February 3, 1959. The day the music died. Actually it was a winter night when the plane crashed, which claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. "Big Bopper" Richardson and the pilot, Roger Peterson. The 50's three rock and roll idols were headed tp a dance party tour scheduled to run in 24 cities from January 23rd to February 15th in 1958. Dion & TThe Belmonts, also booked on the show, took a tour bus along with backup musician Waylon Jennings. Speculation rambled about the possibility of foul play. Jay Richardson, son of Big Bopper Jiles P. Richardson recently had his father's body exhumed for an autopsy. There was nothing to support the rumor of a gun being fired during the flight.

Richie Valenzuela was only 16 years old when Del-Fi record producer, Bob Keane, discovered the Pacoima, California singer. Keane rearranged his name to Ritchie Valens, and in 1958 they recorded Come On, Let's Go. Far more successful was the song Valens wrote for his girlfriend, Donna, and its flip side, La Bamba, a Rock and Roll version of an old Mexican standard. This earned the teenager an appearance on American Bandstand and the prospect of continued popularity.

Charles Hardin "Buddy" Holley (changed to Holly due to a misspelling on a contract) and his band, The Crickets, had a number one hit in 1957 with the tune That'll Be The Day. This success was follwed by Peggy Sue and an appearance on the Ed Sullivan Show. By 1959, Holly had decided to move in a new direction. He and the Crickets split up.

J.P. Richardson was a performer, songwriter and record producer. "Chantilly Lace" shot up to number 1 "with a bullet" in 1958. That same year, J.P. wrote and produced Johnny Preston's hit, "Running Bear" and his Big Bopper voice is heard doing the background "oompa oompas" in the background. Oh, baby, you know what J.P. liked. Rock and Roll.

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