History Rock & Roll Radio History: THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED, Feb. 3, 1959...

Wow. "...mop-headed assholes..."? Seriously? Frank Sinatra said "Something" was the most beautiful love song ever written, but what did he know, right? For all their perceived faults there was clearly exponential talent within. Do I love them beyond all else? Was I too a star gazed youngster wanting to emulate that whole "thing"? Not really. The passing of music legends through tragic or otherwise untimely loss is always a bad thing but I can't see it as a reason for something else that must be less. I wasn't old enough to know about the loss of Buddy Holly because I'm a 57 model, but I clearly remember the event that the Ed Sullivan Show was when the "mop-headed asholes" appeared. All of my cousins and 3 of my maternal aunts made a big party of it at our house. And I knew Skynard would be mentioned here as well with similar lament, yet I could die a happy man if I never heard another Skynard hit for the rest of my days. Clearly radio play has much to do with that combined with an army of posers who claimed lifelong dedication and love for them, simply because they were lost in an untimely and tragic fashion. It was hip to be an all in fan, maybe like how an artist's paintings might gain value postmortem. Yet to this day, I can't change the station fast enough when those 1st organ riffs of "Free Bird" begin to pollute my stereo speakers. I also swap stations in swift fashion when Bob Seger, The Eagles or Kid Rock (especially "Summertime"!) get played. Sometimes too much is too much.

Then again maybe I'm not the one to say much about music in general let alone the loss or intro of any particular genre. This coming from a fan of The Black Eyed Peas, Eminem, Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Iron Butterfly, Led Zeppelin, Tim Tam And The Turn Ons, The Four Seasons, Link Wray, 311, Badfinger, Aerosmith, Green Day, The Beatles, Les Paul and Mary Ford, Sergio Mendez, The Knack, The Pretenders, Tito And The Tarantulas, shit, when I see this myself I'm a fuckin mess when it comes to music. I guess I'll never subscribe to the idea of "...the music died..." because I've always found it to be as varied, eclectic, unique, and individual as hot rods and customs. No 2 artists or songs should ever be the same regardless of genre (tributes and covers notwithstanding). Or maybe like Cypress Hill says, I'm just "Insane In The Brain"...?

 

never to be forgotten - in large part because of people like Jonnie King

 

I remember the day as if it was yesterday., I got home from school My Sister was crying and Said Buddy died and Richey , We turned on the televison and watch. Sad day indeed

 

Jalopy Joker...
Thanks so very much for the kind words. Also, it's those like yourself that add to every story by sharing your time here on the H.A.M.B.

Donald A. Smith...
Memories like yours always stay with you...it's the same with me. Thanks for the story.

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

What would nostalgia be without something to look back on? These three icons will be forever frozen in time, at the peak of their talent. That's the way they will always be remembered. They will never grow old, get fat, become an embarrasing footnote playing concerts at the indian casinos, and staging their 27th annual farewell concert tour. Even if you are too young to remember them, listening to their music takes you back to a better time and place.

 

I guess I should have also said I do and always have enjoyed their contributions to something all of us here have in common, that being traditional hot rods and all that relates to them. Clearly they did and still do give additional pleasure to that. I'd hate to think that some might think I was dissin on the loss of some great talent. I wasn't. I too wish to express thanks for sharing the memories and what they meant to so many.

 

I've wondered if Mr. Holley would have eventually ditched the suit and rape prevention glasses, grew his hair out and started dropping acid and talking schitt about the gubbmint. Hm.

 

There are two versions of La Bomba. The long version is spectacular. He was only 17. What would he have produced except for a stupid pilot? I still play him a lot.

 

Thanks for posting this again Jonnie, it comes around every year and every year we read and listen to the reports, and they're still interesting, and we ponder What if.................

 

Yeah, I understood it was Hollywood fluff, but it sparks the interest, and you then go looking to learn more.

Is this the longest time taken to reply to a comment ? (3 years 1 day)

 

37hotrod...
Amen to that. Like Marilyn Monroe, James Dean, and, Elvis...Buddy, Richie, and, J.P., are locked-into that time period. Forever.
http://www.legends.thewwbc.net/gpage149.html

Thank you,

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

What's neat about the internet, how searching for information can lead to other interesting side avenues. The plane carrying the three musicians that crashed was a Beechcraft Bonanza, aka "Fork Tailed Doctor Killer", known for getting inexperienced pilots in trouble. Singer/crooner Jim Reeves was killed in one, and also Randy Rhoads, a rock and roll guitarist. The latter wasn't an accident so much as stupidity, the pilot was buzzing the bands tour bus and clipped a wing off.
Johnny Horton was killed by a drunk driver in November, 1960 and his career was starting to take off.

 

theHIGHLANDER,
Thanks for your comments. I know you were only speaking your thoughts...and, the H.A.M.B. members all have a right to different views. Some will be positive; some negative...no matter what the subject matter is. And there's nothing wrong with that.

