This channel strives for accuracy and takes pride in presenting unbiased facts, but mistakes can happen. I’m truly grateful for an audience that takes the time to provide constructive feedback, which has helped bring the following errors in this video to our attention. 1:48 - The photo shown is of Crickets drummer Jerry Allison, not Carl Bunch, when referring to the frostbite incident. 2:58 - A clearer distinction between Dion's solo hits and those with The Belmonts' -- Some of Dion & The Belmonts' key hits include "I Wonder Why" (1958), "No One Knows" (1958), "A Teenager in Love" (1959), and "Where or When" (1960). Dion's success with "Runaround Sue" and later "The Wanderer" came after he went solo in 1961.
There was also another legacy of this tragic crash. As shown in the 1987 hit movie La Bamba about Ritchie Valens and his rise to stardom and then sudden death, back then it was common practice for media outlets to announce things like this in breaking news. We saw how Ritchie's family reacted in the movie, and in real life Buddy Holly's mother heard of her son's death on the radio and she collapsed. Worse though was Holly's wife who saw a television news bulletin announcing her husband's death. She was pregnant and the shock caused a miscarriage. From this tragedy on it became practice that the families of the deceased would be notified before any names were released in the media.
@@Verge63 Absolutely, your observation is spot on. The music industry can be tough, and artists like Buddy Holly faced financial challenges that led them to make decisions they might not have otherwise. It's heartbreaking to think about the struggles Buddy Holly endured, and the Winter Dance Party tour, which was meant to help alleviate some of those financial pressures, ultimately became a tragic chapter in music history. The desire for artists to have control over their work and earn fair compensation is something that resonates across the industry. Buddy Holly's legacy serves as a reminder of both the passion and challenges that musicians face in pursuit of their art. Thanks for highlighting this important aspect of his story. 🎸🎶
Waylon Jennings was haunted by this tragedy for the rest of his life. Just before Holly Valens and Richardson boarded the plane, Holly jokingly taunted him, "I hope your bus breaks down again," to which Jennings wryly replied "I hope your plane crashes."
I can only imagine how much he was haunted Kevin! … Thanks for watching the video and commenting 😊 … Both are appreciated! I ran across what you wrote of in my research, and thought about including it in the video, but did not want it to possibly sound morbid. Out of respect for these three Legends.
@@williamlove3087 yeah im sure he regretted ever uttering those words even though Waylon & Buddy were just busting each other chops before Buddy left 😔
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 your right Waylon Jennings has mentioned it in interviews...he was haunted by the words he said to Buddy Holly.....it goes to show you becareful what you say even in a joking manner you never know what might happen........he was haunted by it untill the day he died.
Wow and Wow!!! I loved this video. Now at 74, I grew up dancing and singing to the music of these guys and many more. Thank you for the memories... Really great!
Thanks so much Elizabeth!! So happy for all the happy memories this one brought back! There was something so magical about that time in music that just hasn’t been replicated!
@@chiasanzes9770 That's an interesting perspective! The Surf Ballroom indeed holds a significant place in music history, especially due to the tragic events surrounding the Winter Dance Party tour. The idea of it being haunted adds another layer of intrigue to the story. Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the emotions and memories tied to that historic venue are undeniable. It's fascinating how places can carry the energy and echoes of the past. Thanks for sharing this eerie yet captivating aspect of the Surf Ballroom's legacy.
@@leorios4335 Haha, fair enough! Whether haunted or not, the Surf Ballroom's history is undeniably rich and full of stories. Different perspectives make it all the more interesting! 😊👻
Thanks for watching & your comment George! I can’t imagine how you must have felt on that first day back to school with such a feeling of helplessness as so many must have felt. I hope you still re-visit their music with fond memories.
This is truly a sad time for those who lived it. Don McLean The Day the music died. It was a great loss when Ritchie Valens, the Big bopper, and Buddy Holly died. This song will live forever it has come this far. 🌹🌹🌹
Such a well put together video about a very historically significant story. I grew up in the same town as Ritchie Valens and lived only a couple miles away from his memorial. I used to visit it on a regular basis, and actually got to go back again just recently. All three of these stars had such a positive impact on my life and I really wish people talked about them more because they really changed SO much about how we listen to music. Fantastic video! :)
I appreciate you so much NationSquid for your thoughtful comment! I think it’s cool you grew up in the same town as Ritchie & could visit his memorial (I would love to visit one day soon) Even though I didn’t grow up in the time of these Legends they definitely had an impact on my life, my dad’s & his brother who still has some old 45’s! Their love for music inspired me to create this video in hopes of honoring them, keeping their music & story alive! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch & share your feedback - it truly means a lot! I also really dig your channel, and subscribed to show you support!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Thanks, friend! I enjoy your channel too! I love the documentary style you have going on, and I love that you used that craft to cover a story that's not talked about a lot on TH-cam and not a lot of young people know about. I look forward to more of your content. Keep up the great work! :)
@@nationsquid Thank you, my friend! … I appreciate you taking the time to comment, and for leaving such a nice comment at that 😊 … I have another documentary video I’m working on, but I work full time during the day so it’s slower in coming than I would like. Do appreciate you!!! And am looking forward to seeing more of your content as well!
Good video. The story I've heard and read is that before the flight Buddy Holly jokingly told Waylon Jennings, "Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up!" Jennings jokingly replied, "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes!" This last conversation with him haunted him for years. He named his third child Buddy after Buddy Holly.
Hi Rich … Thank You! … I appreciate you watching the video and taking the time to comment! According to my research, you are exactly correct 😊 … I did not include this in the video (but thought about it). I also did not include any explicit photos of the crash. Both out of respect and the desire not to be too morbid. In honor of these three great legends. I don’t recall seeing where Waylon named his third child after Buddy - thanks for that information! … I can only imagine how much those words must have haunted Waylon … so many times we say such things in jest, of course not knowing the outcome. Thanks again for your support!
Thanks so much for the awesome feedback, John!! I’m so happy you took the time to watch it & leave a comment. I was hoping to help viewers discover or re-discover these talented musicians’ music. Enjoy listening to all the hits of this great Rock n’ Roll era!
A terribly sad tragedy for so many lives…it was a great change of pace to listen to nothing but 50’s music for a month while making this one!! I didn’t realize a few hits I knew were by Buddy…and for Ritche Valens: only 17 with all 3 hits on the charts, who’s career only lasted a total of 8 months…so sad not to be able to hear what all these legends would have created next!
Thanks for watching, your comment & all the support!! I bet it was terribly hard for so many, not just the families & friends of the Legends…their music & personalities touched so many lives…I know they did mine!! ❤️
Great video. However It's pretty well confirmed that Dion was lying. Buddy offered the seats to Waylon Jennings & Tommy Allsup. Dion never mentioned his story until many years later until many of the people who were there at night died. Even his bandmates don't back up his story.
Thanks so much Arlo!! I really appreciate you watching & your comment! When doing all my research, I was going back & forth on Dion’ version of events who mentioned in one interview that *he* flipped a or *the* coin however, Tommy’s version was much different…and you’re right, I think Dion’s now one of the more prominent remaining survivors from that tour, so not too many to refute his version. Thanks again for all the support!
Worth noting that Allsop and Jennings stories both work with each other, and they were told independent of each other. They also told this story many many times over the course of many many years and it never changed. Allsop even went back to the Surf and walked through the building pointing out exactly where and when this stuff went down. Another detail is the story about Allsop’s ID. According to Allsop he had lost the toss with Ritchie and then walked outside to tell buddy about the change in plans, Allsop asks Buddy to pick up a package for him in Moorhead, and buddy, grabs Allsops wallet with the ID in it and drives off. At the crash site the next morning, they find that ID, 4 bodies and 5 IDs. It seems weird to think that Allsop would slip that little nugget of truth into an otherwise complete and utter lie. It’s a precedent that Allsop was telling the truth. Dion has told his story maybe twice, and both iterations and slightly different. Dion, great musician, completely full of shit.
@@TLO129 I agree, but then, those movies both spread a lot of BS too... for instance, in the movie LaBamba, Richie calls his manager and tells him that he's sick and the manager asks him to come home, to which Richie says he will stay on the tour... According to people who were there, the Manager's answer was "Either you finish the tour, or you can WALK home!" (Of course, had they put that in the movie, mr Manager would have most likely sued the production company, for libel.)
@@shoknifeman2mikado135 I agree also with you guys and I think in LaBamba movie that the bob tells Ritchie that if he does well on his tour that the convertible he is driving will be his but his aunt on tv years later said she knew of no mention of him getting a new car and that it was Hollywood bullshit the movie was very good but you had to research it to see what was true and what wasn't
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Locals were there (the owner of the SURF at the time, and Dwyer the airplane service owner for two) and their story matched the fact that the plane was booked originally for Buddy WAYLON and Alsup.
Thanks so much for taking the time to watch the video, and your kind comment Edith! … Both are much appreciated. I also appreciate you subscribing to the channel and your support!! I am working on another video now - I hope to have it on the channel soon. Thanks again, it’s great having comments from such good people!
Thanks so much guys! We really appreciate you & your support as always..you’re a day one that will never go unappreciated! Hope you both have an amazing week!!
Thanks for watching the video, and your comment Johnny! Both are much appreciated. I found this today which I thought was interesting: When John Lennon’s best friend from art college, Stu Sutcliffe had joined the band as the bass player, the story goes that the two were discussing possible band names, and came up with ‘The Beetles’ as they were huge fans of Buddy Holly and The Crickets - as a way of emulating their heroes, they called themselves after an insect. Most of the accounts claim that Lennon’s love of wordplay is what led them to eventually adopt the ‘a’. Lennon would explain in a 1964 interview: “It was beat and beetles and when you said it, people thought of crawly things, and when you read it, it was beat music.” Source: faroutmagazine.co.uk/
Thanks for watching and commenting ! All three of these talented musicians died way too young. And yes, if it were not for the horrible tour conditions, Buddy may never had rented that plane. RIP to all.
Thanks for watching & the feedback Caroline!! I totally agree - such a tragic event taking so much young talent that the world would have love to see grow & blossom for many more years...but even after all these decades, their legacies live on & will continue to be celebrated!!
This was a damm shame, and shows how fucked up the music labels and industry was and is.. you gotta take care of the product.. To have these guys out there freezing and hungry when your making millions off them is wrong 😪😪
Dion didn't have his hits "Runaround Sue" or "The Wanderer" until some years later. He was probably breaking ground with "A Teenager in Love" at the time of the "day the music died."
Thanks for watching & the comment Donny!! You’re absolutely correct! Check out Walts comment & my response below…I agree with you; I should have distinguished the hits from Dion solo career vs. the hits from Dion & the Belmonts! I appreciate you pointing that out my friend - cheers!
He also sang "I Wonder Why". That night. Though he did sing "A Teenager in Love" that night, it didn't crack the Top 40 until April of '59, peaking at #5.
Funny story, according to Dion, the girl in Runaround Sue was a real person, who screwed him over, but, her name was "Deloris". Dion claims he changed it to Sue, because, the only rhyme he could think of, was LAVORIS... A popular mouthwash, at the time!
It's always sobering to reflect on the tragic loss of such talented individuals. Their contributions to music continue to inspire generations. Thank you for honoring their memory with this thoughtful comment.
Good video! I had no idea on how bad things were on this tour. Getting into aircraft is always a matter of judgment. Look at the friggin V-tail Bonanza; I know it flies but does it fly well? It’s the same deal with SRV getting in a helo in the FOG and Skynyrd getting aboard a charter with an already sputtering left engine. WE WUZ ROBBED of all the good extra music! The Lynyrd Skynyrd crash happened in Mississippi but the other two (and Otis Redding!) were in the Midwest. The Midwest weather has a lot to answer for. (I’ll be your 218th subscriber, btw, lol.)
Yeah man - the tour conditions were crazy!! Which band we ever heard of having to burn newspaper inside the bus to stay warm to avoid frostbite & hypothermia?! Can you imagine how smoked out that bus must have been with the fire & all the cigs, ha! Yeah, that friggin V-tail alright was nicknamed “forked-tail doctor killer” due to crashes by overconfident wealthy amateur pilots, fatal accidents & inflight breakups. Yeah, I did a video on SRV (see that one?)…planning to do one on the Skynard tragedy: I think seeing a ball of fire coming from the engine on the flight prior would have been enough for me not to board again (so terribly sad)…One twist of fate was that was almost Aerosmith’s plane but they passed on buying as I’m sure you are aware of…Otis: I may or may not be working on Otis as my next video as I type this (stay tuned!!) YES, the Midwest OWES us BIG TIME (Mother*&$&#$* Midwest) Man I can’t thank you enough for being #218…It means more to me than the #2,018 or the 20,018 (just don’t tell them that, lol) - Took me 2 years of grinding on weekends from the 9-5 for you to find me…so THANK YOU for all the support it will NEVER go unnoticed or unappreciated!!
Thank you, Cathy! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment 😊 They were before my time too. I would have loved to see them perform!! Their music still lives on today - which says quite a lot, I think.
Thank you for your kind comment, Robert! … I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and leave a comment. I was young when this tragedy occurred too … but have always loved their style and music.
Thanks much Elizabeth!! You are a faithful subscriber 😀 I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and comment. Stay tuned - I think you'll really like the next video!
Thank you so much for your comment!! Absolutely, these legendary musicians left an indelible mark on the music industry and their untimely passing was a tragic loss. Their contributions to rock and roll continue to inspire generations. Let's keep their memory alive through their timeless music!!!
good short doc. I never would have got on that plane. the weather was very bad....I've wanted to be a pilot forever, but I am too scared to fly now...idk why, maybe it's cause we hear about plane crashes alot...anyhow again, gr8 job
Thanks Arron! I really appreciate your feedback & taking the time to respond!! I totally understand where you’re coming from...I always enjoyed the idea of flying, but just being near that cockpit in the front of the plane while in flight terrifies me...Thanks again for the support - I subscribed to your channel to support you & your content -- looking forward to binging all your videos!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 thanks for the nice reply....I'll follow ur channel too, u should def make more documentaries like this one about other tragedies and whatnot ....I see u did one for cliff Burton dying in the tour bus crash...I play music, cliffs one of my biggest influences.. I think way back I did a vid or 2 talking about what happened to him....another tragic death, he was asleep on his bands tour bus! no part in his own death and that's sad
@@ArronP Thanks for the support & all the comments - being a smaller channel I truly appreciate the genuine interactions with dope creators / musicians as yourself! I grew up listening to Metallica my entire life & one thing that’s been awesome & sad doing these Bio/Docs is after all the research on the artists I grew up loving & listening to the tragedies hit even harder re-living their deaths. Anyone who knows Metallica knows what Cliff meant to the band, their music & their trajectory to stardom and positive influence on so many musicians like yourself. Yeah, it’s crazy how he literally just went to sleep on his own tour bus, doing nothing to cause his own death. RIP to all the Legends…Cliff em All
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 well thanks for the comments...ur channel will go higher with vids like the srv and the Buddy Holly vids u did. ppl like watching little docs...I know I do, there's always something to learn it seems.
