The Music Died 56 Years Ago Today

[Crazy Ed]

Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson known as "The Big Bopper" all died in a Plane Crash in Iowa. Ok the Music Lived, but sadly they didn't.

[Snake45]

Buddy Holly was a genius. He was years ahead of his time--so much so that when Linda Ronstadt covered his songs in the '70s, they sounded like new songs. I've often wondered what '60s music would have sounded like if he had lived. RIP Buddy--You did good.

[Jantrix]

As much as I do appreciate their music, at 46 I'm a little young to have the emotional connection to those men and their music, that my dad does.

Dad was and is, a huge Buddy fan. He's got at least 5 CD's in his disc carousel. At 71 years old he still gets a little misty eyed when we talk about it.

Mom prefers Elvis.

[JTalmage]

I'm 28 and I like a little bit of everything under the rock genre and really enjoy roots rock n roll. I too wonder what music would be like today had those 3 not been involved in the crash.

I read somewhere that Buddy Holly was taking acting classes so he could have very well been a hit in that field as well as music. Same with Big Bopper... made most of his music in the country genre before making chantilly lace. And that he was a very funny guy. It's said that he would probably also have been in the movie business eventually along with being a music producer (he was building a studio in his basement at the time of his death)

[Lunajammer]

It's being noted around here since the twin cities of Fargo-Moorhead is where the plane was headed when it went down. People were already gathering in the arena when the news came so local promoters looked to local talent to fill the bill. They grabbed a Fargo teen, Bobby Vee, who was seen by the national promoters who were already here and the rest is more rock history.

As a historical side bar, Prior to that date, a very young Bob Dylan spent about a year here playing with Vee's band on his way from Hibbing, MN to the big time.

I used to work with woman who saw Holly, Valens and Bopper on their second to last show the night before. Memorable to her because that's where she met her husband. She said that when one band was playing, the other bands were mingling and goofing in the crowd so it was a real party atmosphere. Not like today where security prevents any contact with the performers.

Edited February 3, 2015 by Lunajammer

[JTalmage]

Also Waylon Jennings was Buddy Holly's bass player.... Had the crash not occured... Jennings may have stuck with Buddy and stayed in Rock n Roll and may have never became the legendary country artist.

[Sixties Sam]

"Bad news on the doorstep - I couldn't take one more step."

[Petetrucker07]

Had Waylon won the coin toss that fateful night, Waylon wouldn't have gone to do what he did. All three were taken too early. There's not a day that goes by I don't listen to something from at one of them.

[1930fordpickup]

My Generation lost Stevie Ray Vaughan. I understand why people feel the way they do.

[southpier]

Dion was too frugal to fly to the Winter Dance Party. he took the bus.

i figure if man were meant to fly, henry would not have invented the flathead.

[Joe Handley]

It's being noted around here since the twin cities of Fargo-Moorhead is where the plane was headed when it went down. People were already gathering in the arena when the news came so local promoters looked to local talent to fill the bill. They grabbed a Fargo teen, Bobby Vee, who was seen by the national promoters who were already here and the rest is more rock history.

As a historical side bar, Prior to that date, a very young Bob Dylan spent about a year here playing with Vee's band on his way from Hibbing, MN to the big time.

I used to work with woman who saw Holly, Valens and Bopper on their second to last show the night before. Memorable to her because that's where she met her husband. She said that when one band was playing, the other bands were mingling and goofing in the crowd so it was a real party atmosphere. Not like today where security prevents any contact with the performers.

One of Mom's brother in laws had been there too, but I think for the last show. We then found out just before the Richie Valens movie came out that the pilot was a cousin of her Father's.....her eldest sister (who has since passed on) had to tell everybody since the pilot's last name was their maiden name and didn't want to put the other, younger sister into shock.

[unclescott58]

i figure if man were meant to fly, henry would not have invented the flathead.

Henry built the famous Ford Tri-motor airplane. He was hoping it would become to the skys, what the Model T had become for to the roads.

And yes, Buddy Holly in particular was great. And music in someways did die that night in Clear Lake, IA that night 56 years ago.

Scott

[Harry P.]

Buddy Holly was what, 22-23 when he died? Something like that.

Twenty Three! He was still a baby! I have socks older than that.

Can you imagine what he would have done if he had more years on this earth to do it?

[Mark]

22. And he didn't do too much recording in the last few months of his life; he was trapped in a bad recording contract and wasn't seeing much money from it. He was doing the live performances to make some money because his wife was expecting. Only two albums were released during his lifetime: one Crickets album and one solo. Had he lived, I don't think the Beatles would have made the impact they did. He'd probably still be a force in the music business, as a writer or producer...

[Crazy Ed]

Ritchie Valens was no slouch either. He was only 17. The Music World could have been a Very Different Place had a Small Plane compleated it's Flight Safely.

[chunkypeanutbutter]

He probably would've burned out after a few albums had he survived. Now, the Big Bopper, that's another story.

[webestang]

I did not know much about Buddy Holly till I saw the Movie "The Buddy Holly Story" with Gary Busey as Holly. His music just blew me away and the next day I went to the record store and bought Holly's greatest hits on vinyl.

[Harry P.]

Had he lived, I don't think the Beatles would have made the impact they did. He'd probably still be a force in the music business, as a writer or producer...

I disagree with your Beatles comment. They were so far above everyone else, there's no way they would not have made the impact they did. They were just that good.

But I agree with you 100% that Buddy Holly, if he were still with us today, would have become a huge figure in the music business. One of the all-time heavyweights.

[Petetrucker07]

I'm not a fan of the Beetles or their music. But I can appreciate what they did. They burst onto the US music scene and made an impression. But I think some aspects of music could've been different had that plane not crashed, would the Beetles have been as big of deal or not, we will never know. Ritchie Valens was talented, kinda of the Backstreet Boys or Justin Dweeber of his time. Hard to say if he would've had a long shinning career or burnt out quickly. Buddy Holly and the Big Bopper were going strong, made their impressions and on their way.

[martinfan5]

What could of been

Edited February 5, 2015 by martinfan5