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Rising American rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff from Mason City on a flight headed for Moorhead, Minnesota. Investigators blamed the crash on bad weather and pilot error. Holly and his band, the Crickets, had just scored a No. 1 hit with “That’ll Be the Day.”

Taken from the single "American Pie" (2000)

American Pie - Don McLean

Don McLean celebrates 50 years of "American Pie" with his new children's book, inspired by his hit song

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:

As a tour celebrating the 50th anniversary of his iconic 'American Pie' gets underway, singer-songwriter Don McLean reveals the deep 'yearning for something American' that he feels he's captured. New York-born Don McLean, the one-man cultural force behind "American Pie," "Vincent (Starry, Starry Night)," "And I Love You So," "Castles in the Air," and many other songs, albums, tours, and projects, told Fox News Digital in a revealing in-depth interview that he "was the right guy at the right time" for "American Pie." That song attained No. 1 on the Billboard charts after its release more than 50 years ago,...

Hide your classic rock LP’s. The thought police at the New York Times are coming for them. The New York Times opinion section has run a column advocating for classic rock songs like Don McLean’s “American Pie” to be reconsidered and maybe even “toppled” like historic Confederate statues, arguing that reevaluating beloved songs will help create a world that is “inclusive and more just.” Other rock singers ripe for cancellation include Eric Clapton, Jerry Lee Lewis, Johnny Cash, and even Elvis Presley. Jennifer Finney Boylan, who is a male-to-female transgender, laid out the case in the op-ed titled “Should Classic...

Day 321 Of The Dictatorship Of COVID-19, Day 321 Of America And The World Held Hostage Back in 1979 Americans taken hostage in Iran and ABC News coining the phrase "America Held Hostage" as illustrated in this first of many late night special reports... And here we are in 2021 the Dictatorship of COVID-19 and Americans held hostage like Gayle Meyer... Don McLean's "American Pie" was all over the radio back in 1972 and many phrases in that song including "The Day The Music Died". It will be 62 years ago this Wednesday "The Day The Music Died" February 3,...

Don McLean, the 74-year-old singer best known for his 1971 hit “American Pie,” says he is not impressed with the music of today. The singer-songwriter believes times have certainly changed since his early days in the music industry, and he’s claiming there is no longer music of substance when he turns on the radio. The folk-rock singer sat down with Tom Cridland for his YouTube series “The Greatest Music of All Time” to reflect on his musical career highlights. During the candid conversation, McLean partially discusses his political views, claiming that politics no longer “really mean anything,” and he likened...

McLean talks with MarketWatch about the only two stocks he owns, the meaning of ‘American Pie,’ and why he’s never had an assistant. In 1971, Don McLean released the album “American Pie,” and the title song became one of the most famous — and successful — ever made. It came out at a time of major political and social upheaval in America, and captured a feeling of loss. The song runs for over eight minutes, and is No. 5 on the list of best songs of the 20th century. Now 73, McLean talked with MarketWatch about his most famous song,...

Singer Don McLean was arrested on a misdemeanor domestic violence charge Monday in Maine. Camden's Chief Randy Gagne told FOX411 police responded to a call at McLean's Camden, Maine residence early Monday morning and arrested the singer without incident. He was transported to Knox County Jail in Rockland, Maine, and was later released after on bail. He has a court date set for February 22, 2016. ...

The music died because Buddy Holly merely wanted what every touring musician wants: to do laundry. Shoved into unheated buses on a “Winter Dance Party” tour in 1959, Holly — tired of rattling through the Midwest with dirty clothes — chartered a plane on Feb. 3 to fly from Clear Lake, Iowa, to Fargo, N.D., where he hoped he could make an appointment with a washing machine. Joining him on the plane were Ritchie Valens and, after future country star Waylon Jennings gave up his seat, J.P. Richardson, a.k.a. “the Big Bopper.” Taking off in bad weather with a pilot...

A long, long time ago - to borrow the words of the song - Don McLean sat down to write the first lines of an epic. First released in 1971, American Pie is a classic that an entire generation memorised line by line, verse by verse. Fans around the world have argued over the true meaning of one of the most enigmatic songs in pop history. Faced with all the speculation, McLean's own response is defiantly down-to-earth: when people ask him what it means, he likes to reply, "It means I never have to work again." American Pie, famously covered...

Christie's announced Friday that singer-songwriter Don McLean is selling his manuscript and notes to "American Pie," the wistful anthem that asked, "Do you recall what was revealed the day the music died?" The auction house says McLean is selling 16 pages that include the original working manuscript and typed drafts of the song.

Songs like “Revolution” by The Beatles, which was clearly suspicious of violent revolution and uprisings, as well as “American Pie” by Don McLean. Many people think that the song “American Pie” is about the death of Buddy Holly and other musicians in a plane crash, but Glenn presented a reading of the lyrics on radio and showed how it could also be seen as a warning against the danger of violent uprisings.

Songs like “Revolution” by The Beatles, which was clearly suspicious of violent revolution and uprisings, as well as “American Pie” by Don McLean. Many people think that the song “American Pie” is about the death of Buddy Holly and other musicians in a plane crash, but Glenn presented a reading of the lyrics on radio and showed how it could also be seen as a warning against the danger of violent uprisings. “ I’ve never understood I drove the Chevy to the levee, I didn’t know what that was. Let’s just start there on the simple part because Chevy, just...

Go to the bottom of Nickelodeon's page (http://www.nick.com/) and click "Report a Concern" then tell them about Jason Biggs and that you won't be allowing your kids to watch Nick until they FIRE him for his vile tweets. http://twitchy.com/2012/08/31/american-idiot-2-jason-biggs-knocks-christians-targets-ann-romney-and-janna-ryan-with-vile-tweets/ http://twitchy.com/2012/08/30/american-idiot-pig-maher-in-training-jason-biggs-sends-out-sick-tweets-about-paul-and-janna-ryan/

On Wednesday, liberals on Twitter called for the death of Ann Romney, the wife of GOP nominee Mitt Romney, Twitchy reported. As of this writing, the so-called "mainstream media" has refused to report on the hateful threats issued on the social media site. "I want to murder Ann Romney right now," tweeted "Gregory Martinez." Some called for Mrs. Romney to commit suicide. "Why does Ann Romney act like an average mom? B***h kill yourself, you had maids taken care of your f*****g kids," another person said. "Ann Romney Need To Kill Her Husband Then Kill Herself (sic)," said another. "Ann...

The popular "American Pie" films mixed the very, very raunchy with the sweetness of high school pals who simply wanted to fall in love. And, of course, occasionally defile a freshly baked pastry. These days, franchise star Jason Biggs is aiming some "American Pie" style humor at the Republican's Vice Presidential candidate - and his wife. And while the "Pie" films typically left a pleasant after taste, Biggs' Tweet barrage feels ugly, mean-spirited and not even remotely funny.

Looks like Jason Biggs is still defiling that pie … if by “pie” you mean “contract with Nickelodeon.” Yesterday Twitchy reported that the “American Pie” actor tweeted about sexually assaulting Paul Ryan’s wife. We know … shocking from an actor who made a name for himself by humping a pie. But Pig Biggs wasn’t done tweeting misogynist filth about political wives. After a disgusting tweet about Ann Romney’s body, he targeted Janna Ryan again by retweeting his wife, Jenny Mollen. ...