@@ArronP Appreciate you, Arron! It is my passion … I have another video I’m working on now - unfortunately, I work full time and do not have the time I would like to dedicate to these projects. … not yet that is 😊
I have a unique idea for a short film about the crash. It starts out with the three arriving at the airport, paying their fares, and boarding the plane, all excited to be getting ahead long enough to rest and clean their clothes. Then the plane goes down with a huge crash...there is a moment of intense pain and then they are thrown clear. Buddy comes too, and picks himsaelf off the ground and sees Ritchie and pilot Roger Peterson, also getting up. "Wow, what the hell just happened guys?" Ritchie replies "I don't know, man, I just heard a big bang and boom, here we are." Roger says "Man I don't know.....the ground just appeared in front of us....we were supposed to be going up but somehow we went down instead." Buddy looked back at the wreckage and was shocked "man will you look at the plane? It's all rolled up! How did we get out of that?" Just then the Bopper comes over saying "Man what the hell happened? A big boom and here I am in some cornfield, and oh my Gawd, look at our plane! " Roger says "man we had beter think about how we are getting back to the airport, we got no way to call them and tell them what happened to us, and we got to get out of this cold." Just then, Ritchie calls out to them "Hey guys, you might want to come see this....I got a funny feeling." the four of them walk over to the side of the wreckage and in the dim light of the stars, they see two bodies. Buddy looks down closely and says "Uh.....guys, ....I don't know how to say this, but that looks kind like me. And this one next to it kinda looks like you, Ritchie." Bopper says "uh guys I'll be back in a second." A moment later, Bopper returned and said grimly "Guys....where I picked myself up from? There's a body over there....and it's me, and I got a strange feeling....how do you all feel? Because I feel fine, like I don't have a cold or flu anymore. I don't even feel cold, I feel kinda warm all over." Ritchie said "Yeah....I don't have my cold anymore, and I feel warm too, like it's not even cold out here, but it should be, just look at the snow. What does this all mean?" It was Roger who spoke the words they all feared... "Guys, I think I know why we survived.....because we didn't....those are your bodies there, and I think I know where I'm at..." walking over to the wreckage, he leaned over and peered into the wreckage and saw himself rolled up in the wrecked plane "yes....I'm in there.....and this means..." Buddy finished for him "we're all dead, that's why." Just then the night was split by a blinding light that appeared to beckon them. Bopper spoke for them "Guys.....I think we should go to the light." the four of them walked to the light and were submerged in its brightness. When the four of them were in the light, it winked out, and the night sky went dark again, the wreckage and bodies waiting to be discovered hours later in the daylight.
Thanks so much for the amazing comment nursesteve!! I think your idea is a great one & would make an awesome short film!! I'm really diggin the perspective of when the four meet up after the accident with the blinding light beckoning them into the brightness!! I appreciate you taking the time to write out all the details of your unique idea & appreciate all the support!! If you ever end up making this happen - definitely let me know my friend!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I'll start working on a complete short story format of it soon, and will let you know when it's finished. What I wrote down was basically a quick summary of it.
Absolutely! When Eminem's mom was being born, The Big Bopper was already spitting bars!! One of the reasons I wanted to bring some light to The BIg Bopper is bc you're 100% right -he doesn't get the credit he deserves!! Thanks for watching, commenting & the support!! 🎤
Incredibly sad for so many impacted by this horrible tragedy! I can only imagine the widows, the families & band mates not to mention the Valens hearing it by radio first 😔 thanks for watching, your comment & support Stephen!! RIP sweet boys indeed my friend!!
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video about Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. If there's anything else you'd like to see, please feel free to let me know. Your support means a lot!!
Thanks so much Michael!! I really appreciate the feedback & all the support...Your subscription truly means so much & will never go unappreciated!! Hope you have a great weekend my friend!!
Buddy had chartered the plane to fly himself; Waylon; and Tommy Allsup to the next gig; their drummer; Carl Bunch; was in the hospital with frostbite from the bus breakdown and extreme cold weather with little or no heat on the bus; Waylon gave up his seat to the Bopper; so he could get a flu shot; and Ritchie asked Tommy if he could have his seat; so they flipped the coin for it. Source: “Remembering Buddy”; by John Golddrosen.
Thanks for taking the time to watch the video and comment Thomas! Both are much appreciated 😊. When doing all my research, I was going back & forth on Dion’ s version of events (if they were accurate). I think in retrospect your source is the correct one. Dion’s now one of the more prominent remaining survivors from that tour, so not too many to refute his version. Thanks again for the information and for all the support!
There is an error in the video. The narrator says that Dion and The Belmonts were best known for their hit songs Runaround Sue and The Wanderer. Neither of those songs were by Dion and The Belmonts. They were both released in 1961 by Dion after the breakup with The Belmonts. The Del-Satins were the uncredited backup group on both songs.
Thanks for watching & for your comment Ron! You’re absolutely correct! You can see Walts & Donny's comments pointing out the same along with my response…I agree with you; I should have distinguished the hits from Dion solo career vs. the hits from Dion & The Belmonts! I appreciate you pointing that out & taking the time to respond!!
Great video, easy to understand. Well done. One note I have: The gyroscope in the aircraft used that night was Sperry F4 Attitude Indicator. This was a very unconventional design, it was fairly new at the time too. The one thing I wish to point out, is I have no reason to believe that Roger Peterson would've even been looking at that instrument. For context, I'm a pilot, I fly bonanza's, and the thing to note about them is they are what we call "high performance" aircraft. Meaning it has an engine that can output more than 200 horsepower. It flies fast, and it has fantastic climb performance. Why is this important? Well it leads into my belief that the crash was caused by the pilot not looking at his instruments at all. If you look at a Sperry F4 Attitude Indicator, you will notice that each hemisphere of the instrument is labeled "CLIMB" and "DIVE" to avoid confusion. If Pilot Peterson was staring at this gyro as is suggested by the CAB, it would've probably saved their life. The rough turbulent air, wouldve made his static and pitot-static instruments practically unreadable. Peterson gets into IFR condition, looks at his instrument panel and sees a bunch of needles moving all over the place, and the attitude indicator reading the reverse of what he was expecting. If you were not very experienced on instruments, and this particular panel you had never flown IFR on before, you would no longer trust your instruments. With no visual outside reference, Peterson would've then relied on his physical sensation. And this is why I mentioned the Bonanza's sheer power in the climb. It accelerates really fast out of the climb. Rapid Acceleration during takeoff can cause the illusion of being in a nose up attitude. This may cause the pilot to pitch down into a nose low attitude. I experienced these sensations going through my IFR training, it is a really powerful illusion especially in a plane as powerful as a Beechcraft Bonanza. Roger Peterson most likely got spatially disoriented as a result of disregarding flight instruments.
Thanks so much for watching & your kind feedback. I appreciate your detailed breakdown, derived from your personal knowledge & experience as a duty expert in the realm of aviation. Your assessment sounds extremely likely, helping to reinforce the crash details involving the spatially disorientation & lack of using instrumentation by Pilot Peterson. Mentioning the sheer power of the Beechcraft Bonanza was something I had not read about, and I can definitely see where that could have also contributed to the many factors that led to the accident. I truly appreciate you taking the time to leave your comment & all the support!
😳 very informative. So in essence relying on one particular aspect of the instrumentation could have saved them. I wonder if they could have survived a calculated crash landing on a soft layer of freshly fallen snow ❄️. I also wonder if seatbelts may have helped in a softer crash at a significantly reduced speed, wheels absorbing impact without any cartwheeling on a flat Iowa cornfield. It was the 50s after all. Automobiles did not even have seatbelts. Do passengers and pilots wear helmets nowadays in these small planes?
@@googalacticgoo While seatbelt use and safety regulations have significantly improved since the 1950s, the tragic events of the plane crash in 1959 were influenced by various factors. Speculating on alternative scenarios is intriguing, but emergency landings remain complex. Today, modern small planes adhere to stricter safety standards, including mandatory seatbelt use, contributing to improved overall aviation safety. From my knowledge helmets are not standard practice for general aviation flights, but in certain specialized activities like aerobatics or air racing, pilots may choose to wear helmets for added protection.
I wish to mention only Buddy at this time. Look at guys like Bill Haley & Elvis. They both rocked on until they psychically couldn't. Buddy died too young & one could only imagine what he would have been able to contribute to the genesis of Rock & Roll,..
Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment Marc! … Both are much appreciated! I would totally agree!!! … one could only imagine the contributions Buddy would have made to this era of music had this tragedy not occurred.
The sad thing is that it didn't hve to happen, had they heeded the weather warnings. If yulook at a lot of the famous crashes involving performers, such as the plane crash that killed Patsy Cline, the crash that killed Jim Reeves (he was his own pilot), Otis Redding's crash, the Lynyrd Skynyrd crash, and the plane crash that killed Jim Croce, the common thread was that the pilots ignored clear warnings of bad weather, and in the case of the Lynyrd Skynyrd crash, clear indications of faulty maintenance (How in the hell did they start on that last leg without enough fuel??) Even the Space Shuttle Challenger was launched against the wishes of the engineers who warned that the extreme cold was shrinking the critical O-Rings in the SRB's. The pilots bowed to the wishes of the performers to get to the next show despite the risks to everyone, instead of taking a stand and saying no I am not flying in this weather, and they ended up paying the ultimate price.
You raise a poignant and very important point about the tragic plane crashes involving musicians and performers throughout history. It's a sobering reminder of the consequences of disregarding weather warnings and prioritizing schedules over safety. These incidents serve as powerful reminders of the importance of listening to expert advice and prioritizing safety above all else. The loss of such talented individuals is a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life. It's crucial that we learn from these tragedies to prevent similar accidents in the future. I remember watching the lauch...I feel the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in space exploration history. The loss of the seven brave astronauts, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. The decision to launch despite concerns about the O-rings in the solid rocket boosters illustrates the complex interplay between ambition, safety, and the pressures of scheduling. Thank you for sharing your spot-on insights as always, my friend.
I Blame It On The PROMOTERS ‼️ The Fact They Hired Faulty Buses‼️Should Of Had Charter Buses‼️ Not Hand Me Down School Buses‼️Who Were The Individual Promoters⁉️ Blame Them ‼️☠️‼️
Thanks for your comment, Richard!! I agree that there was a lot of negligence on the part of the promoters with the tour scheduling and poor conditions of all the buses. This was definitely one of the twist of fates…had these conditions not been so horrible, Buddy most likely would not have chartered the plane.
I blame it on the air service, who allowed an unqualified pilot to fly the plane, because none of their other, more experienced pilots, thought it was safe to make that flight, under those weather conditions and refused the job!
I agree my uncle worked be hind stage that night in Clearlake that is we’re he is from said buddy Richie and big bopper all had enough of the frozen busses and we’re sick as well
Yea, it was a crazy schedule ... not sure why all the small cities ... I guess the person(s) who coordinated the tour took whatever they could get along the way ? Thanks for watching and your comment !
Thanks so much for watching & welcome to the All or Nothing Family!! Thanks for making my day, today with your amazing support & kind words = they sincerely mean so much!! ❤
I read a couple years ago the reason for the plane charter was because the heat on the bus didn't work.But after that night the heat worked and never quit again.Tell me that's not spooky
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Grant! … The song is from Artlist (licensed music - artlist.io/). It is called “Don’t let the summer end” - by The Magnetic Buzz. A copy of the song can be found here: th-cam.com/video/geHqBSTy8gs/w-d-xo.html
Thanks for watching & commenting Vera - I appreciate you!! I was also too young to remember this tragic event however, I do remember growing up hearing Patsy Cline's music which my last video was made in remembrance of another music legend!
Life & fate are a crazy thing indeed…you never know how simple something seemingly is that could change your life forever! Thanks for watching & supporting as always 🙂 👓
Thanks Desi - you’re absolutely correct..that was suppose to be Carl Bunch photo & I mistakenly added Jerry Allison in error - Great catch - I appreciate the comment & the correction!!
@@raymondcunningham9655 yeah I read that Buddy wanted to get back with the crickets…and I also read the crickets where not too happy about Buddy using their name on the tours flyers when they weren’t performing
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 According to JI, he and Bill were planning to call Buddy and tell him they wanted to reform the Crickets, but, they wound up playing phone tag, just missing each other!
That’s a great question! I’ll have to do a little more research on that & get back to you! I do recall reading something about Dreyer, but can’t recall seeing anything on those at the label in charge of the itinerary, touring, or bus transportation being held accountable. Thanks for watching & all the support- it really does mean a lot!! 🤝❣️
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I read somewhere about the airport being closed and torn down and then they were going to build another airport in that area they were always going to be known for killing 3 famous passengers and killing the non experienced pilot who was made to fly in a dangerous visually challenged situation and they had a a instrument that he never used before so he had to wing it no disrespect for the victims intended and I’m not trying to be a jerk either and I’m apologizing for any crudeness on my part if I come off as being rude or anything like that but I’m calling it as I see it I’m just saying
Dion and The Belmonts were NOT best known for "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer." Both of those hits were Dion solo hits in 1961... after Dion and The Belmonts had gone their seperate ways.
Thanks for the comment Walt! You are absolutely correct, I should have distinguished That Dion was best known for those two hits with Dion & The Belmonts known for Where or When, A Teenager in Lover, No One Knows, I Wonder Why. I sincerely appreciate you correcting me on that!
Thanks Gary - saw this on Wikipedia: By the end of 1960, Dion produced his first solo album on Laurie Records, Alone with Dion, released in 1961. The single "Lonely Teenager" rose to No. 12 in the US charts. The name on his solo releases was simply "Dion".
Exactly!! Operating a single-engine aircraft in severe weather conditions, strong winds and complete darkness with no visible references on the ground, posed a substantial challenge for Roger Peterson. With escalating snowfall severely limiting visibility, Peterson had to rely solely on his instruments, despite having only 52 hours of instrument training, none of which was specific to this aircraft type. In such circumstances, even a seasoned pilot might have hesitated to proceed with the flight. The absence of celestial cues and ground lights can disorient a pilot, particularly when faced with instrument displays that deviate from the norm. It's reasonable to expect that a more experienced pilot might have opted to delay the flight, considering the complexities involved. In retrospect, prioritizing the laundry or foregoing a few extra hours of rest in a hotel might have seemed insignificant compared to the potential risks involved. The weight of the decision to proceed with the flight, given the unfavorable conditions, is a sobering aspect to consider, and it underscores the importance of careful judgment in all that we do. Thanks for the support & comment my friend!
