On this date in 1959, the small charter plane carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. (The Big Bopper) Richardson crashes near Mason City, Iowa while flying to a show in Fargo, North Dakota.
(link to original news report from Lubbock, Texas -
http://www.buddyhollyarchives.com/crash1.shtml)
This event is widely accepted as the meaning of Don McLean's lyrics "the day the music died" from
American Pie, and is the focal point of an annual festival in Mason City honoring Buddy Holly.
(link to the meaning of
American Pie -
http://www.whrc-wi.org/americanpie.htm)
(link to the Surf Ballroom -
http://www.surfballroom.com/html/50sinfeb.html)
Farewell, Buddy....