February 3, 1959
The Day the Music Died
Their last tour was the Winter Dance Party of 1959. The tour was
scheduled to play in remote locations throughout the midwest United States,
and that area was suffering a harsh winter.
The bus provided to the musicians had engine problems and no heating
system. J.P. Richardson had caught the flu. When the tour rolled into the
Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake Iowa,
Buddy Holly chartered a plane to fly his band to the next gig in Fargo ND.
The Bopper approached Buddys bassist, Waylon Jennings, and asked Jennings
for his seat on the plane, so that he could get some rest and a doctors
appointment. Waylon agreed and gave his seat to the Bopper, a decision that
saved his life, but killed the Bopper, Waylon would feel guilty for this for
some time. Master of Ceremonies Bob Hale flipped the coin between Ritchie
Valens and Tommy Allsup to see who would take the last seat. Ritchie Valens
won the toss and lost his life. Tommy Allsup would later open up a club
called the "The Heads up Saloon". The plane took off from Mason
City Airport around one o'clock the morning of February 3rd, 1959, and
crashed 8 miles after takeoff, Killing J.P., Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens,
and the pilot Roger Peterson. At the time of his death, Richardson was 28
years old, Buddy Holly was 22, and Ritchie Vallens was only 17. "If
there's a Rock and Roll Heaven, then you know they got a hell of a Band"
Until next time, May God Bless
Copyright © 2012 by Vern Oblisk, All Rights Reserved.