That plane in the picture with the v tail was a bitch to fly! After many years it was called " the Doctor killer because a lot of doctors will killed flying them"
Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to comment as well MrJimmy1437! Both are much appreciated 😊 You are the 2nd or 3rd person who has commented on what a beast of a plane the Bonanza was! With a reputation such as this, you would think that they would have given Roger another type of plane to fly. I know he had 128 hours on the Bonanza … but still …
The plane wasn't found till 9:35 that morning Buddy, Ritchie and JP could have survived but froze to death, I doubt it but they were in that field for 8 1/2 hours
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Robert! Both are appreciated 😊 According to the official autopsy reports, they likely perished on impact due to the extent of their injuries. I did not include a lot of these details in the video out of respect, and quite frankly they are very difficult to read. But you’re right I think - if they had survived the crash, they would have surely frozen to death.
I have read the autopsy reports on all four of them..With the injuries described, I believe they all had to die on impact..They all had horrific injuries and would not have survived impact...May they all Rest In Peace..
Richardson's body was exhumed in 2007 for reburial, and his son arranged for his body to be reexamined, as there were theories that Richardson had crawled from the wreckage, since he was found further from the crash site. Richardson's body was found to have suffered fractures to nearly every bone, and it was concluded that he most certainly had died instantly.
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 You are a true inspiration and professional for not including the details of the autopsies and injuries and out of respect and consideration and compassion for those families that were involved in this tragedy it’s bad enough that they have gone through the grief and pain of losing their loved ones in the crash which could have been avoided in my opinion if they had waited for daylight hours to leave but they were pressured into the flight because of their promoters who didn’t care about their safety only the money they would make I blame the Dwyers for the deaths of the musicians because Peterson was allowed to fly in conditions that he wasn’t qualified for and he had been in 3 or 4 different airlines and he was let go of due to his attitude Dwyers wife said he told her that no matter what she said to him he was going to let them leave at midnight even though they would be in danger of crashing because they had paid him and he didn’t want to deal with the promoters for the late flight and not getting to the concert on time.she was interviewed years later after the accident and she had always had felt bad for the families and then jerry befriended the families after the accident lawsuits settled I personally would not have done that but that’s me. I’m with you and though on the fact that if they hadn’t died instantly they would have died of exposure relatively quickly but they all were the last ones to play the innocent rock and roll music of the 50s.That makes them forever rock and roll forefathers and they are still alive in their music
@@lisajoyce6803 Thanks so much for such a thoughtful & heartfelt comment!! Not including the details of the autopsies and injuries was very intentional & we wanted to respect all the lives (including all the families) affected in this horrific accident. I wasn't aware & didn't come across any info on Peterson being at 3 or 4 different airlines & being let go for his attitude, but I really wish he would've made the executive decision as the pilot to not leave until morning in both better light & weather conditions. I'm happy there are so many that still appreciate & love the innocent rock and roll music of that era which remains alive in all the music they left us all for generations to come!
Fantastic job.... we just subscribed. We recently did a music video tribute to these great artist so this story is fresh on our minds. We really enjoyed your video and look forward to seeing others.
Thanks so much for the comment & support!! We will go check out the new music video tribute right now - Thanks agian for taking the time to watch & subscribing!
Thanks for taking the time to watch & comment!! For me it's absolutely heartbreaking to think about the challenges they faced on that tour. The Winter Dance Party tour was indeed plagued with logistical issues, forcing the performers to endure grueling travel schedules in harsh winter conditions. It's a true testament to their dedication to their craft that they continued to perform despite the hardships they encountered (While financial considerations may have played a role in Buddy Holly's decision to join The Winter Dance Party tour, it wasn't the sole or primary reason. At the time, Holly was facing financial disputes with his former manager, Norman Petty, which undoubtedly put pressure on him to continue touring and generating income)
Thanks for the comment & watching David!! I went off Dion’s account of events & not sure why he would have lied but I also found some discrepancies with what he said about flipping the coin so you may be correct!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Yeah, Tommy Alsup said the flip was between himself and Ritchie and said it from day one. He felt guilt over it for years. Dion only,relatively, recently made the claim. I believe Dion is attempting to make himself relevant. There is no logical reason he would have been offered a ticket. Waylon and Tommy were personal friends of Buddy. Carl, Buddy’s drummer, was in the hospital with frost bitten feet. Lastly, the owner of the Surf was present when Buddy made arrangements for the charter and stated that Buddy said it was for himself and his band.
@@davidcarroll4411 I agree re: the coin flip! You make a great point, the logical reasoning would be to offer his touring bandmates the seats on the plane first. With Carl in the hospital that would leave Waylon & Tommy which aligns with what the owner of the Surf Ballroom stated.
Thanks so much for the comment, support all the way from Finland my friend!! Long live Legends: Buddy, Ritchie & The Big Bopper!! I apprecaite you taking the time to watch & comment!!
Yeah that was one of the crazy twist of fates...had Waylon not given up his seat, he most likely would have been on the plane with Biddy & the Big Bopper...thanks for watching and for your comment -- both are most appreciated!!
You could have added: "If Buddy Holly wouldn't have been facing bankruptcy over his royalties being frozen thanks to a pending court case, he'd never have been on that tour"!
Your absolutely right! That would have been another twist of fate…I read that Buddy had asked money from his manager: wanting to stay in NY, build a studio & start a recording company, but couldn’t find any legit reason as to why the manager wasn’t able to give Buddy his royalties, but now you mention bc of a pending court case I’ll have to read more into that! Bottom line, had he gotten the money, he most likely would have never agreed to go on the tour! Thanks for watching & your comment - I sincerely appreciate both!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 it's also a well known fact Buddy's wife was expecting a child, another reason he probably would not have gone had Norman Petty paid him
" Look the plane maybe gone down. Well I am going home and sleep". Who the hell does that? I know they must have died insantly in the crash but still the worker at airport should have send search parties out sooner and not gone home to sleep!! I guess that is USA.
I would have to agree...if he saw the taillight appears to go down knowing the current weather conditions (and the weather only getting worse) a search should have been done way sooner than in the morning. I also agree that from all the reports it appears they all perished on impact, but you would think if you witnessed what you thought was the plane go down, fueling up a plane to go confirm right away would have been the right move!! Thanks for watching, commenting & all the support -- we sincerely appreciate you!!
Incredibly sad & tragic. As you can see with this video comments & so many more amazing videos out there about these true legends - they are still loved, remembered & missed just as much as everyone did in 1959. Thank you for watching & taking the time to comment!!
It’s events like these that make me think that nothing happens by chance. Those three guys buddy, Ritchie and the big bopper were supposed to perish that day. If not on an airplane, i guarantee they would’ve died differently, maybe in a bus accident or something. So sad they were taken so young but they left us a lasting legacy. May they RIP. On a side note- does this mean that the pilot’s inexperience with instrumentation contributed to the crash? So the weather had nothing to do with bringing down the plane? Does this mean had it been another , more qualified and experienced pilot, they would’ve made it safely?
Thanks for watching and for your comment it's like the same but different! … both are much appreciated. Interesting thought … it could have been fate, and there were certainly a lot of twists of fate in this story. It was a sad day …they all had bright futures had the accident not happened. According to my research, the pilot was not rated (certified) for instrument only - so I think this was definitely a determining factor, as well as the weather which required instrument only capabilities. Thanks again for your thoughts!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 thx for your reply. Yeah you are correct. If the pilot wasn’t certified for instrument only, he should not have been allowed to fly that plane. So sad. Thx for the content, very informative.
Thanks ! ... I would definitely agree! ... Like with Stevie Ray Vaughan, the pilots did not know of the coming weather change. They both were not certified instrument only - and the weather played a twist of fate for them. They have since changed the distance and hours for non instrument flights. I would never get in a helicopter or airplane except in one that had a very experienced pilot who was instrument trained and had a lot of flight hours. Thanks again for you comment!
it was a combination of bad weather and the pilot's inexperience with the instruments. The gyroscopic horizon in the Bonanza was different from the one he trained on. He thought he was ascending when he was descending. Plus he could not see outside because of the weather, until it was too late.
Buddy was forced to do this tour because he had run out of cash, as Dion and Crickets members stated later. Norman Petty had owned him money which was locked in church funds, according to Petty. Terrible tragedy. RIP.
Indeed, Buddy's passing was a tragic loss for the music world. It's unfortunate that circumstances led to that fateful decision to go on tour. His contributions to rock and roll are immeasurable, and his legacy lives on through his timeless music. While we can't change the past, we can continue to appreciate and celebrate the impact he made on the music industry. 🎶🕊
Thanks so much Jorge for the comment, for watching & the support!! I totally agree…I’m a big way it hasn’t recovered since& then in some ways I guess it inspired so many talented musicians…I just wish they could have been inspired with Buddy, Ritchie & the Big Bopper living a long & fruitful lives with so many more amazing music we could all enjoy!!
@@richguitarmusic6781 I wouldn't say that. Then came the teen idol era, and in a sense, innocence died in that crash, for afterwards came a sense of experience, rebellion and disillusionment that four you- know- whom put into music. Buddy's music , for example was about finding a love " so rare and so true".
@@richguitarmusic6781 thanks for watching & taking the time to comment!! I agree with you, the music didn’t die…their music still lives on & their music inspired so much more…it’s a horribly tragic event that ended their lives & careers earlier & I think Don’s song was intended as a metaphor that so many took literally.
@@jorgelopez-pr6dr Thanks Jorge for watching and your thoughtfully kind reply! The butterfly effect doesn’t exclude music: every musician affects other musicians, genres, movements & all music can also be perceived differently from person to person which is why I think it’s so important to so many people. If nothing else, music time/date stamps memories for us that can be a range of emotions, but if it wasn’t important we wouldn’t write it to memory! Appreciate the support & hope you enjoyed this one!
Thanks for watching the video and your comment Gary. Both are appreciated! I certainly agree! I think one contributing factor was they were not provided with accurate weather reports for the conditions they were flying into.
I appreciate your perspective and agree. The challenges and dynamics of the tour were indeed complex, and it's understandable that some artists may have considered quitting. Organizing such tours involves balancing various factors, including artists' well-being, schedules, and logistical considerations all of which were clearly mishandled. While hindsight allows us to reevaluate decisions, and tragic events like this prompting us to reflect on the responsibilities of tour organizers and the need to ensure the safety and well-being of artists on the road, who are out there trying to make a living by sharing their passion for music & performing deserved so much better.
I actually hated this. I so loved Buddy Holly….I still cry, and I’m now 76. Have been to stage shows Buddy, 3 times and each time left devastated and crying. The first LP I ever had was given to me by mum and dad. RIP American Pie. 🇦🇺🇦🇺
Thanks for watching the video and commenting margm4. I definitely agree!! … I was very young when this tragedy occurred, but I love their music and wanted to tell this story as a tribute. It was a hard thing to do… Doing my research, I watched a lot of videos and commentaries, and read a lot of documents. It was difficult reliving this tragedy over and over during that period. Really cool your mum and dad gave you that LP!!
I understand how you feel. I never had an LP of any of Buddy, The Big Bopper or others from our era of rock n roll. It was very great that your mum and dad gave you such a special gift. I hope you have kept it ! It's that "Old Time Rock n Roll" that remains outstanding in the memories of us who experienced that.
I couldn't agree more Jay...Eddie Cochran was a major influence on so many acts with one of Eddie’s biggest hits being covered by The Who (my personal favorite) “The Summertime Blues”. Eddie was very affected by the death of his musical peers (Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper) so much so that he had been started to feel like he was going to die soon too. The fact he was only 21 years old AND the only who parished in the cab accident is so sad. It's a shame that more don't realize how much of a Legend Eddie really is & always will be! Thanks for watching & commenting...I've been playing Eddie all morning thanks to you Jay!!
@@jayweiss4378 Absolutely!! Elvis would have taken a huge hit with all eyes only on him or at the very least would have had to shared that spotlight with Eddie & those guys for sure!! Thanks for your reply & your eupport - really does mean a lot!! Have a great weekend!! 😎
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Eddie recorded "Three Stars" to honor those who died and then on April 17,1960, himself died in a car crash. Rumor has it he was draped over Sharon Sheeley to protect from injury when the crash occured. He was only 21.
I agree Tina! I also personally think the pilot should have told them he wasn’t confident with the Gyro not familiar with + the current weather conditions…there were additional storms they would have encountered. When the designated airport was called the next morning to confirm they arrived safely - they Airport said no Bonanzas had landed & none would be able to land either bc of how much snowfall they had on the runway & in that area…the stupid buses would have obviously been the best outcome! Thanks for watching & your comment!!
Can you imagine the alternative universe out there where Waylon was on the plane as was Tommy alsup? Ritchie and JP survive. Buddy has no reason to not be on the plane. I don't think we would have outlaw country without Waylon. I think the British invasion would have been held off by a few years because of a Latin invasion.
I like the sound of that alternative universe indeed Bill. I would have to agree…We wouldn’t have the same outlaw country without Waylon and the Latin invasion would have EXPLODED with Ritchie only being 17 at the time. I appreciate you watching, commenting & for triggering me to rock out on some “Come On, Let’s go” this morning!!
February 3rd 1959 is a day that will live in infamy. This is a day that I have trouble accepting. I'm 15, and that day has struck with me since 2019. Had this not happened, Buddy Holly would've had a very successful career. And Ritchie Valens would've popularized Chicano Rock more than it actually did in this timeline. The Big Bopper would've had an interesting career ahead of him too. I'm so grateful they are not forgotten, and still talked after all these years.
Thank you for your wonderful comment about these 3 Legends! We're thrilled to see their timeless music continue to touch hearts and inspire music lovers like you. I agree without a doubt, had this unfortunate event not occurred, the music career trajectories of all 3 Legends would have been huge. Let's keep the spirit of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper alive TOGETHER through their unforgettable music.
Your otherwise excellent history was marred to some extent by some very imprecise comments about Dion & The Belmonts. Their first and pivotal hit song was 'I Wonder Why'', followed by 'Teenager in Love' and 'No One Knows'. It was only after Dion went solo in 1961 that he had success with 'Runaround Sue', and much later, with 'The Wanderer', etc. You might want to edit that section of the ;presentation, for the sake of accuracy.
Thank you so much for watching and for your comment-you're absolutely right! As Walt and Donny also pointed out, I should have made a clearer distinction between Dion's solo hits and those with The Belmonts. I really appreciate you taking the time to correct that & I plan to update the description to reflect this. While I strive for accuracy and take pride in presenting unbiased facts, I do make mistakes sometimes, and I’m grateful to have a thoughtful audience that helps point them out. Thanks again for your support!
The song is from a vendor I get all my music from: Artlist (licensed music - artlist.io/). It is called “Don’t let the summer end” - by The Magnetic Buzz -- A copy of the song can be found here: th-cam.com/video/geHqBSTy8gs/w-d-xo.html
Enjoyed your vid but u got the dion facts wrong. The hits quoted were his solo hits post crash. U could also refer to his no2 hit from 69 or his last years no 1 blues album which hardly proves the music died.
