FEBRUARY 03, 1959... Within minutes of takeoff from the Mason City, IA Airport, at around 1:00 AM CST, the chartered Beech-Craft Bonanza airplane No. N3794N containing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper crashes into the Iowa countryside, killing all three in addition to pilot Roger Peterson. The plane, headed for the next "Winter Dance Party" tour stop in Fargo, ND, had been chartered by Holly in order for the band members to travel in heated comfort and to arrive early for their next gig.
When he learns that band member Waylon Jennings, who would eventually become a country star in his own right, has decided to take the freezing bus instead, Holly jokes, "Well, I hope your old bus freezes up." Jennings jokes back, "Well, I hope your plane crashes." Another Holly band member, Tommy Allsup, flips Valens for the last available seat, losing the coin toss. Valens exclaims, "That's the first time I've won anything in my life!"
Pilot Peterson, not having been informed of worsening weather conditions, decides to fly "on instruments," meaning without visual confirmation of the horizon, which leads to the crash. The tragedy was later immortalized as "The Day The Music Died" by Don McLean in his famous song "American Pie."
When he learns that band member Waylon Jennings, who would eventually become a country star in his own right, has decided to take the freezing bus instead, Holly jokes, "Well, I hope your old bus freezes up." Jennings jokes back, "Well, I hope your plane crashes." Another Holly band member, Tommy Allsup, flips Valens for the last available seat, losing the coin toss. Valens exclaims, "That's the first time I've won anything in my life!"
Pilot Peterson, not having been informed of worsening weather conditions, decides to fly "on instruments," meaning without visual confirmation of the horizon, which leads to the crash. The tragedy was later immortalized as "The Day The Music Died" by Don McLean in his famous song "American Pie."
FEBRUARY 03, 1966...Paul McCartney meets Stevie Wonder for the first time after Wonder's show at London's Scotch Of St. James nightclub.
FEBRUARY. 03, 1969...Beatles John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr hire Allen Klein as the group's new manager, against the express wishes of Paul McCartney, who preferred his father-in-law Lee Eastman. The dissension would prove to be the deciding factor in the group's breakup a year later.
FEBRUARY 03, 1978...Harry Chapin meets with US President Jimmy Carter to discuss the world hunger situation.
FEBRUARY. 03, 1969...Beatles John Lennon, George Harrison, and Ringo Starr hire Allen Klein as the group's new manager, against the express wishes of Paul McCartney, who preferred his father-in-law Lee Eastman. The dissension would prove to be the deciding factor in the group's breakup a year later.
FEBRUARY 03, 1978...Harry Chapin meets with US President Jimmy Carter to discuss the world hunger situation.
***DAVE DAVIES of THE KINKS is 63
***DENNIS EDWARDS of THE TEMPTATIONS is 67
***MELANIE is 63
***LEE RANALDO of SONIC YOUTH is 54
Actress: BLYTHE DANNER is 67
Comedian: SHELLY BERMAN is 84
Actor: THOMAS CALABRO of MELROSE PLACE is 51
Actress: MICHELE GREENE of L.A. LAW is 48
Actress: MAURA TIERNEY of ER is 45
Actress; MORGAN FAIRCHILD of FLAMINGO ROAD is 60
