Feb. 3, 1959 near Clear Lake, Iowa, a plane crash took four lives and shook America. This week, on the 50-year anniversary of the tragedy, we (even many of us who were not yet born) still recall "the day the music died." American rock-n-roll lost three young headliners that winter morning: Buddy Holly (Charles H. Holley), Ritchie Valens (Richard Valenzuela), and The Big Bopper (J.P. Richardson). Fellow performers Waylon Jennings (of Holly's band) and Dion DiMucci didn't take the plane that night. Twelve years later in 1971 Don McLean recorded the song that would add to their immortality and is still being sung, recognized, and loved by all ages:
Buddy Holly's biography can be seen in the movie The Buddy Holly Story. Here he is performing his hit single Peggy Sue:
The movie La Bamba is Ritchie Valens' story, named for one of his greatest hits. Ritchie was only 17 when he died in the plane crash.
The Big Bopper is captured well in this video of his hit song Chantilly Lace:
Kathy, I watched the first video...I enjoyed it alot...I didn't realize that it will be 50 years...I remember being a little girl and watching La Bamba over and over again...and I honestly hadn't thought about it in yearssss!! Thank you for posting this...I'll be back tomorrow to watch the rest!! Be Blessed Kathy!
Hi LaTonya! I just figured out that Hollywood is you! You look 15 in your cute colorful pics! Thanks for watching!
PT, I doubt most people know what that song is about. Once you know, it's obvious, but not before. I will use it in by classes tomorrow, as the students are coming in, and thought the folks here might find it interesting too. The students are always intrigued by it.
Caleb, I have no doubt you know La Bamba! It's a classic indeed, much older than Ritchie Valens. Funny thing is that Ritchie Valens didn't speak any Spanish when he recorded it, although his family was of Mexican heritage. He just memorized the phonetics!
LOL! I apologize Kathy...and I just changed my name again...but 15, that's more than 10+ years younger...I'll take it for now! I honestly had no idea that Dion DiMucci got into Christian music...I went and listened to the youtube videos and quite enjoyed I Believe and Still in the Spirit...and you say he is still performing...impressive! :) Be blessed Kathy...
Yes, I remember that plane crash headline very well, and I especially enjoyed watching four of the five clips you have here because all of those singles were hits when I was in high school! I heard the American Pie song later but didn't pay much attention to it since I was raising a family by that time. Interesting though.
For those of you who may not know, that was Dick Clark (from American Bandstand) hosting the singers on the last two clips. And Kitty Carlyle was the open-minded lady who introduced Buddy Holly and the Crickets. She was an early TV personality who appeared on a couple of the game panel shows, either I've Got a Secret or What's MyLine, I forget which one. (Well after all, it's been 50 years lol.) Whoops! Guess my age is really showing! Thanks for the memories Kathy!
Great blog. You are well versed and on target. There are pivotal moments where history is on a hinge. This was one of those. Please visit my blog on My Church.com (United Methodist Church Prentiss) cewchuck@aol.com. Thanks. Chuck
LaTonya, I need a special notice every time you change your user name! Dion was quite big on the Christian scene, known as, I think, just "Dion." You can see what he's been up to, and read about his spiritual experience at his official website. (Click on his name in the first paragraph of this blog.) I didn't know his music then, but I like it also.
Interesting, Barb! I knew Dick Clark, but I didn't realize that was Kitty Carlyle. I remember her I think from What's My Line? I'm glad you enjoyed the music!
Hi Chuck! Welcome to MyChurch, and thanks for your comments!
Kathy, great memories here, thanks for sharing. I used to play American Pie on my guitar when it first came out on the radio, its still one of my favorite songs and takes me back to a simpler time. It was wonderful to watch all these videos, and Dion stil is one my favorite Christian artists.
IG, that is really cool! Thanks for sharing the local remembrance! These 3 were so legendary that my college students year after year are familiar with them. Surprisingly, for the first time, yesterday many were not. They knew the McLean song, but many didn't seem to recognize the 3 who were killed or know anything about them.
Hi Darlene! Ah, someone who remembers Dion's Christian music! Playing the guitar is one of those skills I've always wanted to learn! (Maybe after I retire!) An interesting bit of trivia from the McLean video: Roberta Flack's "Killing Me softly with His Song" was written about Don McLean. If it was this McLean song, I can certainly relate! Although I am not quite old enough to remember all of that era (I was born almost 3 years after the crash), it still touches something deep within me.
Hi have seen the stage show and it was fab. don't think any of the audience could sit still the Opera House in Belfast was buzzing It was trully a great night
I was in love with Don McLean's song, in fact I remember that WLS in Chicago published a translation of the song. I remember stopping into the radio station to pick one up, it was my first time ever visiting a radio station, and I took time out from a 4-H trip to Chicago, and Old Town to do so. Here's a link to the most remembered translation by Bob Dearborn. Thanks for bringing back some really great memories Kathy !
I didn't realize that the anniversary of that plane crash was this month. My cousin and I used to listen over and over to "American Pie," singing it at the top of our lungs. The meaning behind this song makes it so much more poignant. I still love hearing it, to this day, and pondering the symbolism in it. I alway find it interesting to note the Christian symbolism and comment in several popular songs.
Man oh Man, Kathy this really brings back memories ! I hate to belabor the point, but the more I remembered, and then Read Bob Dearborn's article, the more memories came back. My brother and I would crouch under the covers, late into the night (probably 11:00 or 11:30) to listen to the "more adult' music. Dylan, the White Album, things that were longer and couldn't be played during regular hours. Now the problem was, you could fall asleep with that little transistor radio shoved up against your ear, sadly run down the batteries(let along wake up with a scrunched ear or a missing radio). If you turned it up loud enough to really hear it your Mom or Dad could tell you were listening. All those dangers of a misspent youth, rebellious and dangerous! Oh, and if you did still have the headphone, it usually broke when you turned over and pulled on it by accident. So now, I have an iPod (a glorified transistor radio), with expensive ear buds (glorified headphones, in stereo), maybe life hasn't really changed that much after all.....hahaha.....what journey you've taken me on Kathy !!!!
Liz, I'm not familiar with the stage show. A musical? A commemorative concert? Tell me more!
Barb. I agree! Much to ponder! I too used to sing it as a child, without any clue what the song was about. Often wondered, but it didn't really matter then. It was a catchy tune with interesting, if nonsensical, lyrics.
Dennis, wow! That was great! I just read every word of your link with great interest! Thanks for sharing your story and your excitement!
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