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The facts are these: Just after 1 a.m. February 3, 1959, a three-passenger Beechcraft Bonanza went down about five miles northwest of Mason City Municipal Airport, near Clear Lake, Iowa. The plane crash took the lives of the pilot, Roger Peterson, and three musicians: Charles Hardin Holley, better known as Buddy Holly, 22; Ritchie Valens (originally Valenzuela), 17; and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, 28.
What's incredible about that story was that Waylon Jennings did not get on that fateful plane on that day. That ended up being a great story for country music and what became the Outlaw movement, at least in that sense. Imagine if those who perished had lived instead --- where would those people have been had it not happened, and what they'd have done for music? We'll never know.
The rest wouldn't have been much, musically, as they really weren't in the first place. Holly may have ended up arguably the best ever - and despite a shortened resume, is still considered up there - one of the all-time true rock n roll greats.
What's incredible about that story was that Waylon Jennings did not get on that fateful plane on that day. That ended up being a great story for country music and what became the Outlaw movement, at least in that sense. Imagine if those who perished had lived instead --- where would those people have been had it not happened, and what they'd have done for music? We'll never know.
As it happened other voices emerged and the legacy continues.
What's incredible about that story was that Waylon Jennings did not get on that fateful plane on that day. That ended up being a great story for country music and what became the Outlaw movement, at least in that sense. Imagine if those who perished had lived instead --- where would those people have been had it not happened, and what they'd have done for music? We'll never know.
It was a coin flip between Ritchie Valens and Tommy Allsup that put Valens on that plane.
I toured the studio which still exists today, when I lived near Clovis. A not miss tour if you are a Buddy Holly fan. Kenneth Broad walked me through. There was a guy sweeping the walk outside that he called in...he sang back-up vocals on on of Buddys songs can't remember which...a very personal touring experience.
I heard that Paul McCartney funds the preservation of that landmark.
I worked at the local sign company in Clovis that helped build the facade. I left for Ohio for family matters but stopped back at Clovis Sign last August, a great place that I worked at to see the assemblage that was to be installed. Nice....Cleveland doesn't have it all!
As an aside, the weather sucks here in Ohio. I grew up here, but I miss Texas and New Mexico....nice folks there...common courtesy to spare.
Newmex is right. I've been there twice. The recording studio is really cool. I visited it first in 1988. Norman's wife Vi showed everyone the different rooms, the equipment is really cool. There are RIAA record awards all over the place with other groups that Petty produced. One of my favorite posters on the New Mexico forum, Clairz, told me that Norman's kids keep it open on an appointment basis.
A real treat is in August in Clovis when the Buddy Holly sock hop happens. I've seen some great people there, a couple show favorites being Bobby Vee, and also the Fireballs, who originally are from Raton, New Mexico. I recommend paying it a visit-you'd love it.
Hey, Is Tommy Allsup related to the Allsup convenience store empire equipped with the fryer bins that made you walk out of there after buying gas and beer smelling like you spent a shift working at McD's?
Welcome to City-Data.com forum! Make sure to register - it's free and very quick! You have to register before you can post and participate in our discussions with 700,000 other registered members. User profiles and some forums can only be seen by registered members. After you create your free account you will be able to customize many options, you will have the full access to over 15,000 posts/day about local topics and you will see fewer ads. 
News Video, 'The day the music died'? Hardly.
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