Thank you, Stephen. I appreciate you watching the video and your comments! … and for pointing this out. I did not realize I had gotten this fact wrong until after the video was posted. I appreciate the information, and suggestions. I agree that the music never died … it still lives on... BTW, if you have not seen it - Dion just made a new song/video. A collaboration...
That story about Dion being offered a ride is FALSE! That is Dion's made up story. Buddy booked the flight for his self and his bandmates that he had talked into playing on the tour with him because he and the Crickets had parted ways wks before the tour. Why would Buddy offer a ride to anyone other than his bandmates and friends. They were friends from back in Texas.
Thanks again for your comment!! It makes sense that it would have been for bandmates & freinds from Texas. If Dion is indeed lying - that's very sad for many reasons. It's a shame Buddy even had to go on the tour & after all these years this horrible tragedy affects so many of us! Thanks for keeping Buddy's Legacy, music & name alive in time where so many could really use it!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I think Dion trying to shine the light on his self is disrespectful to Buddy and the others who died that night. The truth and only the truth should be told. I am familiar with that area of the SURF Ballroom where they played that night. My nephew and the radio station he worked at (KZEV) in Clear Lake organized the 1st tribute for the group on 1979. It was then called "The Buddy Holly Tribute" for many yrs. Then they changed it to Winter Dance Party. Tommy Alsup made many trips to the tribute and played on stage until he passed away a few yrs ago. He also gifted one of his guitars to the SURF. In April 1995 WAYLON returned for a concert for the 1st and only time since the night of the crash. I was there and heard his speech he gave regarding Buddy and his feelings about the crash. I don't recall hearing anything from Dion since 1959 night of the crash. I have mucho respect for WAYLON and Tommy. They were wild but still honorable men true to the words they spoke and went on to give us some great music and carried that nights memory with them until the passed away.
@@PK-bh1ww I couldn't agree more, nor could I have said it better! That's amazing that your nephew worked at KZEV & helped organize the 1st tribute for the group in 79'. I was sad to hear of Tommy's passing too. In my research I saw where Waylon unfortunently harbored a lot of guilt & what an incredible oppotunity for you to be present for his first & only return to the SURF hearing his own words on Buddy and the crash. Thanks for sharing and again I'm so thankful there are those like yourself still so passionately keeping Buddy's + all those who were affected by this horrific loss alive for those who may not have known or been as close as you were to these Legends!!
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Brendan! … I believe you are the second person to comment along these lines … and I agree - it would have changed things for a lot of people … Elvis and a lot of others I think.
Nope. No way Jose.... Elvis had an IT factor that Buddy didn't have. And a better singing voice. Buddy actually admired Elvis and Elvis was already touring before Buddy was.
Doesn't matter , they were all getting massive, Elvis got drafted .. I'm sure they wouldn't have been confined to just America also because of a dodgy manager.. The Beatles stole it from Elvis hence his 68 comeback .. he mentions them in the show.. In my opinion Elvis was over rated , pushed down everyone's throat. Wasnt a great guitar player or song writer without help, loved underage girls.... drugs etc if that plane hadn't gone down and with the Beatles coming along he would be alot less relevant.. I've always said also, if u swapped the nationalities of Elvis and the Beatles around can u imagine how big the Beatles would have been then.. Elvis would have been looked at like a Tom Jones and nothing more..
@@BARSOUTANDABOUT LOL ELVIS became HUGE despite the Beatles who IMO KILLED good ol R & R. Buddy Holly and many others didn't write all their songs either. Rave On and Oh Boy were written by other than Buddy. And despite what you think, millions of others loved Elvis's voice and his IT factor (it's why he was known as the King) which was far better than Buddy's or the Beatles. I think Buddy would have been a producer instead of an on stage performer. The one I think who would have gone far for singing is Richie Valens. He had a great voice and was very polished for only 17. Buddy really didn't bring anything new to the music industry because the rockabilly he was doing was already being played by many including ELVIS. Which ELVIS transitioned into R & R. Not Buddy. Buddy followed ELVIS'S footsteps and idolized ELVIS'S. There's documented history on that. People who were around then know this. Those who wrote songs for and played with for Buddy have done interviews. And you can look up who wrote songs. Bottom line is I wouldn't under estimate ELVIS. And it's hard to find a famous musician that doesn't / didn't do drugs...
RIP to all these great musicians and the pilot. What I always wondered is given the weather conditions that night why didn't Jerry Dwyer the owner of the flying service and a much more experienced pilot fly them to Fargo instead of sending Roger Peterson in a plane that he was not familiar with
That's a very interesting thought ! ... You would think that would have been more reasonable... Such a tragic loss - for such a great group of musicians and the pilot. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment !👍
Thanks for watching the video and your comment Charles. Both are appreciated! The pilot’s name was Roger Peterson. Roger is mentioned several times in this video with 4:36 5:58 6:20 and 7:41 being some of the time markers where he is mentioned. Hope you enjoyed the video!
I NEVER BOUGHT INTO THIS "THE DAY MUSIC DIED" ANGLE. MUSIC IN A MULTIPLICITY OF GENRES KEPT FLOURISHING. AND "ROCK" OR SO-CALLED "ROCK" KEPT RIGHT ON ROCKING ALONG. I LIKED THE NARRATION BETTER ON THE METALLICA VIDEO, AS THE NARRATOR SPOKE IN A LOWER TONE. BUT STILL NOT LOW ENOUGH. IN THIS HOLLY, BOPPER, VALENS VIDEO, THE NARRATOR'S VOICE MOVES TOO FASTLY AND HAS TOO HIGH AND CHEERFUL A TONE OF VOICE FOR A SOMBER EVENT. NEVERTHELESS, I HIT THE LIKE BUTTON. RESPECTFULLY. 🌠MILTON MOORE🌠 🎇LAS Vegas, Nevada 🎇
Thanks for your comment, Milton!! I agree with your perspective that rock ‘n’ roll kept on rocking!! I appreciate the feedback on the narration & will be taking that in consideration with future videos. I also appreciate the respect & like. Hope all is well in Vegas!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 WHY HOW NICE OF YOU TO REPLY. YOUR OBVIOUS GOOD NATURE SHOULD CARRY YOU FAR IN LIFE. I DON'T KNOW HOW RICHIE VALENS GOT ON A USA POSTAGE STAMP WHEN HE ONLY HAD ONE SMASH HIT RECORD, WHEN RICK NELSON HAD DOZENS OF HITS AND AN ICONIC TV SERIES WITH HIS FAMILY, BUT HE HAS YET TO BE HONORED WITH A POSTAGE STAMP.😫😩😖. MY FAVORITE HOLLY SONGS ARE "BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN," "RAVE ON" AND "TRUE LOVE WAYS." THE BEST FROM A 77 YEAR OLD BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS, TEXAS, NOW RESIDING IN LAS VEGAS, WHERE IT IS PRESENTLY NOT AS HOT AS IT USUALLY IS IN AUGUST. KEEP UP THE GOOD WORK.🤠😺✌️👏👍
Great question! I think it could be a combination of their fashion choices, perhaps earlier life responsibilities, more smokers with limited skincare options + the photography technology of the time?! Thanks for taking the time to watch & comment!
The Day the Music Died... a tragic and unforgettable moment in musical history with the loss of these 3 legendary rock 'n' roll pioneers. The plane crash took their lives at such young ages, but their impact on music will forever live on. Let's remember and cherish their timeless melodies, as their spirits continue to resonate through the ages. 🕊🎸 #RememberingLegends #MusicNeverDies
Another way that the crash could've changed with who was on the plane could've changed the fact that a certain ND boy and teen idol may not have gotten his start. Because the crash happened and the tour lost many of its stars, Waylon and Tommy still had to perform in Moorhead that night, but they couldn't hold the show long enough with just them and Dion and the Belmonts, so the invite went out to the Fargo/Moorhead radio stations for local bands to come and audition and win a chance to perform that night. The winning band did not even have a name till that night, but they went on and just moments before, as the young man in question was asked what their band name was, he was looking at the floor trying to come up with a name quick. He noticed their shadows on the floor and popped up his head, giving the band its name of The Shadows and him his stage name of Bobby Vee.
Wow, thank you for sharing that fascinating piece of history and the ripple effect the tragic plane crash had on the music scene. It's incredible to think how a seemingly small decision, like coming up with a band name on the spot, could lead to the birth of a legendary artist like Bobby Vee. Music history is full of these interconnected stories, and your insight adds a unique layer to the narrative. The way destiny unfolded that night in Moorhead is truly remarkable, and it's a testament to the resilience and creativity of artists even in the face of tragedy. Appreciate you sharing this piece of the puzzle with us!
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Elijah! I appreciate you. I agree. I love the song American Pie! … I think it really captures the innocence of the era, and the great loss of these legends.
Thanks so much for watching, commenting, remembering & help remind us all of this extremely important day in history where we celebrate the lives of these legendary musicians & humans!
So dion, waylon, and tommy were could have been on that plane but it ended up being Richie, buddy, and big bopper🤯🤯🤯holey fuck my mind is blown!!! It's crazy how fate works
Thanks for the comment & watching Jessica!! Yesss fate is a weird & crazy unpredictable thing…I have more twist of fate videos coming like this one & the Metallica one, as part of the “Twist of Fate” series!
Absolutely! It was a tragic event, and Waylon Jennings was incredibly fortunate to have avoided it. It's a moment in history that really makes you reflect on how life can change in an instant. I appreciate you taking the time to watch & comment!
Thanks for watching & your comment!! I didn’t include anything about the gun bc yes one was recovered, but it was known that Buddy carried one. The Big Bopper’s son later exhumed his fathers body (the first time ever seeing his father) & when they performed a detailed autopsy, no gunshot wounds were found on The Big Bopper.
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment William! The official report on the accident determined the probable cause was the pilot’s unwise decision to embark on a flight which would necessitate flying solely by instruments when he was not properly certified or qualified to do so. Contributing factors were serious deficiencies in the weather briefing, and the pilot’s unfamiliarity with the instrument which determines the attitude of the aircraft. Also, see TLO’s comment if you get the chance …
This channel strives for accuracy and takes pride in presenting unbiased facts, but mistakes can happen. I’m truly grateful for an audience that takes the time to provide constructive feedback, which has helped bring the following errors in this video to our attention.
1:48 - The photo shown is of Crickets drummer Jerry Allison, not Carl Bunch, when referring to the frostbite incident.
2:58 - A clearer distinction between Dion's solo hits and those with The Belmonts' -- Some of Dion & The Belmonts' key hits include "I Wonder Why" (1958), "No One Knows" (1958), "A Teenager in Love" (1959), and "Where or When" (1960). Dion's success with "Runaround Sue" and later "The Wanderer" came after he went solo in 1961.
There was also another legacy of this tragic crash.
As shown in the 1987 hit movie La Bamba about Ritchie Valens and his rise to stardom and then sudden death, back then it was common practice for media outlets to announce things like this in breaking news. We saw how Ritchie's family reacted in the movie, and in real life Buddy Holly's mother heard of her son's death on the radio and she collapsed. Worse though was Holly's wife who saw a television news bulletin announcing her husband's death. She was pregnant and the shock caused a miscarriage.
From this tragedy on it became practice that the families of the deceased would be notified before any names were released in the media.
Wow, thanks, never knew, now I do.
I can see why Muscians want rights to their music. BUDDY was screwed and went on this curse tour because he was nearly broke.
@@Verge63 Absolutely, your observation is spot on. The music industry can be tough, and artists like Buddy Holly faced financial challenges that led them to make decisions they might not have otherwise. It's heartbreaking to think about the struggles Buddy Holly endured, and the Winter Dance Party tour, which was meant to help alleviate some of those financial pressures, ultimately became a tragic chapter in music history. The desire for artists to have control over their work and earn fair compensation is something that resonates across the industry. Buddy Holly's legacy serves as a reminder of both the passion and challenges that musicians face in pursuit of their art. Thanks for highlighting this important aspect of his story. 🎸🎶
Waylon Jennings was haunted by this tragedy for the rest of his life. Just before Holly Valens and Richardson boarded the plane, Holly jokingly taunted him, "I hope your bus breaks down again," to which Jennings wryly replied "I hope your plane crashes."
I can only imagine how much he was haunted Kevin! … Thanks for watching the video and commenting 😊 … Both are appreciated! I ran across what you wrote of in my research, and thought about including it in the video, but did not want it to possibly sound morbid. Out of respect for these three Legends.
Are you serious?😳
@@williamlove3087 yeah im sure he regretted ever uttering those words even though Waylon & Buddy were just busting each other chops before Buddy left 😔
@@williamlove3087 yes it's a fact . Jennings spoke about it once. I haunted him to the day he died.
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 your right Waylon Jennings has mentioned it in interviews...he was haunted by the words he said to Buddy Holly.....it goes to show you becareful what you say even in a joking manner you never know what might happen........he was haunted by it untill the day he died.
Wow and Wow!!! I loved this video. Now at 74, I grew up dancing and singing to the music of these guys and many more.
Thank you for the memories... Really great!
Thanks so much Elizabeth!! So happy for all the happy memories this one brought back! There was something so magical about that time in music that just hasn’t been replicated!
Rest In Peace these lovely musicians and the pilot.
Thanks for much for your comment & watching Leo…it truly means a lot!!
The Surf Ballroom is haunted.
Nahhh
@@chiasanzes9770 That's an interesting perspective! The Surf Ballroom indeed holds a significant place in music history, especially due to the tragic events surrounding the Winter Dance Party tour. The idea of it being haunted adds another layer of intrigue to the story. Whether one believes in ghosts or not, the emotions and memories tied to that historic venue are undeniable. It's fascinating how places can carry the energy and echoes of the past. Thanks for sharing this eerie yet captivating aspect of the Surf Ballroom's legacy.
@@leorios4335 Haha, fair enough! Whether haunted or not, the Surf Ballroom's history is undeniably rich and full of stories. Different perspectives make it all the more interesting! 😊👻
Still reeling over this loss. I remember the first day back in school. It was an eerie silence. What could I do....nothing.
Thanks for watching & your comment George! I can’t imagine how you must have felt on that first day back to school with such a feeling of helplessness as so many must have felt. I hope you still re-visit their music with fond memories.
This is truly a sad time for those who lived it. Don McLean The Day the music died. It was a great loss when Ritchie Valens, the Big bopper, and Buddy Holly died. This song will live forever it has come this far.
🌹🌹🌹
Thanks so much Vera for watching and your comment!! I would agree all their songs will live on forever!! ❤
Absolutely, this song will never die. As long as enough of us "oldie's" hang around; we will keep it alive.
Such a well put together video about a very historically significant story. I grew up in the same town as Ritchie Valens and lived only a couple miles away from his memorial. I used to visit it on a regular basis, and actually got to go back again just recently. All three of these stars had such a positive impact on my life and I really wish people talked about them more because they really changed SO much about how we listen to music.
