"The Day The Music Died" is a phrase that refers to the death of three iconic rock and roll musicians in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson were all killed on February 3, 1959. Buddy Holly and his bandmates had just played a show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. They were on their way to their next gig in Moorhead, Minnesota. To get there, they decided to take a charter plane rather than their tour bus. The lineup changed from musicians who were on the bus to those who were on the plane. Waylon Jennings traded his spot for Richie Valens, and Tommy Allsup lost his spot to Ritchie Valens in a coin toss. On their flight, the plane lost radio contact and did not reach its destination. The plane was reported missing. Tragically, the wreckage was found in a cornfield just 6 miles northwest of the airport. During the investigation, it was determined that poor weather conditions and pilot error were the cause of the plane's crash.  

The Day the Music Died Day is observed anually on February 3rd!

On February 3, 1959, three famous rock and roll musicians were tragically killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. They were Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson, known as "The Big Bopper".