Today is :-

The Day The Music Died !

The Day the Music Died Day commemorates the untimely death of singers Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and the Big Bopper. 

These three Rock singers died in an airplane crash on February 3, 1959. at the height of their popularity.

Every generation has their music idols. These three were among the top of the 1950's generation. Those who grew up in the fifties mourned the premature deaths of their music idols. 

Facts about the incident :-

• Singer Waylon Jennings had originally intended to be on the plane that evening, but he gave up his seat to an ailing Big Bopper. Holly and Jennings joked around prior to take-off, with Jennings jesting that he hoped the plane crashed. That remark would haunt Jennings for the rest of his life, causing him to feel responsible for the crash.

• The 'Winter Party Tour' organizers in order to save money, only had one backing band for all the acts to use. This band belonged to Buddy Holly, all of whom were recent arrivals after his acrimonious split with The Crickets in 1958.

• The pilot that evening was Roger Peterson, a 21-year-old not prepared to handle such a major flight in poor weather conditions and relying solely on eyesight. Peterson had also failed his instrument tests, especially since he was trained with the incorrect equipment to begin with.

• The plane crashed just six miles away from the airport in Mason City where they took off. 

• Legendary teen rocker Dion DiMucci was offered a seat on the plane, but he balked at the fee everyone boarding had to pay. Just imagine if Dion had decided to pay the money. His biggest hits were still ahead of him.

• Eddie Cochran was the first music star to record a tribute song about 'The Day the Music Died,' with the song 'Three Stars.' It wasn't released until 1972, 13 years after Cochran's death in a car accident. More famously, Don McLean scored a No. 1 smash hit with his epic 1972 song 'American Pie.' Ironically, both songs were released by United Artists Records mere months apart.