Remembering ‘The Day The Music Died’ & Other Musicians Who Have Died In Plane Crashes

 Sixty five years ago, on February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson died in a plane crash in Iowa, a tragedy memorialized as "The Day the Music Died." 

The night before, they had given their last performance at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, as part of the Winter Dance Party Tour. Buddy Holly, a major influence in rock music, had a short but impactful career with hits like "That'll Be the Day," "Peggy Sue," and others. 

The loss of Holly, a pioneer of the two-guitar rock sound, is deeply felt in the history of rock, as reflected in Don McLean's song "American Pie." The event is emblematic of rock's association with tragedy. This article also explores other musicians who have also tragically perished in aviation accidents.

For more information see  “Remembering 'The Day the Music Died'”, Remind Magazine, February 2, 2024.