ArticlesTree

The Day the Music Died

Posted by: Jennifer Jordan    Posted on: April 11, 2007


More Music Articles

Music - Expression of Emotions
We smile, we love, we cry. We, the human beings experience a wide spectrum of emotions in our life. Some of them are expressed while others die in our own mind. But from time immemorial, our emotions have been voiced through music. Music, which is composed of seven distinct tunes, is actually an expression of human emotions.

The Different Styles Of Jazz Music
There are different types of jazz music, each with their own origin and style. Jazz music is distinctly different from any other types of music and can be recognized world wide as having a uniquely American flair to it. Jazz had its beginnings in the United States but is now considered to have a fine mixture of African culture thrown in with it.

Just For Kids
Music is the essence of life and every one is in touch with this beautiful gift given to mankind. Even children also love to play music and enjoy it when they get a chance to do so. Now is the time to expose kids to the wonders of music. For this, you do not require various expensive musical instruments but children can create their own music at your home just with music software on your PC.

Win Friends & Influence People Through Music -- Is It Possible
The idea that studying music improves the social development of a child is not a new one, but at last there is incontrovertible evidence from a study conducted out of the University of Toronto. The study, published in the August issue of Psychological Science was led by Dr. E. Glenn Schellenberg, and examined the effect of extra-curricular activities on the intellectual and social development of six-year-old children.

Teaching Guitar Lessons: How to Capture Your Student's Imagination
It's tough to find someone to teach your child an instrument. It's hard to find a reputable place that has great teachers and a budget friendly program. I learned guitar in the late 1980's when hair-do's and technique were more important than substance. There was this place locally called People's Music in Queens, NY that was your run in the mill mom and pop instrument retail store.

Music & Emotions: Can Music Really Make You a Happier Person
How many times have you turned to music to uplift you even further in happy times, or sought the comfort of music when melancholy strikes Music affects us all. But only in recent times have scientists sought to explain and quantify the way music impacts us at an emotional level. Researching the links between melody and the mind indicates that listening to and playing music actually can alter how our brains, and therefore our bodies, function.

Musicians: What Chords Do You Absolutely, Positively Have To Know
As you probably know, there are thousands and thousands of different chords in music - everything from basic major chords to minor 7ths to 13ths to suspensions to poly-chords. Someday, you might want to learn all those chords if you don't already know them. But meanwhile, there are 3 chords -- just 3 -- that you absolutely, positively have to know.




No matter what generation you are from, if you're a music lover, you remember certain events: those of the Baby Boomer's generation remember where they were when Elvis died, those of Generation Jones remember where they were when John Lennon was shot, and those of the MTV Generation remember where they were when it came out that Milli Vanilli were fakes. Different generations tend to remember different things. But, there is one event - due partly to Don McLean's tribute song - that transcends eras: if you love music, then you probably know about the day it died.

The Day the Music Died is the term often used to describe a plane crash that took place on February 3, 1959 in Iowa. One of the biggest musical tragedies in history, this crash killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), and Roger Peterson, the pilot.

The events that led up to the crash were protocol in the music business. Holly, Valens, and Richardson, as well as their respective band members, were on "The Winter Dance Party" tour, a tour that was to stop in 24 Midwest cities in the span of three weeks. When they had an open date, their promoters called The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa and booked a show. The Surf Ballroom, until that spur of the moment decision, was not a scheduled stop.

When Buddy Holly arrived at the ballroom, he suggested that he and his band mates charter a plane to an airport near Moorhead, Minnesota, the destination of their next performance. Holly, and many of the other musicians, were tired of riding in the tour bus. Not only was it crowded and confining, but it also suffered a broken heating system, causing all the band members discomfort and one band member to be taken to the hospital with frostbite.

The musicians found a plane they could charter and a pilot, Roger Peterson. The plane was a Beechcraft Bonanza, a single engine aircraft with three passenger seats. Holly and Waylon Jennings had two of the original seats but The Big Bopper, having grown ill, asked Jennings to give him his seat. Jennings obliged.

Tommy Allsup, Holly's other band mate, procured the third seat but Ritchie Valens, having never flown in a small plane, asked Allsup if he could have it. Allsup agreed to a coin toss, whomever won the coin toss won the seat. Valens proved victorious, at least initially.

Dion DiMucci, the fourth act on the Winter Dance Party tour, was also offered a seat. He, however, refused, stating that the price was too high.

As for the crash itself, no one can say for sure what happened. A little after one in the morning on February 3, the plane left Mason City Municipal Airport. Peterson, at the controls, had planned to file a flight plan once he cleared the tower, but instead, he never called. Before take off was the last anyone ever heard from Peterson or the three musicians on board.

At nine a.m. that morning, Jerry Dwyer, the owner of the plane Peterson was piloting, boarded a plane to search for the missing Beechcraft Bonanza. This came after several unsuccessful attempts by Dwyer to reach Peterson.

After searching by air for only a few minutes, Dwyer spotted the plane's wreckage in a cornfield below. The plane was found at a downward angle, sloped to the right. It was estimated to be traveling 170 miles an hour when it struck the ground, rolled 570 feet, and ended up balled against a wire fence. The pilot died inside while all three musicians were thrown from the aircraft. The medical examiner concluded that all four onboard died instantly from trauma to the head.

