Something Touched Me Deep Inside.....

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Fifty nine years ago today, February 3, 1959, saw one of the first tragedies in the young genre of “rock and roll.” Thanks to a song 12 years later, it would become known as “The Day the Music Died.” In 1959 rock and roll was still considered a “fad.” Given that Elvis had left for the Army, many people thought the music would peter out. Even though Elvis was the big star, there were certainly others. Among them: Charles “Buddy” Holly, a 22-year-old singer/songwriter from Texas. His music had a fun innocence to it, and he was quite popular (and parents and TV censors appreciated that he didn’t gyrate the way Elvis did). In January Holly was the headliner on a “Winter Dance Party” tour that featured other young acts like Dion and the Belmonts, a 17-year-old rising star named Ritchie Valens, and songwriter/DJ J.P. Richardson, who had a novelty hit under the name “The Big Bopper.” The “tour bus” was not what we think of today. Their bus (this was 1959, remember) didn’t have a heater that would keep anyone except the driver warm (and even that was debatable). Plus, they were in the Midwest in the middle of winter. Holly’s drummer, Carl Bunch, had to be left behind after a show because his feet were frost bitten. Holly decided he was going to charter a small plane to take him and his remaining band members — guitarist Tommy Allsup and bassist Waylon Jennings — to the next day’s city so they could rest...and avoid the cold bus. Things didn’t work out that way, though. Richardson was ill with a severe cold or the flu, so Jennings gave his seat up for Richardson. Allsup wasn’t as easily persuaded, but he agreed to flip a coin with the 17-year-old Valens to see who’d get the last seat. Allsup lost the coin toss. The impact these three singers made in such a short time was incredible. Their influence continues, 59 years after their plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Clear Lake, Iowa, killing the three and the pilot. Movies have been made about Holly and Valens. People are still recording Buddy Holly songs (Linda Ronstadt had hits with two Holly songs, “That’ll Be the Day” and “It’s So Easy”). Richardson also left a legacy of songs which were later recorded by the likes of Johnny Preston (“Running Bear”), Hank Snow (“Beggar to a King”), and George Jones (“White Lightnin’”). In 1971 Don McLean’s song “American Pie” gave a name to that fateful day 59 years ago: “The Day the Music Died.” The “survivors” — the two who gave up their seats on the ill-fated plane — had long careers in music. Tommy Allsup died last year after nearly 60 years in the music business as a singer, songwriter, guitarist, and record producer. And, of course, most people have heard of Waylon Jennings, one of the founders of the so-called “Outlaw” movement in country music. He died from complications of diabetes in 2002. McLean’s opening verse concludes with the line, “Something touched me deep inside the day the music died.” February 3 is always a day of rememberance and reflection for music fans, to think about what “might have been,” and to celebrate some of the best and most enduring music ever created. Charles Hardin Holley (Buddy Holly), born September 7, 1937 Jiles Perry Richardson (The Big Bopper), born October 24, 1930 Richard Steven Valenzuela (Ritchie Valens), born May 13, 1941 Died February 3, 1959, Clear Lake, Iowa The legendary Buddy Holly, on the Ed Sullivan Show: