I know that most of you are too young to remember this day, but 50 years ago, at 1:00 AM on Feb. 3, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa, we lost 3 rock and roll pioneers in an unfortunate airplane accident: Buddy Holly, J. P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), and Ritchie Valens. May they always be remembered. I always drink a toast to their memory on this day. Here's an article from CNN about this event.

Singer Don McLean recorded a song in 1971 in their memory. The lyrics are here.

 

Gene, I certainly remember all three like it was yesterday. Guess that makes me old - can it really be 50 years? I never made the association with McLean's song. That puts a whole new meaning on the lyrics for me.

 

I was 11 yrs old when this happened, and I remember too!!!

 

I too....remember...!!!


I was 10.........

 

American Pie

 

Thanks for the link Darlene.
Levi

 

^^^ Thanks Val. Great video behind a great song.

 

Val

 

I looked for that last night when I originally posted, but couldn't find it.

Thanks for filling in the blanks, Val!

 

I don't feel quite as dumb now. The song clearly has a lot of different meanings to different people. I always thought it was about King and the two Kennedy's and never made the tie back to 1959.