Changes

[[Image:BuddyRichieBopper.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly on the Winter Dance Party Tour, January, 1959]]

[[Image:BuddyRichieBopper.jpg|thumb|300px|right|The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and Buddy Holly on the Winter Dance Party Tour, January, 1959]]

'''The Day the Music Died''' refers to a plane crash which took place on February 3, 1959 near Clear Lake, Iowa; killed was the pilot, Roger A. Peterson, and three pioneers of rock and roll: Jiles P. "J.P." Richardson (the "Big Bopper"), Charles Hardin Holley (Buddy Holly), and Ricardo Valenzuela (Ritchie Valens).

'''The Day the Music Died''' refers to a plane crash which took place on February 3, 1959 near Clear Lake, [[Iowa]]; killed was the pilot, Roger A. Peterson, and three pioneers of [[rock and roll]]: Jiles P. "J.P." Richardson (the "Big Bopper"), Charles Hardin Holley (Buddy Holly), and Ricardo Valenzuela (Ritchie Valens).

Don McLean's 1970 song "American Pie" uses the phrase "the day the music died" before each refrain.

Don McLean's 1970 song "American Pie" uses the phrase "the day the [[music]] died" before each refrain.

==Winter Dance Party==

==Winter Dance Party==

The Winter Dance Party Tour began January 23, 1959 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, with a planned coverage of 23 additional Mid-western cities within three weeks (January 23-February 15).  The headliners were Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Dion and the Belmonts, and J.P. Richardson.  Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup were there as backups.

The Winter Dance Party Tour began January 23, 1959 in [[Milwaukee]], [[Wisconsin]], with a planned coverage of 23 additional Mid-western cities within three weeks (January 23-February 15).  The headliners were Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, Dion and the Belmonts, and J.P. Richardson.  Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup were there as backups.

Facing the singers was the weather, in the teens during the entire trip, with colder wind gusts and snow.  To make things worse the tour bus they rode on had a disabled heater; as a result the mood was foul among all members when February arrived, and two members had to leave due to frostbite.  Still, the singers performed to delighted and enthusiatic crowds wherever they stopped.

Facing the singers was the weather, in the teens during the entire trip, with colder wind gusts and snow.  To make things worse the tour bus they rode on had a disabled heater; as a result the mood was foul among all members when February arrived, and two members had to leave due to frostbite.  Still, the singers performed to delighted and enthusiatic crowds wherever they stopped.

====Buddy Holly====

====Buddy Holly====

Charles Hardin Holley with his Crickets had a number one hit in 1957 with the tune ''That'll Be The Day''. ''Peggy Sue'' followed, referring to a girl he knew in Lubbock, Texas.  Other songs included ''It's So Easy''; ''Oh Boy!''; ''Maybe Baby''; and ''Love's Made A Fool of You''.  An appearance on the ''Ed Sullivan Show'' gave him national exposure.  By 1959 Holly had moved to New York City, concentrating on songwriting, producing, and a new wife, Maria Elena Santiago.  The Crickets were left behind.

Charles Hardin Holley with his Crickets had a number one hit in 1957 with the tune ''That'll Be The Day''. ''Peggy Sue'' followed, referring to a girl he knew in Lubbock, [[Texas]].  Other songs included ''It's So Easy''; ''Oh Boy!''; ''Maybe Baby''; and ''Love's Made A Fool of You''.  An appearance on the ''Ed Sullivan Show'' gave him national exposure.  By 1959 Holly had moved to New York City, concentrating on songwriting, producing, and a new wife, Maria Elena Santiago.  The Crickets were left behind.

"Buddy" was Charles' mickname.  His last name had the "E" dropped by accident, due to a misspelling on his first contract.

"Buddy" was Charles' mickname.  His last name had the "E" dropped by accident, due to a misspelling on his first contract.

====Ritchie Valens====

====Ritchie Valens====

Born to Mexican migrant workers in California, Ricardo Valenzuela was just 16 when he was discovered singing in Pacoima by Bob Keane, a record producer for Del-Fi. A string of hits were generated in 1958: ''Come On, Let's Go''; ''Rockin' All Night''; ''That's My Little Suzie''; and a love song for a girl he knew at his high school named Donna.  Although ''Donna'' was his biggest hit, it was the flip side of that .45 recording that would become closely identified with him: a Mexican fiesta dance song with a heavy beat titled ''La Bamba''.  

Born to Mexican migrant workers in California, Ricardo Valenzuela was just 16 when he was discovered singing in Pacoima by Bob Keane, a record producer for Del-Fi. A string of hits were generated in 1958: ''Come On, Let's Go''; ''Rockin' All Night''; ''That's My Little Suzie''; and a love song for a girl he knew at his high school named Donna.  Although ''Donna'' was his biggest hit, it was the flip side of that .45 recording that would become closely identified with him: a [[Mexican]] fiesta dance song with a heavy beat titled ''La Bamba''.  

To ensure that Ricardo was a hit with mainstream American audiences, Keane had his name Anglicized Ritchie Valens.

To ensure that Ricardo was a hit with mainstream American audiences, Keane had his name Anglicized Ritchie Valens.

====The Big Bopper====

====The Big Bopper====

Jiles P. Richardson was a Texas disk jockey who was known as "The Big Bopper" to his fans.  His own belief in rock and roll was that it should be fun, and he would record just such a song himself with the 1958 hit ''Chantilly Lace''.

Jiles P. Richardson was a Texas disk jockey who was known as "The Big Bopper" to his fans.  His own belief in rock and roll was that it should be fun, and he would record just such a [[song]] himself with the 1958 hit ''Chantilly Lace''.

==The crash==

==The crash==