Rock History: The Day The Music Died

Fifty four years have passed, but many still refer to February 3, 1959 as the Day the Music Died. It is a day that has become infamous as we lost some early Rock & Roll legends.

On this fateful day, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and J.P. Richardson (better known as the Big Bopper) were killed along with the pilot of the single engine plane taking them from Clear Lake, Iowa to Fargo, North Dakota. They chose to fly because of heating problems that had developed on Holly's tour bus. After all, it would be more comfortable with heat, and faster too.

The Winter Dance Party Tour was to include 24 stops in 21 days. Buddy Holly booked the tour as a way to make additional money following the break up of his original band, the Crickets, the previous year. His new band, which included future country star Waylon Jennings, was along as Holly's backup group.

Jennings was to be one of the original passengers on the flight, but gave up his seat to the Big Bopper, due to the Bopper's case of the flu, which was probably related to poor conditions on the cold tour bus. Another member of Holly's band lost his seat to 17-year-old Richie Valens due to a coin flip.

Not all of the music died on that tragic day in 1959, but it definitely created a void that could never be filled.


Buddy Holly recorded Raining In My Heart in 1958, and was released posthumously as the B Side to It Doesn't Matter Anymore. Needless to say, the loss of these legends does matter to Rock History as we know it. Here's Raining In My Heart which captures the feeling we have as we remember one of the legends today.

1959 - Raining In My Heart by Buddy Holly




To find out more about it, you can read about the Day the Music Died here.

R&B Legend Remembered

Sadly, it was during this week in 1984 when we lost soul singer and dynamic live performer Jackie Wilson. He died of a massive heart attack at the age of only 49: still touring; still doing what he loved. Jackie Wilson was from Detroit and I am from the Detroit area. Perhaps I have that accident of location to thank for my musical familiarity with him.

With a voice capable of bordering on operatic, this super talented soul legend could sing ballads capable of bringing a person to teas, and he often did. Yet, known as Mr. Excitement, he could also belt out an R&B classic, destined to become a top 40 smash as well. And aren't we glad he chose to do just that, time and again?

On my rock history twitter feed I've featured Higher and Higher as well as Whisper's Gettin' Louder, two of his later and biggest hits. But now let's take it back a bit further to my own favourite Jackie Wilson record.

1959 - That's Why (I Love You So) by Jackie Wilson



That's another Classic Track LookBack. See ya next time.