The Day the Music Died

It was 60 years ago today that a small chartered airplane carrying Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and J.D. “The Big Bopper” Richardson crashed outside of Clear Lake, Iowa.  They were flying in a snowstorm and the pilot of the aircraft an inexperienced bad-weather flyer.  The pilot also perished.

This was the first pop music air tragedy, but there have been numerous others.  Patsy Cline, Jim Croce, members of the Lynyrd Skynyrd band, Otis Redding, and John Denver are among those who have died in plane crashes.  Some other musical celebrities have died in crashes involving helicopters.  

Don McLean's 1972 release "American Pie" is a lament over the deaths.  McLean maintains that the song is about America and the loss of innocence.  Maybe.  But there is no song without the events of sixty years ago.  

R.I.P Ritchie, Buddy and Bopper.