64 Years Ago Today, the Day the Music Died

[Paladin1950]

Whenever February 3rd rolls around, I find myself thinking about the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly (22 yrs old), Ritchie Valens (17), & The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson Jr., 29). There was also the pilot Roger Peterson (21). Buddy is the one I miss the most. I have been listening to his music all of my life. I find myself wondering how much more great rock and roll music and ballads he would have recorded. When I went to all of those oldies concerts back in the 70's & 80's, I used to think how great it would be to see an older Buddy Holly come back and sing all of songs from his youth.

I recently bought a Ritchie Valens CD. It has on it 10 songs that he wrote and recorded before his death. Included is his 2 sided hit, Donna and La Bamba, and Come On, Let's Go. He could sing in 2 different languages. He could have sung songs for both English and Spanish speaking people. He could have had a long career ahead of him like Buddy.

The Big Bopper was a novelty act. But he had been a disc jockey. I used to have on cassette, the only album that he recorded. It was all rockabilly type music. He also wrote the hit song recorded by his friend Johnny Preston, Running Bear. You can actually hear The Big Bopper in the background when you listen to the song.

Why was 21 year old Roger Petersen the only pilot they could hire? Who knows. He had flown before, but with a more experienced pilot, maybe it wouldn't have been so tragic of an event.

Dion and the Belmonts and little known opening act Frankie Sardo was also touring with them, but they took a bus.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Music_Died

https://thestoriest.com/world/256766.html

 

[oldaunt]

Sad sad day...

 

[hearlady]

My daughter's birthday. I sent her 'Everyday' along with her birthday text.

 

[spectratg]

Don McLean memorialized Holly, Valens and Richardson in the 1972 No. 1 hit “American Pie.” “The Day the Music Died” video is now available on Paramount. For the first time, McLean revels and shares the secrets behind his iconic song. In addition, the documentary highlights cultural moments in America’s history that are as relevant now as they were in 1971, when the song was released.

“There are interchanges with all stripes of people from many walks of life, including major celebrities, music icons, current breaking artists and industry leaders. The film explores what ‘American Pie’ meant to people then, what it means to them now and what it will mean to generations in the future.”

I’ve always considered this song my favorite! There are many fascinating revelations, such as McLean disavows hidden meanings. The Jester is not Bob Dylan. The King is not Elvis Presley. Rather these are simply characters that he populated the song with, in order to give it a mythological basis.

 

[jimintoronto]

Whenever February 3rd rolls around, I find myself thinking about the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly (22 yrs old), Ritchie Valens (17), & The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson Jr., 29). There was also the pilot Roger Peterson (21). Buddy is the one I miss the most. I have been listening to his music all of my life. I find myself wondering how much more great rock and roll music and ballads he would have recorded. When I went to all of those oldies concerts back in the 70's & 80's, I used to think how great it would be to see an older Buddy Holly come back and sing all of songs from his youth.

I recently bought a Ritchie Valens CD. It has on it 10 songs that he wrote and recorded before his death. Included is his 2 sided hit, Donna and La Bamba, and Come On, Let's Go. He could sing in 2 different languages. He could have sung songs for both English and Spanish speaking people. He could have had a long career ahead of him like Buddy.

The Big Bopper was a novelty act. But he had been a disc jockey. I used to have on cassette, the only album that he recorded. It was all rockabilly type music. He also wrote the hit song recorded by his friend Johnny Preston, Running Bear. You can actually hear The Big Bopper in the background when you listen to the song.

Why was 21 year old Roger Petersen the only pilot they could hire? Who knows. He had flown before, but with a more experienced pilot, maybe it wouldn't have been so tragic of an event.

Dion and the Belmonts and little known opening act Frankie Sardo was also touring with them, but they took a bus.
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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Music_Died

https://thestoriest.com/world/256766.html

Guess who Buddy Holly picked to play bass, after the Crickets left him ? A young Waylon Jennings. He told Waylon....You got 2 weeks to learn how to play this thing..Then we are going on tour. Jennings decided to give up his seat on the flight, so he could do his laundry, and then get on the tour bus. He regretted that decision for a long time. JimB.

 

[ArnoldC]

I remember that sad day well. We were in home room study hall. Six to a table. When the teacher made the announcement to the room it became even more quiet than its normal self. Some sobbed, others seen with tears streaming down their faces. Usually disallowed, talk between and among tables was exchanged and friend consoled friend. We were so close to our music back then. Indeed, it was the day the music died.

 

[Mike]

I remember it, sadly!

R.I.P. all those boys, who were great singers.

Mike.

 

[Been There]

Before my time, but I watched the Buddy Holly Story on TV. Someone told me that the person who taught Peterson how to fly also taught Jim Reeves, a Country singer. I don’t know if that’s true or not.

Dion also has his own version of the story of who got the 3rd seat.

Buddy Holly Plane Crash