The Day the Music Died: Remembering rock and roll's biggest tragedy

smoothradio.com ^ | 02/03/2022 | Tom Eames

[Bonemaker]

On February 3, 1959, the music world was shocked when American rock and roll stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP 'The Big Bopper' Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, along with pilot Roger Peterson.

The event eventually became known as 'The Day the Music Died', after Don McLean's classic 1971 song 'American Pie'.

Today (February 3) marks 61 years since the disaster. Here, we look back at who the tragic stars were and the legacy they left behind:

[Bonemaker]

Remember it well. I was a student at the U. of Iowa at the time. It was a big deal and stunned everybody.

[DallasBiff]

"Bye Bye Miss American Pie"

Are we allowed to say the word "Miss" in this day of age?

[campaignPete R-CT]

63 years

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(older article?)

[circlecity]

Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on that flight. (He was in Holly’s band at the time). At the last second he gave up his seat for Valens. At least that’s how he tells it.

[SuperLuminal]

The Big Bopper...Buddy Holly...Ritchie Valens...
It was a very sad day for me...
RIP

[oldplayer]

Dan Gryder’s “Probable Cause” youtube channel has a detailed discussion of the crash. Gryder is an experienced commercial pilot who investigates aircraft incidents. I recommend it if you want more information about the aviation issues here.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9kwPyiXCVKs

[RayChuang88]

That tragedy essentially opened the door for the British invasion starting in the late fall of 1963. By 1960, the first wave of rock 'n roll was pretty much dead, because even Elvis Presley after he left the Army starting doing other genres of music.

[kaktuskid]

If Holly had lived he would have been a bigger star (and influence) than Elvis.

[ought-six]

“If Holly had lived he would have been a bigger star (and influence) than Elvis.”

A bigger influence, perhaps; but not a bigger star.

[Jan_Sobieski]

I could be wrong, but I believe it was Dion that gave his seat to Valens. He was too cheap to pay the flight cost

[SaveFerris]

I was looking up info on something related to this months ago.

Insert quote from John Miller here

[F450-V10]

Article written two years ago. Now 63 years since event.

[circlecity]

I just looked it up. Jennings gave up his seat to the Big Bopper. Another member of Holly’s band, Tommy Allsup, gave up his seat for Valens.

[larrytown]

If Holly had lived he would have been a bigger star (and influence) than Elvis.

Certainly in a producer role - the guy knew how to make music.

[SaxxonWoods]

Peggy Sue was the most played song at the Roller Rink I frequented in the early 60’s.

[SaxxonWoods]

“Jennings gave us his seat to the Big Bopper.”

The story goes that they flipped a coin and Waylon lost. Waylon turned to Holly and said, “Well, I hope your old plane crashes.” Holly responded, “I hope your bus breaks down.”

That interchange probably stuck with Waylon for the rest of his life.

[Jan_Sobieski]

Dion gave an interview where he said he was supposed to have one of the seats. Perhaps I conflated it with something else…😔

[SaxxonWoods]

Oh, and it started because Holly wanted the Bopper on the plane because he had a bad cold and Holly was worried he wouldn’t be able to sing if he rode in the cold bus.

[circlecity]

“If Holly had lived he would have been a bigger star (and influence) than Elvis.”

Not sure - depends what “bigger” means in this context. Elvis certainly had the looks, stage presence and sex appeal to go with his voice. He had more raw star power. Holly was the far superior musician, producer and song writer. Kind of an apples/oranges comparison. I think you are correct that Holly’s body of work would have had a far greater influence.

[KosmicKitty]

63 years, not 61