The Day the Music Died - 51 Years Ago Today

Top Five

Celebrities

TV Shows

Stay Up To Date

Share This \| Related The Day the Music Died - 51 Years Ago Today
By Gene Byrd Feb 3, 2010

The plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly, 22; Ritchie Valens, 17; and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, 28 happened on this date in history, 51 years ago today. It is what is now known as the Day the Music Died.

The three musicians were part of the Winter Dance Party Tour and were on their way to Appleton and Green Bay, Wis., for the 10th stop on the tour when they boarded the fateful flight.

They never made it to the next stop on the tour as the plane crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa.

CNN noted in a report last year (at the 50 year mark) that the "event has echoed through rock 'n' roll history , representing, if not the end of rock 'n' roll itself, the close of an era, the end of the first bloom of rock anarchy and innovation."

***

"It was like a curtain coming down," said Terry Stewart, president of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum.

Buddy Holly is known for such hits as "Peggy Sue" and "Oh Boy."

Ritchie Valens is best known for "La Bamba" and "Oh Donna."

And The Big Bopper was the big voice behind the hit "Chantilly Lace."

***

Scott Iwasaki of Desert News notes, "There have been movies ("The Buddy Holly Story" and "La Bamba") and a song (Don McLean's "American Pie" and Five for Fighting's "Slice" ) that pay tribute to what is now known as the Day the Music Died."

Today's Most Popular Stories: