The Day The Music Died

[Vonnie Eli]

This day February 3, 1959 will shall forever be known in history as The Day The Music Died. This is the day that a small plane carrying Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper [[Jiles P. Richardson) crashed in a blinding snow storm on the way to a performance in Minnesota.

[JIVE FIVE Mary G.]

I remember, Vonnie. It was a sad day for those of us who loved those artists.

~~Mary~~

[ralpht]

If I remember correctly, wasn't Waylon Jennings, who was playing bass with the band at that time, switch his seat and opt for the bus?

[marv2]

I remember reading that Dion DiMucci was suppose to be on that flight but couldn't afford it.

[Soul Sister]

I think that stuck in all our minds as did the day Otis Redding's plane went down and we lost the King of Southern Soul!!!
Saw some great shows with the Big "O" back in the day at several different venues 1965 thru 1967.

S.S.
***

[theboyfromxtown]

Motown artist Debbie Dean has a story of that day too.

One the most difficult tours Debbie participated in was the infamous “Winter Party Dance Tour”, billed with Buddy Holly and the Crickets, The Big Bopper, Dion and the Belmonts and Frankie Sardo. She was thrilled to perform with such talent. In turn both the other performers and fans enjoyed her performances. This tour entailed over 20 shows in 14 days, two shows a day, covering the Midwest in the midst of a cold winter. The performers traveled all night on a cramped bus after each show to arrive at the next venue in the morning. The bus was cold and cramped and no one got the rest they needed. Debbie knew this would continue for several more weeks.

One night Buddy Holly had grown tired of the bus travel and decided he would hire a plane and fly to the next location far away in Minnesota. Buddy, J. Richardson aka The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens boarded the small private plane for Minnesota. The plane crashed somewhere over Idaho, killing all its passengers. Debbie and the rest of the tour were devastated at the loss of her friends. The press would call it “The Day The Music Died.”

The tour could not stop as they had committed to many more performances. They continued on the tour and new acts were hired to replace the talented artists who were tragically killed. It seemed like it would never end. She was missing Jim, her home and yearned to see her kids. She finally returned home with great relief.

http://debbdean.wordpress.com/debbie-dean-soul-free/