Fantastic video! :)
I appreciate you so much NationSquid for your thoughtful comment! I think it’s cool you grew up in the same town as Ritchie & could visit his memorial (I would love to visit one day soon) Even though I didn’t grow up in the time of these Legends they definitely had an impact on my life, my dad’s & his brother who still has some old 45’s! Their love for music inspired me to create this video in hopes of honoring them, keeping their music & story alive! Thanks so much for taking the time to watch & share your feedback - it truly means a lot! I also really dig your channel, and subscribed to show you support!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Thanks, friend! I enjoy your channel too! I love the documentary style you have going on, and I love that you used that craft to cover a story that's not talked about a lot on TH-cam and not a lot of young people know about. I look forward to more of your content. Keep up the great work! :)
@@nationsquid Thank you, my friend! … I appreciate you taking the time to comment, and for leaving such a nice comment at that 😊 … I have another documentary video I’m working on, but I work full time during the day so it’s slower in coming than I would like. Do appreciate you!!! And am looking forward to seeing more of your content as well!
To all four, Rest In Peace. Long Live Rock n Roll. Love Your Video.
Appreciate you watching the video, your comment & showing respect to these Legends.. Long live Rock n Roll indeed.
Good video. The story I've heard and read is that before the flight Buddy Holly jokingly told Waylon Jennings, "Well, I hope your ol' bus freezes up!" Jennings jokingly replied, "Well, I hope your ol' plane crashes!" This last conversation with him haunted him for years. He named his third child Buddy after Buddy Holly.
Hi Rich … Thank You! … I appreciate you watching the video and taking the time to comment! According to my research, you are exactly correct 😊 … I did not include this in the video (but thought about it). I also did not include any explicit photos of the crash. Both out of respect and the desire not to be too morbid. In honor of these three great legends. I don’t recall seeing where Waylon named his third child after Buddy - thanks for that information! … I can only imagine how much those words must have haunted Waylon … so many times we say such things in jest, of course not knowing the outcome. Thanks again for your support!
All true!
Waylon also wrote a song years later called "Old Friend" as a tribute to his friend Buddy .Good song, well worth listening to
Thanks Gary! ... I'll check that out!
Great Song ! ... as you said - well worth listening to!!
This was a great, well done, informative video. I've greatly enjoyed all their music.
Thanks so much for the awesome feedback, John!! I’m so happy you took the time to watch it & leave a comment. I was hoping to help viewers discover or re-discover these talented musicians’ music. Enjoy listening to all the hits of this great Rock n’ Roll era!
This is awesome !
Such a tragedy …
Thanks for sharing this awesome story !
A terribly sad tragedy for so many lives…it was a great change of pace to listen to nothing but 50’s music for a month while making this one!! I didn’t realize a few hits I knew were by Buddy…and for Ritche Valens: only 17 with all 3 hits on the charts, who’s career only lasted a total of 8 months…so sad not to be able to hear what all these legends would have created next!
So sad I still remember the older kids crying over their deaths !🤕
Thanks for watching, your comment & all the support!! I bet it was terribly hard for so many, not just the families & friends of the Legends…their music & personalities touched so many lives…I know they did mine!! ❤️
Great video. However It's pretty well confirmed that Dion was lying. Buddy offered the seats to Waylon Jennings & Tommy Allsup. Dion never mentioned his story until many years later until many of the people who were there at night died. Even his bandmates don't back up his story.
Thanks so much Arlo!! I really appreciate you watching & your comment! When doing all my research, I was going back & forth on Dion’ version of events who mentioned in one interview that *he* flipped a or *the* coin however, Tommy’s version was much different…and you’re right, I think Dion’s now one of the more prominent remaining survivors from that tour, so not too many to refute his version. Thanks again for all the support!
Worth noting that Allsop and Jennings stories both work with each other, and they were told independent of each other. They also told this story many many times over the course of many many years and it never changed. Allsop even went back to the Surf and walked through the building pointing out exactly where and when this stuff went down. Another detail is the story about Allsop’s ID. According to Allsop he had lost the toss with Ritchie and then walked outside to tell buddy about the change in plans, Allsop asks Buddy to pick up a package for him in Moorhead, and buddy, grabs Allsops wallet with the ID in it and drives off. At the crash site the next morning, they find that ID, 4 bodies and 5 IDs. It seems weird to think that Allsop would slip that little nugget of truth into an otherwise complete and utter lie. It’s a precedent that Allsop was telling the truth. Dion has told his story maybe twice, and both iterations and slightly different. Dion, great musician, completely full of shit.
@@TLO129 I agree, but then, those movies both spread a lot of BS too... for instance, in the movie LaBamba, Richie calls his manager and tells him that he's sick and the manager asks him to come home, to which Richie says he will stay on the tour... According to people who were there, the Manager's answer was "Either you finish the tour, or you can WALK home!" (Of course, had they put that in the movie, mr Manager would have most likely sued the production company, for libel.)
@@shoknifeman2mikado135 I agree also with you guys and I think in LaBamba movie that the bob tells Ritchie that if he does well on his tour that the convertible he is driving will be his but his aunt on tv years later said she knew of no mention of him getting a new car and that it was Hollywood bullshit the movie was very good but you had to research it to see what was true and what wasn't
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Locals were there (the owner of the SURF at the time, and Dwyer the airplane service owner for two) and their story matched the fact that the plane was booked originally for Buddy WAYLON and Alsup.
I loved the way you presented the video. I am a new subscriber to your channel and look forward to your next video.
Thanks so much for taking the time to watch the video, and your kind comment Edith! … Both are much appreciated. I also appreciate you subscribing to the channel and your support!! I am working on another video now - I hope to have it on the channel soon. Thanks again, it’s great having comments from such good people!
Thank you for sharing this story with us!
Thanks so much guys! We really appreciate you & your support as always..you’re a day one that will never go unappreciated! Hope you both have an amazing week!!
Wow !
This video is rad ! … grew up listening to early rock and roll 🎸 … these guys were legends … still are 😎
Thanks Cpl B - glad you got a blast from the past & hope we paid a great tribute to these Rock’n’Roll Legends!! Thanks for the continued support!
Guys from Liverpool loved Buddy Holly’s band The Crickets .. they called themselves The Beatles
Thanks for watching the video, and your comment Johnny! Both are much appreciated. I found this today which I thought was interesting:
When John Lennon’s best friend from art college, Stu Sutcliffe had joined the band as the bass player, the story goes that the two were discussing possible band names, and came up with ‘The Beetles’ as they were huge fans of Buddy Holly and The Crickets - as a way of emulating their heroes, they called themselves after an insect.
Most of the accounts claim that Lennon’s love of wordplay is what led them to eventually adopt the ‘a’. Lennon would explain in a 1964 interview: “It was beat and beetles and when you said it, people thought of crawly things, and when you read it, it was beat music.”
Source: faroutmagazine.co.uk/
R.I.P to these great men. I remember watching LA Bamba as a kid.. didn't know much about Holly or the big bopper..
Thanks for watching and commenting ! All three of these talented musicians died way too young. And yes, if it were not for the horrible tour conditions, Buddy may never had rented that plane. RIP to all.
Well done! Excellent account of the tragedy. So much young talent gone too soon.
Thanks for watching & the feedback Caroline!! I totally agree - such a tragic event taking so much young talent that the world would have love to see grow & blossom for many more years...but even after all these decades, their legacies live on & will continue to be celebrated!!
This was a damm shame, and shows how fucked up the music labels and industry was and is.. you gotta take care of the product.. To have these guys out there freezing and hungry when your making millions off them is wrong 😪😪
Dion didn't have his hits "Runaround Sue" or "The Wanderer" until some years later. He was probably breaking ground with "A Teenager in Love" at the time of the "day the music died."
Thanks for watching & the comment Donny!! You’re absolutely correct! Check out Walts comment & my response below…I agree with you; I should have distinguished the hits from Dion solo career vs. the hits from Dion & the Belmonts! I appreciate you pointing that out my friend - cheers!
He also sang "I Wonder Why". That night. Though he did sing "A Teenager in Love" that night, it didn't crack the Top 40 until April of '59, peaking at #5.
Thanks for the information Gary! ... you have a lot of great input 😀
Funny story, according to Dion, the girl in Runaround Sue was a real person, who screwed him over, but, her name was "Deloris". Dion claims he changed it to Sue, because, the only rhyme he could think of, was LAVORIS... A popular mouthwash, at the time!
@@shoknifeman2mikado135 I think Dion's wife of almost 60 years now is, ironically, named Sue!
RIP
Roger Peterson
(1937-1959)
Buddy Holly
(1936-1959)
Ritchie Valens
(1941-1959)
and
J.P. Richardson Jr.
(1930-1959)
It's always sobering to reflect on the tragic loss of such talented individuals. Their contributions to music continue to inspire generations. Thank you for honoring their memory with this thoughtful comment.
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 It’s always a pleasure. Peterson should not have piloted that plane that night. 😢💔
Good video! I had no idea on how bad things were on this tour. Getting into aircraft is always a matter of judgment. Look at the friggin V-tail Bonanza; I know it flies but does it fly well? It’s the same deal with SRV getting in a helo in the FOG and Skynyrd getting aboard a charter with an already sputtering left engine. WE WUZ ROBBED of all the good extra music! The Lynyrd Skynyrd crash happened in Mississippi but the other two (and Otis Redding!) were in the Midwest. The Midwest weather has a lot to answer for.
(I’ll be your 218th subscriber, btw, lol.)
Yeah man - the tour conditions were crazy!! Which band we ever heard of having to burn newspaper inside the bus to stay warm to avoid frostbite & hypothermia?! Can you imagine how smoked out that bus must have been with the fire & all the cigs, ha! Yeah, that friggin V-tail alright was nicknamed “forked-tail doctor killer” due to crashes by overconfident wealthy amateur pilots, fatal accidents & inflight breakups. Yeah, I did a video on SRV (see that one?)…planning to do one on the Skynard tragedy: I think seeing a ball of fire coming from the engine on the flight prior would have been enough for me not to board again (so terribly sad)…One twist of fate was that was almost Aerosmith’s plane but they passed on buying as I’m sure you are aware of…Otis: I may or may not be working on Otis as my next video as I type this (stay tuned!!) YES, the Midwest OWES us BIG TIME (Mother*&$&#$* Midwest) Man I can’t thank you enough for being #218…It means more to me than the #2,018 or the 20,018 (just don’t tell them that, lol) - Took me 2 years of grinding on weekends from the 9-5 for you to find me…so THANK YOU for all the support it will NEVER go unnoticed or unappreciated!!
I've read that the Bonanza was a real difficult plane to fly, because it lacked a vertical stabilizer on the tail
Shame on the record companies for being so damn cheap! That's why Buddy Holly went on that tour, he needed MONEY!!!!
Yes ... I agree ... a tragic accident that could have been avoided ! ... thanks for watching and leaving a comment !
Such a twist of fate … for everyone …
Great job !
This legendary story had an incredible total number of twists of fate…possibly a few more we didn’t capture! Appreciate you watching!!
Great Video.....they were before my time but l love all their songs and still enjoy hearing them.
RIP to all those who were lost on that fateful day.
Thank you, Cathy! I appreciate you taking the time to watch and comment 😊 They were before my time too. I would have loved to see them perform!! Their music still lives on today - which says quite a lot, I think.
Thank you for this on the spot documentary. I was 11 months old when this tragedy occurred. They were famous during the worst times! RIP fellas!
Thank you for your kind comment, Robert! … I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and leave a comment. I was young when this tragedy occurred too … but have always loved their style and music.
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 you are so welcomed.
Thank You. I appreciate your talent!
Thanks much Elizabeth!! You are a faithful subscriber 😀 I appreciate you taking the time to watch the video and comment. Stay tuned - I think you'll really like the next video!
Some truth legends that we be forever miss 👼👼👼🧖🏻
Thank you so much for your comment!! Absolutely, these legendary musicians left an indelible mark on the music industry and their untimely passing was a tragic loss. Their contributions to rock and roll continue to inspire generations. Let's keep their memory alive through their timeless music!!!
good short doc. I never would have got on that plane. the weather was very bad....I've wanted to be a pilot forever, but I am too scared to fly now...idk why, maybe it's cause we hear about plane crashes alot...anyhow again, gr8 job
Thanks Arron! I really appreciate your feedback & taking the time to respond!! I totally understand where you’re coming from...I always enjoyed the idea of flying, but just being near that cockpit in the front of the plane while in flight terrifies me...Thanks again for the support - I subscribed to your channel to support you & your content -- looking forward to binging all your videos!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9
thanks for the nice reply....I'll follow ur channel too, u should def make more documentaries like this one about other tragedies and whatnot ....I see u did one for cliff Burton dying in the tour bus crash...I play music, cliffs one of my biggest influences.. I think way back I did a vid or 2 talking about what happened to him....another tragic death, he was asleep on his bands tour bus! no part in his own death and that's sad
@@ArronP Thanks for the support & all the comments - being a smaller channel I truly appreciate the genuine interactions with dope creators / musicians as yourself! I grew up listening to Metallica my entire life & one thing that’s been awesome & sad doing these Bio/Docs is after all the research on the artists I grew up loving & listening to the tragedies hit even harder re-living their deaths. Anyone who knows Metallica knows what Cliff meant to the band, their music & their trajectory to stardom and positive influence on so many musicians like yourself. Yeah, it’s crazy how he literally just went to sleep on his own tour bus, doing nothing to cause his own death. RIP to all the Legends…Cliff em All
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9
well thanks for the comments...ur channel will go higher with vids like the srv and the Buddy Holly vids u did. ppl like watching little docs...I know I do, there's always something to learn it seems.
@@ArronP
Appreciate you, Arron! It is my passion … I have another video I’m working on now - unfortunately, I work full time and do not have the time I would like to dedicate to these projects. … not yet that is 😊
Great video! Loved it 👍
Thanks for watching Richard. I greatly appreciate you watching the video and your kind comment!