After over 48 years in radio, I've worked in many different formats: Top 40, Album Oriented Rock, Pop, Adult Rock, MOR, Oldies, Smooth Jazz. Wore "many hats": Air Personality, Music Director, Program Director, Research Director, Program Syndicator. And, the one thing that's always a "constant" is: no matter what city you're in, what your format is , or, what music you play on your station...not everybody will agree with you. And that's okay, because they have a right to "like what they like"...even if it's not what's being played on the station I'm with. I respect that.

Thanks again. Your's, and all other Posters comments, are always welcome,

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

I don't know the whole story, but I understand the tour bus broke down and thats why they had to fly. this pic this supposed to the bus that broke down. it's in W.Pa. and I ain't sayin' where.

 

I believe it was only the buses heating that was broke. JW

 

perfect20...
You're welcome ! And, you're right. It's amazing how many listen to their music/songs everyday...and I'm really glad to see their influence and talent appreciated by many younger fans. It truly shows their lasting power, and the fact that they were good to begin with.
http://www.legends.thewwbc.net/gpage149.html

BTW: Your car pix are very good ! Would love to come to Scotland someday and check-out some of those historic castles that are left. Do they ever have car shows/car cruises on castle grounds ?

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

You just don't get it, do you?

 

Truck6...
Yes, we've lost many singers/musicians that tragically died in car & plane accidents, including the great young Rockabilly star Eddie Cochran, the Legendary Rick Nelson, the one-and-only early Pioneer Hank Williams, Sr., among others.

NOTE: Eddie Cochran sang one of my favorites, "Twenty Flight Rock", in the first real Major Motion Picture "Rock & Roll" Movie: "The Girl Can't Help It". Ironically, the beautiful-blonde-bombshell, Jayne Mansfield, who was the star of that film, was also killed in a car accident , just as Cochran had met his death, seven year's after Cochran.

Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Hank died in a car, but not in an auto accident.

 

barryvanhook,
You're right about that. (It's been a long week !) But, I forgot to mention Patsy Cline, Jim Croce, Harry Chapin, and, John Denver...all still had good year's ahead of them.
http://www.legends.thewwbc.net/gpage149.html
Thanks,
Jonnie www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Let's add Stevie Ray Vaughn to the list. Helicopter crash in Alpine Valley, WI.

 

And Marc Bolan, the inverter of Glam Rock, but these are getting out of what this thread is about. JW

 

I will take the thread back on track with the most obscure, worthless bit of Ritchie Valens trivia. Bob Keene, the owner of Del-Fi Records had a recording studio at his house. Some of Ritchie's stuff was recorded there. There was a next door neighbor who would stick his head out the door and whistle for his kids to come home. If you listen to his first album, carefully, you can hear the guy whistle. I should hook up my turntable and find out where it is, but it's there during a short lull in the music.
I told you it was the most trivial of all trivia

 

That's cool history right there. Would love to know what album and track it is. JW

 

February 3, 1959 is the day the music died but 2016 is the year the music died. So many musicians have passed since the beginning of the year.

 

Well, it ain't February anymore, but this just popped up on my youtube recommended list. About sums it up:

 

TO ALL MY FRIENDS HERE ON THE H.A.M.B...

It's been 58 years since this true tragedy occurred. But it still affects each & everyone of us who love music, cruise to it in our R&C's, and remember the day it happened: February 3, 1959.

For those of you who are younger, and didn't live through it as many of us did, you've since heard the story, and heard the music of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and, The Big Bopper, through the years.

So, as I mentioned when I first started this thread, a few years ago I was going through my Audio Archives and uncovered a tape of an original news bulletin that was actually broadcast on-the-air at the time of the accident.

LET ME STATE AT THE OUTSET...It's not very long...but it is very important to the History Of Rock & Roll Radio & Music...and I wanted to share it with you. It's something I'll never forget.

Just CLICK-ON-THIS-LINK to listen. http://www.legends.thewwbc.net/gpage149.html

BTW: What are YOUR Memories of that time period when you heard the news...if you're old enough to have been there with some of us ? Let us know !

Jonnie
www.legends.thewwbc.net

 

Hi Jonnie!
I was only eleven when the music died and only just beginning to develop an appreciation of rock and roll and it's many artists. I think it was later in the year when I was made aware of this sad day by my best friend who lived across the street. He brought out a recently-bought Holly and the Crickets album and told me the story.
I can also pass along another experience related by a fellow member of a now-defunct online hotrod forum a number of years ago: This guy, at age 12, lived in Eau Claire, Wisconsin and his older cousin's band, "The Thundermen" were going to be the opening act for the Monday Jan. 26th gig for the tour at Fournier's Ballroom. Our member recalled how he had a very bad cold at the time and the weather was equally bad and his Mom wouldn't let him go. Apparently she told him, "You can see them another time when they come back this way". As he told us, "Sometimes a mother's love fails". Thanks for bringing this thread back again Jonnie! Regards, Dave.

 

I remember that day like it was yesterday!
Long live Buddy Holley.
Long live Rock & Roll.

 

Dave...
Wow ! That's such a wonderful story. And, that quote was right...tragically so. But the good thing that came out of it for you was the "timing" of your friend's buying that album and sharing it & the music with you...a memory that you've had all of these years.
Thank you, Dave.
Jonnie
www.legends.thewwbc.net