50 Years Ago - "The Day The Music Died"

[BDBopper]

50 years ago, February 3rd, 1959, in an icy cornfield near Mason City, IA a small plane crashed that abruptly ended the careers (and lives) of JP "The Big Bopper" Richardson, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly. Don McClean would call it "The Day The Music Died." While their music has not died and lives on it signaled the beginning of the end of the first generation of Rock N' Roll. Elvis was in the Army, Jerry Lee Lewis was scandalized, Chuck Berry would soon be arrested, Little Richard had found religion, and the establishment was preparing to take Rock N' Roll down with the Payola trials a few years later.

What great music they blessed our lives with. They are truly missed. May they continue to rest in peace!

http://i23.photobucket.com/albums/b359/BDBopper/TheDayThemusicDied.jpg

[Kevy Baby]

I always wonder what may have been.

[Alex]

Well, if the crash hadn't happened then mention of their names probably wouldn't make me think of John Candy, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Gary Busey.

(though mostly when Buddy Holly is mentioned my first thought goes to an episode of Quantum Leap but that might have happened regardless)

[BDBopper]

I always wonder what may have been.

Me too. We do have some clues. The Big Bopper was working on an idea that would not take off until a few decades later, the music video. Ritchie Valens was progressing toward Surf (based on his instrumental work), and Buddy Holly was completely expanding his musical horizons. I think he recognized where popular music was going and was moving in that direction. The sky was the limit for Holly. One can only wonder how far he would have gone if he had not died in the plane crash.

[Alex]

The sky was the limit for Holly. One can only wonder how far he would have gone if he had not died in the plane crash.

Man, I already used my non-serious response allotment for this thread. But still, for those two sentences:

1. Yes it was, quite literally so.

2. At least as far as Moorhead, Minnesota.

[BDBopper]

Man, I already used my non-serious response allotment for this thread. But still, for those two sentences:

1. Yes it was, quite literally so.

2. At least as far as Moorhead, Minnesota.

Hee Hee Good ones! :D

[mousepod]

Listening to a Buddy Holly collection now. Damn, he had some great songs.

[Kevy Baby]

(though mostly when Buddy Holly is mentioned my first thought goes to an episode of Quantum Leap but that might have happened regardless)Piggy Suey

[Tref]

I always wonder what may have been.

Well, for starters we would have never been subjected to the music of Don Mclean.