😀 🎸
I have a unique idea for a short film about the crash. It starts out with the three arriving at the airport, paying their fares, and boarding the plane, all excited to be getting ahead long enough to rest and clean their clothes. Then the plane goes down with a huge crash...there is a moment of intense pain and then they are thrown clear. Buddy comes too, and picks himsaelf off the ground and sees Ritchie and pilot Roger Peterson, also getting up. "Wow, what the hell just happened guys?" Ritchie replies "I don't know, man, I just heard a big bang and boom, here we are." Roger says "Man I don't know.....the ground just appeared in front of us....we were supposed to be going up but somehow we went down instead." Buddy looked back at the wreckage and was shocked "man will you look at the plane? It's all rolled up! How did we get out of that?" Just then the Bopper comes over saying "Man what the hell happened? A big boom and here I am in some cornfield, and oh my Gawd, look at our plane! " Roger says "man we had beter think about how we are getting back to the airport, we got no way to call them and tell them what happened to us, and we got to get out of this cold." Just then, Ritchie calls out to them "Hey guys, you might want to come see this....I got a funny feeling." the four of them walk over to the side of the wreckage and in the dim light of the stars, they see two bodies. Buddy looks down closely and says "Uh.....guys, ....I don't know how to say this, but that looks kind like me. And this one next to it kinda looks like you, Ritchie." Bopper says "uh guys I'll be back in a second." A moment later, Bopper returned and said grimly "Guys....where I picked myself up from? There's a body over there....and it's me, and I got a strange feeling....how do you all feel? Because I feel fine, like I don't have a cold or flu anymore. I don't even feel cold, I feel kinda warm all over." Ritchie said "Yeah....I don't have my cold anymore, and I feel warm too, like it's not even cold out here, but it should be, just look at the snow. What does this all mean?" It was Roger who spoke the words they all feared... "Guys, I think I know why we survived.....because we didn't....those are your bodies there, and I think I know where I'm at..." walking over to the wreckage, he leaned over and peered into the wreckage and saw himself rolled up in the wrecked plane "yes....I'm in there.....and this means..."
Buddy finished for him "we're all dead, that's why." Just then the night was split by a blinding light that appeared to beckon them. Bopper spoke for them "Guys.....I think we should go to the light." the four of them walked to the light and were submerged in its brightness. When the four of them were in the light, it winked out, and the night sky went dark again, the wreckage and bodies waiting to be discovered hours later in the daylight.
Thanks so much for the amazing comment nursesteve!! I think your idea is a great one & would make an awesome short film!! I'm really diggin the perspective of when the four meet up after the accident with the blinding light beckoning them into the brightness!! I appreciate you taking the time to write out all the details of your unique idea & appreciate all the support!! If you ever end up making this happen - definitely let me know my friend!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I'll start working on a complete short story format of it soon, and will let you know when it's finished. What I wrote down was basically a quick summary of it.
@@nursesteve2004 Sounds awesome!! I’m seriously excited to see the completed short story!! Thanks again for letting me know & take care my friend!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I finished the story a couple weeks ago.
@@nursesteve2004 Good job nursesteve2004!
The Big Bopper was the first mainstream rapper. He doesn't get the credit he deserves.
Absolutely! When Eminem's mom was being born, The Big Bopper was already spitting bars!! One of the reasons I wanted to bring some light to The BIg Bopper is bc you're 100% right -he doesn't get the credit he deserves!! Thanks for watching, commenting & the support!! 🎤
very sad imagine the horror they went threw RIP sweet boys
Incredibly sad for so many impacted by this horrible tragedy! I can only imagine the widows, the families & band mates not to mention the Valens hearing it by radio first 😔 thanks for watching, your comment & support Stephen!! RIP sweet boys indeed my friend!!
Great video, thanks for posting.
Thank you so much for watching and for your kind words! I'm really glad you enjoyed the video about Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. If there's anything else you'd like to see, please feel free to let me know. Your support means a lot!!
Great video man. Just subscribed.
Thanks so much Michael!! I really appreciate the feedback & all the support...Your subscription truly means so much & will never go unappreciated!! Hope you have a great weekend my friend!!
Buddy had chartered the plane to fly himself; Waylon; and Tommy Allsup to the next gig; their drummer; Carl Bunch; was in the hospital with frostbite from the bus breakdown and extreme cold weather with little or no heat on the bus; Waylon gave up his seat to the Bopper; so he could get a flu shot; and Ritchie asked Tommy if he could have his seat; so they flipped the coin for it.
Source: “Remembering Buddy”; by John Golddrosen.
Thanks for taking the time to watch the video and comment Thomas! Both are much appreciated 😊. When doing all my research, I was going back & forth on Dion’ s version of events (if they were accurate). I think in retrospect your source is the correct one. Dion’s now one of the more prominent remaining survivors from that tour, so not too many to refute his version. Thanks again for the information and for all the support!
There is an error in the video. The narrator says that Dion and The Belmonts were best known for their hit songs Runaround Sue and The Wanderer. Neither of those songs were by Dion and The Belmonts. They were both released in 1961 by Dion after the breakup with The Belmonts. The Del-Satins were the uncredited backup group on both songs.
Thanks for watching & for your comment Ron! You’re absolutely correct! You can see Walts & Donny's comments pointing out the same along with my response…I agree with you; I should have distinguished the hits from Dion solo career vs. the hits from Dion & The Belmonts! I appreciate you pointing that out & taking the time to respond!!
Eternamente Ritchie Valens, Buddy e Big Bopper são lendas ✨🎸
En efecto ! ... gracias por mirar y dejar un comentario mi amigo. 🙂
Very sad course o events.
Absolutely sad course of events for so many great lives…I appreciate you taking the time to watch & comment!!
Great video, easy to understand. Well done. One note I have: The gyroscope in the aircraft used that night was Sperry F4 Attitude Indicator. This was a very unconventional design, it was fairly new at the time too. The one thing I wish to point out, is I have no reason to believe that Roger Peterson would've even been looking at that instrument. For context, I'm a pilot, I fly bonanza's, and the thing to note about them is they are what we call "high performance" aircraft. Meaning it has an engine that can output more than 200 horsepower. It flies fast, and it has fantastic climb performance. Why is this important? Well it leads into my belief that the crash was caused by the pilot not looking at his instruments at all. If you look at a Sperry F4 Attitude Indicator, you will notice that each hemisphere of the instrument is labeled "CLIMB" and "DIVE" to avoid confusion. If Pilot Peterson was staring at this gyro as is suggested by the CAB, it would've probably saved their life. The rough turbulent air, wouldve made his static and pitot-static instruments practically unreadable. Peterson gets into IFR condition, looks at his instrument panel and sees a bunch of needles moving all over the place, and the attitude indicator reading the reverse of what he was expecting. If you were not very experienced on instruments, and this particular panel you had never flown IFR on before, you would no longer trust your instruments. With no visual outside reference, Peterson would've then relied on his physical sensation. And this is why I mentioned the Bonanza's sheer power in the climb. It accelerates really fast out of the climb. Rapid Acceleration during takeoff can cause the illusion of being in a nose up attitude. This may cause the pilot to pitch down into a nose low attitude. I experienced these sensations going through my IFR training, it is a really powerful illusion especially in a plane as powerful as a Beechcraft Bonanza. Roger Peterson most likely got spatially disoriented as a result of disregarding flight instruments.
Thanks so much for watching & your kind feedback. I appreciate your detailed breakdown, derived from your personal knowledge & experience as a duty expert in the realm of aviation. Your assessment sounds extremely likely, helping to reinforce the crash details involving the spatially disorientation & lack of using instrumentation by Pilot Peterson. Mentioning the sheer power of the Beechcraft Bonanza was something I had not read about, and I can definitely see where that could have also contributed to the many factors that led to the accident. I truly appreciate you taking the time to leave your comment & all the support!
😳 very informative. So in essence relying on one particular aspect of the instrumentation could have saved them. I wonder if they could have survived a calculated crash landing on a soft layer of freshly fallen snow ❄️. I also wonder if seatbelts may have helped in a softer crash at a significantly reduced speed, wheels absorbing impact without any cartwheeling on a flat Iowa cornfield. It was the 50s after all. Automobiles did not even have seatbelts. Do passengers and pilots wear helmets nowadays in these small planes?
@@googalacticgoo While seatbelt use and safety regulations have significantly improved since the 1950s, the tragic events of the plane crash in 1959 were influenced by various factors. Speculating on alternative scenarios is intriguing, but emergency landings remain complex. Today, modern small planes adhere to stricter safety standards, including mandatory seatbelt use, contributing to improved overall aviation safety. From my knowledge helmets are not standard practice for general aviation flights, but in certain specialized activities like aerobatics or air racing, pilots may choose to wear helmets for added protection.
I wish to mention only Buddy at this time. Look at guys like Bill Haley & Elvis. They both rocked on until they psychically couldn't. Buddy died too young & one could only imagine what he would have been able to contribute to the genesis of Rock & Roll,..
Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to leave a comment Marc! … Both are much appreciated! I would totally agree!!! … one could only imagine the contributions Buddy would have made to this era of music had this tragedy not occurred.
The sad thing is that it didn't hve to happen, had they heeded the weather warnings. If yulook at a lot of the famous crashes involving performers, such as the plane crash that killed Patsy Cline, the crash that killed Jim Reeves (he was his own pilot), Otis Redding's crash, the Lynyrd Skynyrd crash, and the plane crash that killed Jim Croce, the common thread was that the pilots ignored clear warnings of bad weather, and in the case of the Lynyrd Skynyrd crash, clear indications of faulty maintenance (How in the hell did they start on that last leg without enough fuel??) Even the Space Shuttle Challenger was launched against the wishes of the engineers who warned that the extreme cold was shrinking the critical O-Rings in the SRB's. The pilots bowed to the wishes of the performers to get to the next show despite the risks to everyone, instead of taking a stand and saying no I am not flying in this weather, and they ended up paying the ultimate price.
You raise a poignant and very important point about the tragic plane crashes involving musicians and performers throughout history. It's a sobering reminder of the consequences of disregarding weather warnings and prioritizing schedules over safety. These incidents serve as powerful reminders of the importance of listening to expert advice and prioritizing safety above all else. The loss of such talented individuals is a heartbreaking reminder of the fragility of life. It's crucial that we learn from these tragedies to prevent similar accidents in the future. I remember watching the lauch...I feel the Space Shuttle Challenger tragedy remains one of the most heartbreaking moments in space exploration history. The loss of the seven brave astronauts, including teacher Christa McAuliffe. The decision to launch despite concerns about the O-rings in the solid rocket boosters illustrates the complex interplay between ambition, safety, and the pressures of scheduling. Thank you for sharing your spot-on insights as always, my friend.
I Blame It On The PROMOTERS ‼️ The Fact They Hired Faulty Buses‼️Should Of Had Charter Buses‼️ Not Hand Me Down School Buses‼️Who Were The Individual Promoters⁉️ Blame Them ‼️☠️‼️
Thanks for your comment, Richard!! I agree that there was a lot of negligence on the part of the promoters with the tour scheduling and poor conditions of all the buses. This was definitely one of the twist of fates…had these conditions not been so horrible, Buddy most likely would not have chartered the plane.
I blame it on the air service, who allowed an unqualified pilot to fly the plane, because none of their other, more experienced pilots, thought it was safe to make that flight, under those weather conditions and refused the job!
I agree my uncle worked be hind stage that night in Clearlake that is we’re he is from said buddy Richie and big bopper all had enough of the frozen busses and we’re sick as well
The promoters were soul less. I would not be surprised if the winter dance party tour zig zag formed a satanic star
Why where they playing at all these tiny cities anyway? Montevideo had a population of 5,000 at the time.
Yea, it was a crazy schedule ... not sure why all the small cities ... I guess the person(s) who coordinated the tour took whatever they could get along the way ?
Thanks for watching and your comment !
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 i love the content keep it up!
@@BenGilman Thanks for the feedback & support!! It really means a lot & never goes unnoticed. 😎🙏🏻
Thank you for a great video,new subscriber .. Come on lets go!!!❤️
Thanks so much for watching & welcome to the All or Nothing Family!! Thanks for making my day, today with your amazing support & kind words = they sincerely mean so much!! ❤
I read a couple years ago the reason for the plane charter was because the heat on the bus didn't work.But after that night the heat worked and never quit again.Tell me that's not spooky
Thanks for watching the video and for commenting my friend. I had not heard that ... but I agree that's definitely spooky! And sad ...
What is the song used at 4:21 - 6:40 ?
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Grant! … The song is from Artlist (licensed music - artlist.io/). It is called “Don’t let the summer end” - by The Magnetic Buzz. A copy of the song can be found here: th-cam.com/video/geHqBSTy8gs/w-d-xo.html
I was to young to remember this.
Just a little kid.
Thanks for watching & commenting Vera - I appreciate you!! I was also too young to remember this tragic event however, I do remember growing up hearing Patsy Cline's music which my last video was made in remembrance of another music legend!
I always find it crazy how fate works 🖤
Life & fate are a crazy thing indeed…you never know how simple something seemingly is that could change your life forever! Thanks for watching & supporting as always 🙂 👓
It was a change for the better!
Thanks for watching Mike - I appreciate you!!
that is not a picture of Buddy's drummer. Yes that is a picture of Jerry A Buddy's drummer, but by Feb 59 Jerry was out of band .
Thanks Desi - you’re absolutely correct..that was suppose to be Carl Bunch photo & I mistakenly added Jerry Allison in error - Great catch - I appreciate the comment & the correction!!
Jerry wasn't out of the band just Buddy and Crickets parted company
@@raymondcunningham9655 yeah I read that Buddy wanted to get back with the crickets…and I also read the crickets where not too happy about Buddy using their name on the tours flyers when they weren’t performing
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 According to JI, he and Bill were planning to call Buddy and tell him they wanted to reform the Crickets, but, they wound up playing phone tag, just missing each other!
Now that's a twist of fate. Thanks for the comment!
I wonder if the ones in charge of the itinerary, bus transportation, and Dreyer company were ever sued.
That’s a great question! I’ll have to do a little more research on that & get back to you! I do recall reading something about Dreyer, but can’t recall seeing anything on those at the label in charge of the itinerary, touring, or bus transportation being held accountable. Thanks for watching & all the support- it really does mean a lot!! 🤝❣️
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I read somewhere about the airport being closed and torn down and then they were going to build another airport in that area they were always going to be known for killing 3 famous passengers and killing the non experienced pilot who was made to fly in a dangerous visually challenged situation and they had a a instrument that he never used before so he had to wing it no disrespect for the victims intended and I’m not trying to be a jerk either and I’m apologizing for any crudeness on my part if I come off as being rude or anything like that but I’m calling it as I see it I’m just saying
Dion and The Belmonts were NOT best known for "Runaround Sue" and "The Wanderer." Both of those hits were Dion solo hits in 1961... after Dion and The Belmonts had gone their seperate ways.
Thanks for the comment Walt! You are absolutely correct, I should have distinguished That Dion was best known for those two hits with Dion & The Belmonts known for Where or When, A Teenager in Lover, No One Knows, I Wonder Why. I sincerely appreciate you correcting me on that!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I believe Dion's first solo hit was "Lonely Teenager" in 1960.
Thanks Gary - saw this on Wikipedia:
By the end of 1960, Dion produced his first solo album on Laurie Records, Alone with Dion, released in 1961. The single "Lonely Teenager" rose to No. 12 in the US charts. The name on his solo releases was simply "Dion".
Thanks Gary ... really appreciate the comments and information!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I have this Dion 45 on my jukebox.
21 yr old pilot flying tiny single engine plane in heavy snow and winds.....how could anyone think that was a good option?
Exactly!! Operating a single-engine aircraft in severe weather conditions, strong winds and complete darkness with no visible references on the ground, posed a substantial challenge for Roger Peterson. With escalating snowfall severely limiting visibility, Peterson had to rely solely on his instruments, despite having only 52 hours of instrument training, none of which was specific to this aircraft type.
