On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly perished in a flying accident close to Clear Lake, Iowa.
The group had been traveling via tour bus up until that fatal day as part of Holly’s band the Crickets’ “Winter Dance Party” tour across the Midwest.
Holly decided to hire a small aircraft for their next stop, Moorhead, Minnesota, following his final performance at the Surf Ballroom.
The performers were falling ill with bouts of the flu and frostbite due to the long bus rides between sites being so cold and uncomfortable.
Who died in the plane crash with Buddy Holly?
Ritchie Valens and “The Big Bopper” J.P. Richardson, two other aspiring rock and roll stars, who passed away at the same time as Buddy Holly.
A 21-year-old pilot and three aspiring musicians were also slain.
Since they were all still so young when they passed away Holly was 22; Richardson was 28; and Valens was only 17 their careers were only beginning to take off.
Interestingly, the trio wasn’t the plane’s initial group of travelers because the musicians had quarreled while in the air.
Due to the sickness, Richardson switched seats with Waylon Jennings, and Valens won the coin toss to determine who would sit where.
