The Day the Music Died

Today 53 years ago rising stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson where lost forever in the fields of Iowa. Their chartered three passenger Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff from Mason City on a flight headed for Mooreheag, Minnesota. The crash was blamed on bad weather and pilot error. Buddy Holly and his band just hit No.1 with "That'll Be The Day."

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

Buddy Holly (Charles Holley) was born in Lubbock, Texas. He began singing country music with his high school friends before crossing over to rock and roll. He opened for various performers, including Elvis Presley. By the mid-1950s, Holly and his band had a regular radio show and toured internationally. They had hits such as, "Peggy Sue," "Maybe Baby" and "Early in the Morning." He wrote all his own songs, many of which were released after his death. His works and innovations inspired and influenced contemporary and later musicians, such as The Beatles, Bob Dylan, The Rolling Stones, Elvis Costello and Eric Clapton. He was part of the first group to be inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986. Holly's six month bride was carrying their first child. She had a miscarriage shortly after the accident. Holly was 22 when he died.

Ritchie Valens (Richard Valenzuela) was born in Pacoima, a suburb of LA. Influenced by traditional Mexican music he expressed interest in making his own music since he was 5 years old. Encouraged by his father he dived into his passion for music and learned to play the guitar, trumpet and drums. In 1958 Ritchie was signed by Bob Keane from Del-Fi Records after a performance he gave at a Saturday morning matinee. Valens was a pioneer for Latin rock. His song "La Bamba" was the most influential recording; not only by becoming a pop chart hit but it successful meshed Latin rhythm and American rock. Valens became a great influences for Los Lobos, Los Lonely Boys and Carlos Santana. Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 2001. Valens was 17 when we died.

J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson started out as a disk jockey in Texas and later began writing songs. Richardson's most famous recording was the rockabilly "Chantilly Lace," which made the Top 10. He developed a stage show based on his radio persona, "The Big Bopper." He was survived by his wife, daughter and son who was born two months after his death. Richardson was 28 when he died.

In memoriam of the first and greatest tragedy in rock and roll history Don McLean penned the song "American Pie", a reflection of this great loss, in 1971.

Let's take some time to remember these great artists whose brief lives left an enduring impact.