In such circumstances, even a seasoned pilot might have hesitated to proceed with the flight. The absence of celestial cues and ground lights can disorient a pilot, particularly when faced with instrument displays that deviate from the norm. It's reasonable to expect that a more experienced pilot might have opted to delay the flight, considering the complexities involved.
In retrospect, prioritizing the laundry or foregoing a few extra hours of rest in a hotel might have seemed insignificant compared to the potential risks involved. The weight of the decision to proceed with the flight, given the unfavorable conditions, is a sobering aspect to consider, and it underscores the importance of careful judgment in all that we do. Thanks for the support & comment my friend!
That plane in the picture with the v tail was a bitch to fly! After many years it was called " the Doctor killer because a lot of doctors will killed flying them"
Thanks for watching the video and taking the time to comment as well MrJimmy1437! Both are much appreciated 😊 You are the 2nd or 3rd person who has commented on what a beast of a plane the Bonanza was! With a reputation such as this, you would think that they would have given Roger another type of plane to fly. I know he had 128 hours on the Bonanza … but still …
The plane wasn't found till 9:35 that morning Buddy, Ritchie and JP could have survived but froze to death, I doubt it but they were in that field for 8 1/2 hours
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Robert! Both are appreciated 😊 According to the official autopsy reports, they likely perished on impact due to the extent of their injuries. I did not include a lot of these details in the video out of respect, and quite frankly they are very difficult to read. But you’re right I think - if they had survived the crash, they would have surely frozen to death.
I have read the autopsy reports on all four of them..With the injuries described, I believe they all had to die on impact..They all had horrific injuries and would not have survived impact...May they all Rest In Peace..
Richardson's body was exhumed in 2007 for reburial, and his son arranged for his body to be reexamined, as there were theories that Richardson had crawled from the wreckage, since he was found further from the crash site. Richardson's body was found to have suffered fractures to nearly every bone, and it was concluded that he most certainly had died instantly.
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 You are a true inspiration and professional for not including the details of the autopsies and injuries and out of respect and consideration and compassion for those families that were involved in this tragedy it’s bad enough that they have gone through the grief and pain of losing their loved ones in the crash which could have been avoided in my opinion if they had waited for daylight hours to leave but they were pressured into the flight because of their promoters who didn’t care about their safety only the money they would make I blame the Dwyers for the deaths of the musicians because Peterson was allowed to fly in conditions that he wasn’t qualified for and he had been in 3 or 4 different airlines and he was let go of due to his attitude Dwyers wife said he told her that no matter what she said to him he was going to let them leave at midnight even though they would be in danger of crashing because they had paid him and he didn’t want to deal with the promoters for the late flight and not getting to the concert on time.she was interviewed years later after the accident and she had always had felt bad for the families and then jerry befriended the families after the accident lawsuits settled I personally would not have done that but that’s me. I’m with you and though on the fact that if they hadn’t died instantly they would have died of exposure relatively quickly but they all were the last ones to play the innocent rock and roll music of the 50s.That makes them forever rock and roll forefathers and they are still alive in their music
@@lisajoyce6803 Thanks so much for such a thoughtful & heartfelt comment!! Not including the details of the autopsies and injuries was very intentional & we wanted to respect all the lives (including all the families) affected in this horrific accident. I wasn't aware & didn't come across any info on Peterson being at 3 or 4 different airlines & being let go for his attitude, but I really wish he would've made the executive decision as the pilot to not leave until morning in both better light & weather conditions. I'm happy there are so many that still appreciate & love the innocent rock and roll music of that era which remains alive in all the music they left us all for generations to come!
Fantastic job.... we just subscribed. We recently did a music video tribute to these great artist so this story is fresh on our minds. We really enjoyed your video and look forward to seeing others.
Thanks so much for the comment & support!! We will go check out the new music video tribute right now - Thanks agian for taking the time to watch & subscribing!
Winter Dance Party was a tour from hell. Instead of getting from once place to another, you were backwards and forwards all the time. Such stupidity!
Thanks for taking the time to watch & comment!! For me it's absolutely heartbreaking to think about the challenges they faced on that tour. The Winter Dance Party tour was indeed plagued with logistical issues, forcing the performers to endure grueling travel schedules in harsh winter conditions. It's a true testament to their dedication to their craft that they continued to perform despite the hardships they encountered (While financial considerations may have played a role in Buddy Holly's decision to join The Winter Dance Party tour, it wasn't the sole or primary reason. At the time, Holly was facing financial disputes with his former manager, Norman Petty, which undoubtedly put pressure on him to continue touring and generating income)
Buddy never offered Dion a damn ticket.
Thanks for the comment & watching David!! I went off Dion’s account of events & not sure why he would have lied but I also found some discrepancies with what he said about flipping the coin so you may be correct!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Yeah, Tommy Alsup said the flip was between himself and Ritchie and said it from day one. He felt guilt over it for years. Dion only,relatively, recently made the claim. I believe Dion is attempting to make himself relevant. There is no logical reason he would have been offered a ticket. Waylon and Tommy were personal friends of Buddy. Carl, Buddy’s drummer, was in the hospital with frost bitten feet. Lastly, the owner of the Surf was present when Buddy made arrangements for the charter and stated that Buddy said it was for himself and his band.
@@davidcarroll4411 I agree re: the coin flip! You make a great point, the logical reasoning would be to offer his touring bandmates the seats on the plane first. With Carl in the hospital that would leave Waylon & Tommy which aligns with what the owner of the Surf Ballroom stated.
Aina siis täällä ,Finland,Buddy Holly,mun sydämessä!Ritchie ja Big Bopper!👍👍
Thanks so much for the comment, support all the way from Finland my friend!! Long live Legends: Buddy, Ritchie & The Big Bopper!! I apprecaite you taking the time to watch & comment!!
Waylon Jennings was supposed to be on this flight but gave up his seat at the last minute
Yeah that was one of the crazy twist of fates...had Waylon not given up his seat, he most likely would have been on the plane with Biddy & the Big Bopper...thanks for watching and for your comment -- both are most appreciated!!
You could have added: "If Buddy Holly wouldn't have been facing bankruptcy over his royalties being frozen thanks to a pending court case, he'd never have been on that tour"!
Your absolutely right! That would have been another twist of fate…I read that Buddy had asked money from his manager: wanting to stay in NY, build a studio & start a recording company, but couldn’t find any legit reason as to why the manager wasn’t able to give Buddy his royalties, but now you mention bc of a pending court case I’ll have to read more into that! Bottom line, had he gotten the money, he most likely would have never agreed to go on the tour! Thanks for watching & your comment - I sincerely appreciate both!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Buddy was being sued by a NY show promoter, who felt Buddy had stiffed him on his part of the "gate" , believe it or not!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 it's also a well known fact Buddy's wife was expecting a child, another reason he probably would not have gone had Norman Petty paid him
I saw that too Gary, and I am sure you are right about that. Thanks for your comment!
Thank you for the information shoknifeman2 mikado! … I really appreciate it 😊
" Look the plane maybe gone down. Well I am going home and sleep". Who the hell does that? I know they must have died insantly in the crash but still the worker at airport should have send search parties out sooner and not gone home to sleep!! I guess that is USA.
I would have to agree...if he saw the taillight appears to go down knowing the current weather conditions (and the weather only getting worse) a search should have been done way sooner than in the morning. I also agree that from all the reports it appears they all perished on impact, but you would think if you witnessed what you thought was the plane go down, fueling up a plane to go confirm right away would have been the right move!! Thanks for watching, commenting & all the support -- we sincerely appreciate you!!
😢 super tragic 😭😭😭
Incredibly sad & tragic. As you can see with this video comments & so many more amazing videos out there about these true legends - they are still loved, remembered & missed just as much as everyone did in 1959. Thank you for watching & taking the time to comment!!
It’s events like these that make me think that nothing happens by chance. Those three guys buddy, Ritchie and the big bopper were supposed to perish that day. If not on an airplane, i guarantee they would’ve died differently, maybe in a bus accident or something. So sad they were taken so young but they left us a lasting legacy. May they RIP. On a side note- does this mean that the pilot’s inexperience with instrumentation contributed to the crash? So the weather had nothing to do with bringing down the plane? Does this mean had it been another , more qualified and experienced pilot, they would’ve made it safely?
Thanks for watching and for your comment it's like the same but different! … both are much appreciated. Interesting thought … it could have been fate, and there were certainly a lot of twists of fate in this story. It was a sad day …they all had bright futures had the accident not happened. According to my research, the pilot was not rated (certified) for instrument only - so I think this was definitely a determining factor, as well as the weather which required instrument only capabilities. Thanks again for your thoughts!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 thx for your reply. Yeah you are correct. If the pilot wasn’t certified for instrument only, he should not have been allowed to fly that plane. So sad. Thx for the content, very informative.
Thanks ! ... I would definitely agree! ... Like with Stevie Ray Vaughan, the pilots did not know of the coming weather change. They both were not certified instrument only - and the weather played a twist of fate for them. They have since changed the distance and hours for non instrument flights. I would never get in a helicopter or airplane except in one that had a very experienced pilot who was instrument trained and had a lot of flight hours. Thanks again for you comment!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 absolutely, can’t gamble with your life.
it was a combination of bad weather and the pilot's inexperience with the instruments. The gyroscopic horizon in the Bonanza was different from the one he trained on. He thought he was ascending when he was descending. Plus he could not see outside because of the weather, until it was too late.
Buddy was forced to do this tour because he had run out of cash, as Dion and Crickets members stated later. Norman Petty had owned him money which was locked in church funds, according to Petty. Terrible tragedy. RIP.
Indeed, Buddy's passing was a tragic loss for the music world. It's unfortunate that circumstances led to that fateful decision to go on tour. His contributions to rock and roll are immeasurable, and his legacy lives on through his timeless music. While we can't change the past, we can continue to appreciate and celebrate the impact he made on the music industry. 🎶🕊
Music hasn't really recovered from this tragedy. They are still sorely missed.
Thanks so much Jorge for the comment, for watching & the support!! I totally agree…I’m a big way it hasn’t recovered since& then in some ways I guess it inspired so many talented musicians…I just wish they could have been inspired with Buddy, Ritchie & the Big Bopper living a long & fruitful lives with so many more amazing music we could all enjoy!!
Music is doing fine. Yes, it's a tragic loss, but music was not affected because some musicians died 🤷
@@richguitarmusic6781 I wouldn't say that. Then came the teen idol era, and in a sense, innocence died in that crash, for afterwards came a sense of experience, rebellion and disillusionment that four you- know- whom put into music. Buddy's music , for example was about finding a love " so rare and so true".
@@richguitarmusic6781 thanks for watching & taking the time to comment!! I agree with you, the music didn’t die…their music still lives on & their music inspired so much more…it’s a horribly tragic event that ended their lives & careers earlier & I think Don’s song was intended as a metaphor that so many took literally.
@@jorgelopez-pr6dr Thanks Jorge for watching and your thoughtfully kind reply! The butterfly effect doesn’t exclude music: every musician affects other musicians, genres, movements & all music can also be perceived differently from person to person which is why I think it’s so important to so many people. If nothing else, music time/date stamps memories for us that can be a range of emotions, but if it wasn’t important we wouldn’t write it to memory! Appreciate the support & hope you enjoyed this one!
Why did they go? They should have known it was too risky to fly in heavy conditions.
Thanks for watching the video and your comment Gary. Both are appreciated! I certainly agree! I think one contributing factor was they were not provided with accurate weather reports for the conditions they were flying into.
they were all dead drunk how could they know
A little-known fact, Ritchie Valens was the first Mexican American to die in a plane crash.
Thanks for your comment!! I didn't know that fact...very interesting and very sad. Appreciate you watching & your support!!
That sounds highly unlikely, possibly you meant the first Hispanic rocker, to die in a crash
I understand some of these were ready to quit the tour. Whoever organized the tour should have been sued.
I appreciate your perspective and agree. The challenges and dynamics of the tour were indeed complex, and it's understandable that some artists may have considered quitting. Organizing such tours involves balancing various factors, including artists' well-being, schedules, and logistical considerations all of which were clearly mishandled. While hindsight allows us to reevaluate decisions, and tragic events like this prompting us to reflect on the responsibilities of tour organizers and the need to ensure the safety and well-being of artists on the road, who are out there trying to make a living by sharing their passion for music & performing deserved so much better.
Wow thank you brother 🙏
Thank you Sam! Me & my pops really appreciate you watching, commenting & all the support! We sincerely appreciate you bro!! 👊🏻✨❣️
I actually hated this. I so loved Buddy Holly….I still cry, and I’m now 76. Have been to stage shows Buddy, 3 times and each time left devastated and crying. The first LP I ever had was given to me by mum and dad. RIP American Pie. 🇦🇺🇦🇺
Thanks for watching the video and commenting margm4. I definitely agree!! … I was very young when this tragedy occurred, but I love their music and wanted to tell this story as a tribute. It was a hard thing to do… Doing my research, I watched a lot of videos and commentaries, and read a lot of documents. It was difficult reliving this tragedy over and over during that period. Really cool your mum and dad gave you that LP!!
I understand how you feel. I never had an LP of any of Buddy, The Big Bopper or others from our era of rock n roll. It was very great that your mum and dad gave you such a special gift. I hope you have kept it ! It's that "Old Time Rock n Roll" that remains outstanding in the memories of us who experienced that.
@@elizabethburton6782 ❤️👍👍
Add Eddie Cochrane in 1960… Rock ‘n’ Roll lost 4 big names
I couldn't agree more Jay...Eddie Cochran was a major influence on so many acts with one of Eddie’s biggest hits being covered by The Who (my personal favorite) “The Summertime Blues”.
Eddie was very affected by the death of his musical peers (Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper) so much so that he had been started to feel like he was going to die soon too.
The fact he was only 21 years old AND the only who parished in the cab accident is so sad.
It's a shame that more don't realize how much of a Legend Eddie really is & always will be!
Thanks for watching & commenting...I've been playing Eddie all morning thanks to you Jay!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Thank You for your kind reply… Imagine if Eddie and those guys lived… they no doubt would have taken some spotlights from Elvis👏
@@jayweiss4378 Absolutely!! Elvis would have taken a huge hit with all eyes only on him or at the very least would have had to shared that spotlight with Eddie & those guys for sure!!
Thanks for your reply & your eupport - really does mean a lot!! Have a great weekend!! 😎
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 you too😎
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 Eddie recorded "Three Stars" to honor those who died and then on April 17,1960, himself died in a car crash. Rumor has it he was draped over Sharon Sheeley to protect from injury when the crash occured. He was only 21.
they all should have never got on that plan!!!
