Lubbock BUMP
Posted on 02/03/2006 5:14:34 AM PST by Ranald S. MacKenzie
1959: Buddy Holly killed in air crash
Three young rock 'n' roll stars have been killed in a plane crash in the United States.
Buddy Holly, 22, Jiles P Richardson - known as the Big Bopper - 28, and Ritchie Valens, 17, died in a crash shortly after take-off from Clear Lake, Iowa at 0100 local time.
The pilot of the single-engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane was also killed.
Early reports from the scene suggest the aircraft spun out of control during a light snowstorm.
Only the pilot's body was found inside the wreckage as the performers were thrown clear on impact.
Holly hired the plane after heating problems developed on his tourbus.
All three were travelling to Fargo, North Dakota, the next venue in their Winter Dance Party Tour .
Holly had set up the gruelling schedule of concerts - covering 24 cities in three weeks - to make money after the break-up of his band, The Crickets, last year.
Recorded life
Born Charles Hardin Holley - changed to Holly after a misspelling on a contract - he had several hit records, including a number one, in the US and UK with That'll be the Day in 1957.
A singer and guitarist, he was inspired by Elvis Presley after seeing him at an early concert in his home town of Lubbock, Texas.
With Presley serving in the Army, some critics expected Holly to take over his crown.
Richard Valenzuela was the first Mexican American to break into mainstream music, after being discovered by record producer Bob Keane, who changed his name to Ritchie Valens.
He had made three albums and achieved a number two chart position in the US with his composition Donna - about his girlfriend - in 1958.
His rock 'n' roll re-working of the traditional Mexican song La Bamba - on the B-side of Donna - has also received acclaim.
The Big Bopper had been a record-breaking radio DJ - with a 122-hour marathon stint - and reached number six in the American charts with his record Chantilly Lace.
I lived just outside of Fargo ND at the time..
Rather than cancel the scheduled concert, local bands came in to provide the entertainment, and helped to turn the event into a tribute for those that died..
It was a very special event, one that I will never forget..
Lubbock BUMP
Jennings told CMT.com that the brutal crash left scars that still haunted him 40 years after Holly’s death. Jennings never came to terms with his last words to Holly, the joking refrain, "I hope your ol' plane crashes."
OK, is it "brush with greatness" time? My mom played league tennis with Buddy's widow in the 70's. I wonder what Buddy would be writing today?
Thanks for posting this. I had not remembered the actual date, but I certainly remember the sadness of the occasion...the day the music died.
Thanks for posting this.
LOVE your homepage! Even more homesick, now...
ping
There have been a number of people over the years who have claimed they had given up a seat on that plane. Just as there have been a number of people who have claimed they had been asked to join the Rolling Stones after Mick Taylor left in mid 1970s. A nice thing to add to your resume, but I see no reason to believe any of them.
I remember Peggy Sue as a pop hit when I was a young teen.
I did not know that he died from a crash in a Bonanza.
I have owned two Bonanzas...Great airplane, but some early models had problems.
B.H. Bump!
Prof. Farnsworth: Oh Lord! We'll have to endure the horrible music of the Big Bopper, and then the terrible tragedy of his death.
Man, I love those Hi-D Burgers!!! It's all about the kind of ground beef they use....I wish I knew.
Doh! I never did those dibs for you last weekend! I'll try to get them done this weekend.
Take a lesson from this.
No one knows when it's their date with death.
The more important question is which way will you go after you exhale your last breath? Eternity is a long, long time.
#24
I wasn't his fault:
"In his 1996 autobiography, Waylon admitted for the first time that in the years afterward, he felt severe feelings of guilt and responsibility for the crash. After Waylon gave up his seat, Holly had jokingly told Jennings that he hoped the tour bus would stall. Jennings replied, with equal jocularity, that he hoped the plane would crash; these words would haunt him for years."
Now he's gone too.
LOL...same here, so no sweat. You'll have mine in time for Valentine's Day :)
Buddy Holly was a genius. Thanks for posting this.
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