It started in January, 1959, and was called
The Winter Dance Party Tour. The stars of the tour were Frank Sardo, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, Dion and the Belmonts, and, of course, Buddy Holly.
The tour was a disaster from the very beginning. Extreme cold (-0s), a bus with no heat, and small venues. So it was that Buddy decided to charter a plan to get them to the next tour site. Shortly before 1am on Feb 3, 1949, the plane took off (with Buddy, Ritchie, and Bopper) into a snowstorm. The pilot, Roger Peterson, was not experienced with instrument flying-something that would have be crucial with the weather conditions.
Only eight minutes later, the plane slammed into the ground, apparently at full speed. Investigation found that the pilot most like lost his bearings in the snow, and thought he was climbing. All aboard were killed instantly.
The tour did go on, but that is for discussion after we dedicate, for the next few posts anyway, this thread to the music of these three men. (Note that some of the following links have been previously posted, but will be posted again as we remember
The Day The Music Died)
http://youtube.com/watch?v=ZaVpPXJifWI
