From the Annals of Rock and Roll –  In 1959, Charles “Buddy” Holly was killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa.  Holly and his new band had performed at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake the night before as part of the “Winter Dance Party” tour. Holly’s band consisting of Waylon Jennings (bass), Tommy Allsup (guitar) and Carl Bunch (drums) was also the backing band for the other acts on the tour which included Richie Valens, J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson, and Dion DiMucci.   The tour had been poorly planned as the distances between venues and the badly equipped tour buses were adversely affecting the performers.  Several band members were suffering from the flu and Bunch was hospitalized due to frostbite. Holly decided to charter a flighte from Clear Lake to Fargo, North Dakota where they would catch up with the tour for its next performance in Moorhead, Minnesota.  Richardson, sick with the flu, swapped places with Waylon Jennings, Allsup lost his place to Ritchie Valens on a coin toss. DiMucci decided not to board the plane because of the $36 fee.

The loss to music was immeasurable.  Holly and Valens were likely headed to even greater stardom.  Holly was an incredible and inventive songwriter and doubtless would have had a considerable influence over popular music for decades.  His catalogue of hits from his short career is nothing short of astonishing.  It truly was the day the music died.