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Day the Music Died. What to Know About 1959 Crash that Claimed Icons
The anniversary honors the musicians who died in a 1959 plane crash amid poor weather, with tributes held at the Surf Ballroom and crash-site memorial in Iowa.
- Today Eastern Iowa is marking the anniversary of the Feb. 3, 1959 plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson and pilot Roger Peterson as fans gather at the Surf Ballroom for tribute events.
- Federal investigators blamed poor weather and pilot disorientation after the Beechcraft entered heavy snow bands within five minutes of takeoff.
- The four-seater Beechcraft Bonanza took off around 1:00 a.m. Central in a light snowstorm and crashed minutes later near Clear Lake, Iowa, after the trio performed at the Surf Ballroom.
- The event became known as `The Day the Music Died`, a phrase popularized by Don McLean, and Buddy Holly was buried on February 7 with services in Lubbock attended by thousands.
- Local historians note the crash's impact still resonates more than six decades later, marked by the Ken Paquette monument and four memorial trees at the site.
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Tuesday marks 67 years since 'The Day The Music Died'
(CBS, KYMA) - On February 3, 1959, rock 'n' roll singers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson were killed when their small plane crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa. Pilot Roger Peterson was also killed, and the day was coined as "The Day The Music Died." The three rising stars had just finished playing for about a thousand teens in Clear Lake, Iowa and were on their way to Fargo, North Dakota for another performance. The four…
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Total News Sources14
Leaning Left0Leaning Right1Center7Last UpdatedBias Distribution88% Center
Bias Distribution
- 88% of the sources are Center
88% Center
C 88%
12%
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