J. who found recording success and fame in 1958 with the song Chantilly Lace.

Richie Valenzuela was only 16 years old when Del-Fi record producer, Bob Keane, discovered the Pacoima, California singer. Keane rearranged his name to Ritchie Valens, and in 1958 they recorded Come On, Let's Go. Far more successful was the song Valens wrote for his girlfriend, Donna, and its flip side, La Bamba, a Rock and Roll version of an old Mexican standard. This earned the teenager an appearance on American Bandstand and the prospect of continued popularity.

Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (changed to Holly due to a misspelling on a contract) and his band, The Crickets, had a number one hit in 1957 with the tune That'll Be The Day. This success was follwed by Peggy Sue and an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. By 1959, Holly had decided to move in a new direction. He and the Crickets parted company. Holly married Maria Elena Santiago and moved to New York with the hope of concentrating on song writing and producing.


Dwyer Flying Service got the charter. $36 per person for a single engine Beechcraft Bonanza.

No, the plane wasn't named American Pie. It only had serial numbers, N3794N.

Waylon Jennings gave his seat up to Richardson, who was running a fever and had trouble fitting his stocky frame comfortably into the bus seats.

When Holly learned that Jennings wasn't going to fly, he said, "Well, I hope your old bus freezes up." Jennings responded, "Well, I hope your plane crashes." This friendly banter of friends would haunt Jennings for years.

Allsup told Valens, I'll flip you for the remaining seat. On the toss of a coin, Valens won the seat and Allsup the rest of his life.

The plane took off a little after 1 A.M. from Clear Lake and never got far from the airport before it crashed, killing all onboard.

A cold N.E wind immediately gave way to a snow which drastically reduced visibility. The ground was already blanketed in white. The pilot may have been inexperienced witht he instrumentation.

One wing hit the ground and the small plane corkscrewed over and over. The three young stars were thrown clear of the plane, leaving only pilot Roger Peterson inside.

Over the years there has been much speculation as to whether a shot was fired inside the plane which disabled or killed the pilot. Logic suggests that encased in a sea of white snow, with only white below, Peterson just flew the plane into the ground.

Read the Coroner's Report or the Civil Aeronautics Board Report for more info.


Deciding that the show must go on at the next stop, Moorhead, MN, they looked for local talent to fill in. Just across the state line from Moorhead, in Fargo ND, they found a 15 year old talent named Bobby Vee.

The crash that ended the lives of Holly, Valens and Richardson was the break that began the career of Vee.

Tommy Allsup would one day open a club named "The Head's Up Saloon," a tribute to the coin toss that saved his life.

Waylon Jennings would become a hugely popular Country singer.

Dion di Mucci would enjoy a long lived solo career.

Inscribed on Ritchie Valens' grave are the words, "Come On, Let's Go."

How old would they have been had they lived? I'm guessing early 70's.

#......Go ahead....Bite the Big Apple....Don't mind the Maggots.....Uh Huh...#

"... and February made me shiver,
with every paper I delivered.
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."

Don McLean



Thanks for the reminder Adrian-L

gut Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> How old would they have been had they lived? I'm
> guessing early 70's.
>
> #......Go ahead....Bite the Big Apple....Don't
> mind the Maggots.....Uh Huh...#


Buddy Holly would be 69 if he was alive today
The Big Bopper would be 74.
Ritchie Valens was 17 when he was killed, so he'd be 63.

and if yur ever passin' through Lubbock, Texas you can pay your respects to Buddy H.....and also check out the Buddy Holley museum.....you won't regret it..........all the gifts he gave the world by age 22.......amazing



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-02-03 21:31 by Leonard Keringer.

=======and if yur ever passin' through Lubbock, Texas you can pay your respects to Buddy H.....=====

Yep, I live about only 4 hours away but have never gotten there yet, believe it or not..I know thats a crime too. I've always heard the music museum is a must-see.

Me and a buddy are gonna play "Peggy Sue" at his grave.

#......Go ahead....Bite the Big Apple....Don't mind the Maggots.....Uh Huh...#

love and light to Buddy, JP and Ritchie -
thanks and praises, love and light

I remember reading somewhere that they pilot didn't know how to read the instrumentation on the plane and that he flunked out of flight school before.

Cafaro Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> I remember reading somewhere that they pilot
> didn't know how to read the instrumentation on the
> plane and that he flunked out of flight school
> before.


Yes ,his name was Roger Peterson,and that is true and did not have a license to fly at night.

and to keep Buddy H's memory alive.....check out "The Real Buddy Holley Story" 90 minute documentery from 1986, produced by non-other than Paul McCartney.........a truly great watch with old 8mm film clips, interviews with the Crickets, Norman Petty's widow, Keith Richards, etc.

currently reading the new book, on Buddy's 1958 UK tour,written by Jim Carr, that inspired a generation of musicians, including The Beatles and The Stones.
Highly recommended- a fantastic read.



Edited 1 time(s). Last edit at 2006-02-08 15:09 by Adrian-L.