On Feb. 3, 1959, at the height of their careers, American rock and roll legends Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and The Big Bopper, as well as their pilot, Roger Peterson, died in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa as they were doing a 24-concert tour in the Midwest. In observance of their deaths, Feb. 3 has been designated The Day the Music Died.
Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper were among the top artists of their generation: the 50s. However, these musicians are still recognized today for their work in the industry. Continue reading below to learn about what these rock and roll legends were best known for.
Buddy Holly
Charles Hardin Holley, known professionally as Buddy Holly, was, according to Biography, “the biggest star of the bunch, known for such hits as ‘That’ll Be the Day’ and ‘Peggy Sue.’” Holly was a pioneering figure in the world of rock and roll music in the mid-1950s, with a style that was influenced by gospel music, country music and rhythm and blues. He was born to a musical family and decided on professionally becoming a musician when he opened for Elvis Presley — three times — in 1955. While Holly died at the young age of 22, he is regarded as the artist who defined the traditional rock-and-roll lineup of two guitars, bass and drums. Holly was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1986.
Richie Valens
Richard Steven Valenzuela, known professionally as Richie Valens, was an American singer-songwriter and guitarist of Mexican descent. Valens was considered a forefather of the Chicano rock movement, a style of rock music that derives from Mexican culture and themes, and a Spanish-speaking rock and roll pioneer. Adapted from a Mexican folk song, Valens is best known for his song “La Bamba,” which is still commonly played today and has been covered by a variety of artists including Los Lobos and was the title track for the 1987 film of the same name. While Valens died at the young age of 17, he lives on through his music and continues to inspire Hispanic individuals who are interested in pursuing music.
The Big Bopper
The third musician to be killed in the plane crash was American musician, singer, songwriter and disc jockey Jiles Perry “J. P.” Richardson Jr, better known as The Big Bopper. The Big Bopper was known for his compositions “Chantilly Lace” — still considered a timeless rock song — and “White Lightning.” He was also known for his country-flavored rock and roll style. The Big Bopper was 28 years old when he died.
Don McLean’s “American Pie”
While Feb. 3 is regarded as The Day the Music Died because of the deaths of these legendary musicians, their deaths actually inspired more music to be written and produced. In 1971, Don McLean, an American singer-songwriter, released a song titled “American Pie,” which was partly inspired by the deaths of Holly, Valens and The Big Bopper. According to James E. Perrone in his book “Smash Hits: The 100 Songs That Defined America,” “American Pie,” a folk-rock “cultural touchstone,” is a song that has, as the words suggest, touched the hearts of many listeners. While McLean did not confirm suspicions that “American Pie” was partly inspired by The Day the Music Died, he said in an interview in 1978 that the song was sort of autobiographical, presenting an abstract story of his life. Regardless of the song’s origins, when McLean sings, “Something touched me deep inside / The day the music died,” many individuals remember the musicians and pilot who died Feb. 3, 1959, keeping them alive through music.