I agree Tina! I also personally think the pilot should have told them he wasn’t confident with the Gyro not familiar with + the current weather conditions…there were additional storms they would have encountered. When the designated airport was called the next morning to confirm they arrived safely - they Airport said no Bonanzas had landed & none would be able to land either bc of how much snowfall they had on the runway & in that area…the stupid buses would have obviously been the best outcome! Thanks for watching & your comment!!
Can you imagine the alternative universe out there where Waylon was on the plane as was Tommy alsup? Ritchie and JP survive.
Buddy has no reason to not be on the plane.
I don't think we would have outlaw country without Waylon.
I think the British invasion would have been held off by a few years because of a Latin invasion.
I like the sound of that alternative universe indeed Bill. I would have to agree…We wouldn’t have the same outlaw country without Waylon and the Latin invasion would have EXPLODED with Ritchie only being 17 at the time. I appreciate you watching, commenting & for triggering me to rock out on some “Come On, Let’s go” this morning!!
February 3rd 1959 is a day that will live in infamy. This is a day that I have trouble accepting. I'm 15, and that day has struck with me since 2019. Had this not happened, Buddy Holly would've had a very successful career. And Ritchie Valens would've popularized Chicano Rock more than it actually did in this timeline. The Big Bopper would've had an interesting career ahead of him too. I'm so grateful they are not forgotten, and still talked after all these years.
Thank you for your wonderful comment about these 3 Legends! We're thrilled to see their timeless music continue to touch hearts and inspire music lovers like you. I agree without a doubt, had this unfortunate event not occurred, the music career trajectories of all 3 Legends would have been huge. Let's keep the spirit of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper alive TOGETHER through their unforgettable music.
Your otherwise excellent history was marred to some extent by some very imprecise comments about Dion & The Belmonts. Their first and pivotal hit song was 'I Wonder Why'', followed by 'Teenager in Love' and 'No One Knows'. It was only after Dion went solo in 1961 that he had success with 'Runaround Sue', and much later, with 'The Wanderer', etc. You might want to edit that section of the ;presentation, for the sake of accuracy.
Thank you so much for watching and for your comment-you're absolutely right! As Walt and Donny also pointed out, I should have made a clearer distinction between Dion's solo hits and those with The Belmonts. I really appreciate you taking the time to correct that & I plan to update the description to reflect this. While I strive for accuracy and take pride in presenting unbiased facts, I do make mistakes sometimes, and I’m grateful to have a thoughtful audience that helps point them out. Thanks again for your support!
Can you tell me what the song in the background at 6:09 is?
Of course! Let me check the edit files & I’ll let you know my friend! Thanks for watching & commenting ✨
The song is from a vendor I get all my music from: Artlist (licensed music - artlist.io/).
It is called “Don’t let the summer end” - by The Magnetic Buzz -- A copy of the song can be found here: th-cam.com/video/geHqBSTy8gs/w-d-xo.html
Waylon Jennings was offered a spot on the plane
You're absolutely right! Waylon did give up his seat on the plane to The Big Bopper, as mentioned at the 3:16-3:17 mark. Thanks for catching that!
Enjoyed your vid but u got the dion facts wrong. The hits quoted were his solo hits post crash. U could also refer to his no2 hit from 69 or his last years no 1 blues album which hardly proves the music died.
Thank you, Stephen. I appreciate you watching the video and your comments! … and for pointing this out. I did not realize I had gotten this fact wrong until after the video was posted. I appreciate the information, and suggestions. I agree that the music never died … it still lives on... BTW, if you have not seen it - Dion just made a new song/video. A collaboration...
That story about Dion being offered a ride is FALSE! That is Dion's made up story. Buddy booked the flight for his self and his bandmates that he had talked into playing on the tour with him because he and the Crickets had parted ways wks before the tour. Why would Buddy offer a ride to anyone other than his bandmates and friends. They were friends from back in Texas.
Thanks again for your comment!! It makes sense that it would have been for bandmates & freinds from Texas. If Dion is indeed lying - that's very sad for many reasons. It's a shame Buddy even had to go on the tour & after all these years this horrible tragedy affects so many of us! Thanks for keeping Buddy's Legacy, music & name alive in time where so many could really use it!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 I think Dion trying to shine the light on his self is disrespectful to Buddy and the others who died that night. The truth and only the truth should be told. I am familiar with that area of the SURF Ballroom where they played that night. My nephew and the radio station he worked at (KZEV) in Clear Lake organized the 1st tribute for the group on 1979. It was then called "The Buddy Holly Tribute" for many yrs. Then they changed it to Winter Dance Party. Tommy Alsup made many trips to the tribute and played on stage until he passed away a few yrs ago. He also gifted one of his guitars to the SURF. In April 1995 WAYLON returned for a concert for the 1st and only time since the night of the crash. I was there and heard his speech he gave regarding Buddy and his feelings about the crash. I don't recall hearing anything from Dion since 1959 night of the crash. I have mucho respect for WAYLON and Tommy. They were wild but still honorable men true to the words they spoke and went on to give us some great music and carried that nights memory with them until the passed away.
@@PK-bh1ww I couldn't agree more, nor could I have said it better! That's amazing that your nephew worked at KZEV & helped organize the 1st tribute for the group in 79'. I was sad to hear of Tommy's passing too. In my research I saw where Waylon unfortunently harbored a lot of guilt & what an incredible oppotunity for you to be present for his first & only return to the SURF hearing his own words on Buddy and the crash. Thanks for sharing and again I'm so thankful there are those like yourself still so passionately keeping Buddy's + all those who were affected by this horrific loss alive for those who may not have known or been as close as you were to these Legends!!
If this didn't occur... Elvis would have been in trouble.....
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Brendan! … I believe you are the second person to comment along these lines … and I agree - it would have changed things for a lot of people … Elvis and a lot of others I think.
Nope. No way Jose.... Elvis had an IT factor that Buddy didn't have. And a better singing voice. Buddy actually admired Elvis and Elvis was already touring before Buddy was.
Doesn't matter , they were all getting massive, Elvis got drafted ..
I'm sure they wouldn't have been confined to just America also because of a dodgy manager.. The Beatles stole it from Elvis hence his 68 comeback .. he mentions them in the show..
In my opinion Elvis was over rated , pushed down everyone's throat. Wasnt a great guitar player or song writer without help, loved underage girls.... drugs etc
if that plane hadn't gone down and with the Beatles coming along he would be alot less relevant..
I've always said also, if u swapped the nationalities of Elvis and the Beatles around can u imagine how big the Beatles would have been then.. Elvis would have been looked at like a Tom Jones and nothing more..
@@BARSOUTANDABOUT LOL ELVIS became HUGE despite the Beatles who IMO KILLED good ol R & R. Buddy Holly and many others didn't write all their songs either. Rave On and Oh Boy were written by other than Buddy. And despite what you think, millions of others loved Elvis's voice and his IT factor (it's why he was known as the King) which was far better than Buddy's or the Beatles. I think Buddy would have been a producer instead of an on stage performer. The one I think who would have gone far for singing is Richie Valens. He had a great voice and was very polished for only 17. Buddy really didn't bring anything new to the music industry because the rockabilly he was doing was already being played by many including ELVIS. Which ELVIS transitioned into R & R. Not Buddy. Buddy followed ELVIS'S footsteps and idolized ELVIS'S. There's documented history on that. People who were around then know this. Those who wrote songs for and played with for Buddy have done interviews. And you can look up who wrote songs. Bottom line is I wouldn't under estimate ELVIS. And it's hard to find a famous musician that doesn't / didn't do drugs...
RIP to all these great musicians and the pilot. What I always wondered is given the weather conditions that night why didn't Jerry Dwyer the owner of the flying service and a much more experienced pilot fly them to Fargo instead of sending Roger Peterson in a plane that he was not familiar with
That's a very interesting thought ! ... You would think that would have been more reasonable... Such a tragic loss - for such a great group of musicians and the pilot. Thanks for watching and leaving a comment !👍
I have a question everyone knows who a musicians that died were but who was the pilot...... I mean he shared the same fate......
Thanks for watching the video and your comment Charles. Both are appreciated! The pilot’s name was Roger Peterson. Roger is mentioned several times in this video with 4:36 5:58 6:20 and 7:41 being some of the time markers where he is mentioned. Hope you enjoyed the video!
I NEVER BOUGHT INTO THIS "THE DAY MUSIC DIED" ANGLE. MUSIC IN
A MULTIPLICITY OF GENRES KEPT FLOURISHING. AND "ROCK" OR SO-CALLED "ROCK" KEPT RIGHT ON ROCKING ALONG.
I LIKED THE NARRATION
BETTER ON THE METALLICA VIDEO, AS THE NARRATOR SPOKE IN A LOWER TONE. BUT STILL NOT LOW ENOUGH.
IN THIS HOLLY, BOPPER, VALENS VIDEO, THE NARRATOR'S VOICE MOVES TOO FASTLY AND HAS TOO HIGH AND CHEERFUL A TONE OF VOICE FOR A
SOMBER EVENT.
NEVERTHELESS, I HIT THE LIKE BUTTON.
RESPECTFULLY.
🌠MILTON MOORE🌠
🎇LAS Vegas, Nevada 🎇
Thanks for your comment, Milton!! I agree with your perspective that rock ‘n’ roll kept on rocking!! I appreciate the feedback on the narration & will be taking that in consideration with future videos. I also appreciate the respect & like. Hope all is well in Vegas!!
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9
WHY HOW NICE OF YOU TO REPLY. YOUR OBVIOUS GOOD NATURE SHOULD CARRY YOU FAR IN LIFE.
I DON'T KNOW HOW RICHIE VALENS GOT ON A USA POSTAGE STAMP WHEN HE ONLY HAD ONE SMASH HIT RECORD,
WHEN RICK NELSON HAD DOZENS OF HITS AND AN ICONIC TV SERIES WITH HIS FAMILY, BUT HE HAS YET TO BE HONORED WITH A POSTAGE STAMP.😫😩😖.
MY FAVORITE HOLLY SONGS ARE "BROWN EYED HANDSOME MAN," "RAVE ON" AND "TRUE LOVE WAYS."
THE BEST FROM A 77 YEAR OLD BORN AND RAISED IN DALLAS, TEXAS, NOW RESIDING IN LAS VEGAS, WHERE IT IS PRESENTLY NOT AS HOT AS IT USUALLY IS IN AUGUST.
KEEP UP THE GOOD
WORK.🤠😺✌️👏👍
It didn't change...rock star planes have been falling from the sky ever since. Lynard Skynyrd, Aaliyah need I say more.🤷🏾
why do young people look so old back then?
Great question! I think it could be a combination of their fashion choices, perhaps earlier life responsibilities, more smokers with limited skincare options + the photography technology of the time?! Thanks for taking the time to watch & comment!
The day the music died.
The Day the Music Died... a tragic and unforgettable moment in musical history with the loss of these 3 legendary rock 'n' roll pioneers. The plane crash took their lives at such young ages, but their impact on music will forever live on. Let's remember and cherish their timeless melodies, as their spirits continue to resonate through the ages. 🕊🎸 #RememberingLegends #MusicNeverDies
Another way that the crash could've changed with who was on the plane could've changed the fact that a certain ND boy and teen idol may not have gotten his start. Because the crash happened and the tour lost many of its stars, Waylon and Tommy still had to perform in Moorhead that night, but they couldn't hold the show long enough with just them and Dion and the Belmonts, so the invite went out to the Fargo/Moorhead radio stations for local bands to come and audition and win a chance to perform that night. The winning band did not even have a name till that night, but they went on and just moments before, as the young man in question was asked what their band name was, he was looking at the floor trying to come up with a name quick. He noticed their shadows on the floor and popped up his head, giving the band its name of The Shadows and him his stage name of Bobby Vee.
Wow, thank you for sharing that fascinating piece of history and the ripple effect the tragic plane crash had on the music scene. It's incredible to think how a seemingly small decision, like coming up with a band name on the spot, could lead to the birth of a legendary artist like Bobby Vee. Music history is full of these interconnected stories, and your insight adds a unique layer to the narrative. The way destiny unfolded that night in Moorhead is truly remarkable, and it's a testament to the resilience and creativity of artists even in the face of tragedy. Appreciate you sharing this piece of the puzzle with us!
Tho tragic it inspired American pie so that’s the one good thing
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment Elijah! I appreciate you. I agree. I love the song American Pie! … I think it really captures the innocence of the era, and the great loss of these legends.
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 yes so much deep meaning in that song that many people look over
😀
Today is February 3rd Friday.
Thanks so much for watching, commenting, remembering & help remind us all of this extremely important day in history where we celebrate the lives of these legendary musicians & humans!
Liian nuori, ja kokematon lentäjä..Lisäksi,tuo virtuaalikompassi.Charles Holleyttä//Valens/Big bobber
Luin tossa James Deanista kirjan.Tässä kesälomalla.Myöskin Elviksestä,mutta.Sen voin sanoa,että neukkuja ikinä oltu.Ryssää pantu turpaa.Mun vaarit sodssa.Ikävä,mutta,Amerikka ruokki noita kommunisteja.L Thorne.Simo Häyhä
Stay out of those fields, one night you can hear "hellloooooooooooo baaaaaaby, it was scary
Thanks for watching the video and your comment Midnight Cowboy! … both are appreciated 😊 … that would definitely be scary!!!
So dion, waylon, and tommy were could have been on that plane but it ended up being Richie, buddy, and big bopper🤯🤯🤯holey fuck my mind is blown!!! It's crazy how fate works
Thanks for the comment & watching Jessica!! Yesss fate is a weird & crazy unpredictable thing…I have more twist of fate videos coming like this one & the Metallica one, as part of the “Twist of Fate” series!
Waylon Jennings was lucky he didn't go on the plane
Absolutely! It was a tragic event, and Waylon Jennings was incredibly fortunate to have avoided it. It's a moment in history that really makes you reflect on how life can change in an instant. I appreciate you taking the time to watch & comment!
🌹🌹🌹🌹
Thanks for watching and commenting! Really appreciate your support and love the (4) roses!!! ♥♥♥♥
you forgot about the gunshot in the back of the big bopper, traced back to buddy holly's gun. [or something along those lines]
Thanks for watching & your comment!! I didn’t include anything about the gun bc yes one was recovered, but it was known that Buddy carried one. The Big Bopper’s son later exhumed his fathers body (the first time ever seeing his father) & when they performed a detailed autopsy, no gunshot wounds were found on The Big Bopper.
@@ALLORNOTHINGMEDIA9 oh, well ty for responding :]
@@ryderrepairs absolutely! I appreciate you taking the time to comment 😎
So the crash resulted from pilot error.
Thanks for watching the video and for your comment William! The official report on the accident determined the probable cause was the pilot’s unwise decision to embark on a flight which would necessitate flying solely by instruments when he was not properly certified or qualified to do so. Contributing factors were serious deficiencies in the weather briefing, and the pilot’s unfamiliarity with the instrument which determines the attitude of the aircraft.
Also, see TLO’s comment if you get the chance …