The Day The Music Died: Buddy Holly, J.P "Big Bopper" Richardson and Ritchie Valens

          The Day The Music Died


     On Feburary 3rd, 1959 is known as "The Day The Music Died" and there is a really good reason for that because the world lost 3 music legends in a tragic plane crash. Buddy Holly(22yrs old), J.P "Big Bopper" Richardson(28yrs old) and the youngest of the 3 stars Richard Valenzuela A.K.A Ritchie Valens(17yrs old). As we remember them on the 61st anniversary I want to reflect on these guys because not only did they have some pretty cool hits but they also opened doors for so many people in the music industry.
   Now I know many of our readers are probably wondering "what could she possible know about these guys or she is too young to write about this". Well you are right I am young and this did happen 24yrs before I was born however I had an amazing mother that taught me so much about music and gave me so much advice on being openminded about every genre of music to the point that we don't care about genre's, we care about the story. I think people has heard the story of the plane crash or maybe they did not depending on how deep your love goes for music but this story has actually always been one that I thought was very interesting to a point. So lets get right to it!

  Buddy Holly of Lubbock, Texas was an American singer, songwriter and musician. He became famous in the 1950's in the Rock and Roll era along with Elvis Presley and many other music icons with hits that included "Peggy Sue. Crying, Waiting, hoping and Everyday" among many other songs.

   

Photo by Van Dyck 

J.P Richardson also known as "Big Bopper" of Sabine Pass, Texas was an American singer, Song writer and disc jockey.  His best known compositions include "Chantilly Lace" and "White Lightning", the latter of which became George Jones first #1 hit in 1959.




 

  Richard Valenzuela also known as Ritchie Valens of Los Angeles, Ca. was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist. A rock and roll pioneer and a forefather of the Chicano rock movement. Valen's recording career only lasted 8 months and abruptly ended when his life was cut short by a plane crash. However in that short time he had several hits such as Donna, La Bamba and Come On, Let's Go. 

       As I sit and listen to these 3 guys on their 61st anniversary, I can not help to wonder what else they had to offer the music world but at the same time I am extremely grateful for the music that they left the world with. May they be at peace and their memories continue to carry on and influence the new generations of artists.

         ♡Debbie♡