In an Iowa corn field 52 years ago today, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, The Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson died in a tragic plane crash. Spared that night was Waylon Jennings who surrendered his seat to The Big Bopper, and backup musician Tommy Allsup by losing a coin flip with Valens for the other plane seat (In 1979, Allsup opened a Fort Worth nightclub called “Tommy’s Heads Up Saloon” as a tribute to his luck that night). It truly was a fateful night.

R.I.P. gentlemen – you’re music lives on, as Don McLean celebrates with his much interpreted/misinterpreted “American Pie”….

And if you want a taste of the music that died…

Buddy Holly

Richie Valens

The Big Bopper