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Feb 3, 1959:The day the music died
History ^ | Feb 3 | History

Posted on 02/03/2014 6:40:08 AM PST by Baynative

On this day in 1959, 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 Moorehead, 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."

After mechanical difficulties with the tour bus, Holly had chartered a plane for his band to fly between stops on the Winter Dance Party Tour. However, Richardson, who had the flu, convinced Holly's band member Waylon Jennings to give up his seat, and Ritchie Valens won a coin toss for another seat on the plane.

(Excerpt) Read more at history.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society
KEYWORDS: 1959; bopper; buddy; music; richie
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To: lowbridge
It was VFR, a 5000 ft ceiling (no visibility given in the report) in light snow. Yes, it was at night, but if he couldn't manage VFR @ night, he wasn't competent anyway. Night VFR flight doesn't require an instrument rated pilot, but vertigo is a real hazard and having some experience using the instrument in primary scan at night is a good practice. The fact he crashed so soon after takeoff indicates that he failed to stay oriented and was that condition was likely made worse by the gusty winds.

Now, this was in Instrument conditions with a qualified pilot during the day trying to get to Fargo.

Mishap report

81 posted on 02/03/2014 9:07:39 AM PST by xone
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To: InterceptPoint

“The 1000 Greatest Songs (1960-2013)”

Didn’t have to go very far down that one before I ran into some things I really don’t like.


82 posted on 02/03/2014 9:08:26 AM PST by dsc (Any attempt to move a government to the left is a crime against humanity.)
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To: The Duke

Some disco was good:

https://www.google.com/search?q=donna+summer&client=firefox-a&hs=4dO&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ei=5czvUt7kL-jLsQTdhIHoBw&ved=0CAkQ_AUoAQ&biw=1024&bih=614

She was a goddess and a Born Again Christian.


83 posted on 02/03/2014 9:10:17 AM PST by ZULU (Magua is sitting in the Oval Office. Ted Cruz/Phil Robertson in 2016.)
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To: Baynative

Top 500 Classic Rock Songs
http://www.binsearch.info/?q=VA+-+Top+500+Classic+Rock+Songs&max=100&adv_age=1100&server=


84 posted on 02/03/2014 9:27:18 AM PST by Bobalu (Happiness is a fast ISR)
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To: knarf
I saw many great bands at the Filmore. Also, the Avalon Ballroom, the Matrix, Golden Gate Park, Longshoremans' Hall, Winterland and eventually Candlestick, Oakland Coliseum and Shoreline.

It was a great time and it used to be a great place.

85 posted on 02/03/2014 9:28:55 AM PST by Baynative (Got bulbs? Check my profile page.)
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To: Baynative

siigghhh ... we’re older brother, and the best we can do is attempt to describe the times ... but’cha’ hadd’a BIN there.


86 posted on 02/03/2014 9:31:24 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: ZULU

This is a slipper slope you are on my FRiend! Next thing you’re going to be slow dancing to Leo Sayer!


87 posted on 02/03/2014 9:53:13 AM PST by The Duke ("Forgiveness is between them and God, it's my job to arrange the meeting.")
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To: The Duke

What’s wrong with Donna Summer?


88 posted on 02/03/2014 9:55:08 AM PST by ZULU (Magua is sitting in the Oval Office. Ted Cruz/Phil Robertson in 2016.)
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To: Fresh Wind
At the time of his death was evolving away from the rock'n'roll that made him famous, following Elvis into syrupy pop, even going as far as to (gasp) allow string sections to be dubbed onto his music.

You're right. My brother had his latest album recorded without the Crickets heavy on orchestration. Even then it was excellent.
89 posted on 02/03/2014 10:10:28 AM PST by klgator
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To: knarf
I am always thankful to have lived in the best place on earth during the most exciting era of human existence.

What I find really ironic is that now we have a population of aging grey haired hippies who have no idea what the whole experience was about. All they caught was that because the movement was heavily influenced by anti-war sentiment and people rebelled against the government which was Richard Nixon at the time, they think they all have to be democrats.

But, the real meaning of the hippie culture was personal freedom and less government which as far from democrat ideals as can be.

90 posted on 02/03/2014 10:14:39 AM PST by Baynative (Got bulbs? Check my profile page.)
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To: knarf
"The Universal Soldier" is one of the stupidest songs of all time. It implies that all soldiers are evil and that without them, the world would be at peace.

Here's a richly-deserved rejoinder:

The Universal Coward--Jan Berry (1965)

91 posted on 02/03/2014 10:21:22 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: Fiji Hill
True Love Ways
92 posted on 02/03/2014 10:25:14 AM PST by blam
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To: Fiji Hill
Whoa ...

I didn't endorse the song

I was 19 or 20 and I heard it ... words I had never heard before .. at a time when I was drinking with pissed off guys that had just rotated back from country.

93 posted on 02/03/2014 10:31:12 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: Baynative
But, the real meaning of the hippie culture was personal freedom and less government ...

Yup.

94 posted on 02/03/2014 10:35:44 AM PST by knarf (I say things that are true .. I have no proof .. but they're true.)
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To: Ramcat

In a field outside of Clear Lake Iowa where the music died. We all know about the ill-fated plane trip by Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens who on a cold night died when the plane crashed just after take-off.

The crash site is easy to find and a short 1/2 mile walk from the gravel farm road. There is a nice memorial at the spot of the crash.

Please stay on the trail and pick up any trash you see on the way, we are guests on a farmers private property.

Directions to the site:

From U.S. Highway 18, go north on North 8th Street in Clear Lake for 4.7 miles. When the paved road (which has turned into Grouse Avenue) turns to your left (west), take the gravel road (310th Street) to your right (east), then immediately left (north) on Gull Avenue. Follow Gull Avenue to the north for one-half mile, just past the grain bins to the first fence row on your left (west). Walk along the fence row towards the west for just under one-half mile. A small memorial is located at the place the plane came to rest. Four trees were also planted along the fence row in 1999, one for each performer and the pilot

Well worth the trip for every Rock N’ Roll fan.


95 posted on 02/03/2014 11:29:22 AM PST by Cheechdog
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To: Sicvee

Come to think of it, where would Linda Ronstadt’s career be if not for all the Buddy Holly covers she hit with in the ‘70s? I’ll tell you where- singing the one hit she had with the stone poneys “different drum” at county fairs in Nebraska.
(IMHO)

CC


96 posted on 02/03/2014 11:44:14 AM PST by Celtic Conservative (tease not the dragon for thou art crunchy when roasted and taste good with ketchup)
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To: Cheechdog
The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake is still going strong, and this past weekend, it hosted the 2014 Winter Party featuring Flash Cadillac.
97 posted on 02/03/2014 11:58:46 AM PST by Fiji Hill
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To: blu

I love that show Keillor is one of our best story tellers. His letters from Lake Wobegon are classic. Good down home music too. Of course he is hopelessly liberal.

Your boys are above average!


98 posted on 02/03/2014 12:19:05 PM PST by morphing libertarian
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To: painter

so much for the belmonts!

Thanx.


99 posted on 02/03/2014 12:19:41 PM PST by morphing libertarian
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To: Baynative

yes

earlier in the 50s I think R&B that wasn’t the blues was called race music.


100 posted on 02/03/2014 12:20:58 PM PST by morphing libertarian
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