As investigators sought to piece together what happened, they concluded poor visibility brought on by bad weather conditions played a huge role in the crash. They also believed Peterson may not have been well versed in using flight instruments and may have been used to relying on his own vision. Investigators also believed he was not given an accurate account of the severity of the weather. Had he known how bad the conditions were, he may have never taken off.

When Buddy Holly's .22 pistol was found in the cornfield a few months later, theories of foul play began to surface. However, no evidence ever supported these theories and the accident was ruled just that: an accident.

More devastating than the loss of musical talent was the loss of youth. At the times of their deaths The Big Bopper was 28, Buddy Holly was 22, Roger Peterson was 21, and Ritchie Valens was 17.

In memory of The Day the Music Died Ken Paquette, a music lover from Wisconsin, built a monument of stainless steel. The monument contains a steel guitar, and three records. It bears the names of the three musicians who perished as well as the pilot's. It is located near the sight of the crash.

A similar monument was unveiled on July 17, 2003 outside the Riverside Ballroom in Wisconsin. The River Side Ballroom was where Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper played on February 1, 1959, roughly thirty hours before the world of music changed forever.


About the Author

Jennifer Jordan is a senior editor for http://iturbocharge.com. Possessing an infatuation with pop culture - and a gift for stalking - she keeps up on the latest news of the musical world.

Source: Music Articles on ArticlesTree.com





Recent Music Articles

Ukulele Chords: Learn To Play Morning Has Broken
In this ukulele lesson you will learn to play a popular song with chords on your ukulele. I will show you with easy ukulele tablature notation how to play the chords. Let us start with the C-major chord! First of all, we will use the C-tuning in this ukulele lesson.

Musical "Madchester"
Manchester has a wide and varied music scene from Indie bands to symphony Orchestras. The Halle Orchestra and the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra are both symphony orchestras based in Manchester.

Music Business Book For Beginners
Music Business Book For Beginners Memphis, TN (GO Articles) March 29, 2008 -- IN THE RIGHT DIRECTION - A Beginner's Guide To Starting A Record Label (3rd Edition) by Samuel D. Gilleylen ; ISBN #0972304207; Future Mix Publications.

English Music Vs Hindi,Indian Music
For those of us located in the Western portion of the world, we often think of all things Eastern as being very similar to each other. However, when you are talking about Indian and Pakistani music, movies, and music videos, nothing could be farther from the truth.

Tips for Building a Professional Sound System
If you are ready to put your dreams into action and begin assembling your own professional sound system then one thing is for sure and that is that you definitely want to get it right the first time around.

The Many Benefits of a Wireless PA System
If you are currently mulling over the prospect of procuring a PA system for any reason then one of the big choices that you will have to make is whether not not to go wireless. Why go with a wireless system and what are the benefits Well, to start with they require no cables which really is a no brainier but the fact is that depending on what you are going to be using it for, this can be a major or a minor consideration.

The Latest Information on Beacon Anchor
Now there is a fully featured, self contained, professional sound system that is now available that can be set up in just minutes to service up to 5000 people. Its called the Beacon by Anchor Audio Systems and it renders all other similar sound systems obsolete for a number of reasons.

The Benefits of Wireless Microphone Systems
The fact is that more people are choosing wireless microphone systems when they select a microphone to use with their audio system and this is for a number of good reasons. Whether it is for church functions, DJ-ing parties and corporate events, musical stage work or just about anywhere a microphone is used a wireless microphone system allows for far more flexibility in a speech or performance.

The Anti Fan
"Oh Kent, you're so great, I love your new songs." I love these people! Hey, I'm human just like you are and nothing is more flattering than praise. But then there's "Dude, Kent, that set last night at the Factory sucked.

Teaching Piano Lessons For Old And Young
Learning how to play the piano may seem like a puzzle to begin with. You may feel like you will never learn how to play, especially if you plan to learn how to play in just a short period of time. Piano takes more than just a few hand movements on the keyboard.

Speaker Options for Your Portable Sound System
For sure one of the main components of any portable sound system is its speakers, for they are the workhorses of any sound system, portable or not. This is why high quality portable computer speakers are now available for someone that wants the best in sound with maximum convenience in the same package.

Some Tips on Choosing a Mobile PA System
If you are currently in the market for a mobile PA system then there are a few things that you will want to take into consideration before making your final choice. Of course one of these things that you will want to bear in mind is mobility, because after all you are looking for a mobile PA system.

Some Facts on Seville Anchor
The fact is that a lectern is required for presentations in front of any assembly if the speaker is to have any measure of integrity and their speech is of any substance. Now with the Seville Anchor audio Lectern you can quickly and expediently provide a professional appearing quality built oak lectern that also contains a top of the line audio system in it as well.

Refresh, Refresh, Refresh...uh oh, busted
In the drive to develop a perception of acceptance and a large fan base, many artists/bands are resorting to less-than-honest practices to drive up the visitor count of their social networking pages. The most notorious occurrences of this are on MySpace.

Online Guitar Lessons - Learn Easily from Free Sites
Learning electric guitar can be easy with free sites. Here are some great free websites that will help you learn electric or acoustic guitar for free:



Terms of Service