Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

February 3, 1959: The day the music died.

Story of the crash as reported in The Courier-Journal, Louisville, KY on February 3, 1959. (Image found on Newspapers.com. Original source unknown.)

October 24, 2025 marked the 95th birth anniversary of Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., better known by his stage name, “The Big Bopper”. This Sept will mark the 90th birth anniversary of Charles Hardin Holley, known by his stage name, Buddy Holly. Tomorrow marks 67 years since the fatal plane crash that ended their lives on Feb 3, 1959 along with those of musician & singer Ritchie Valens (born Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941) and their pilot, Roger Peterson (age 21).

“But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died”.

Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., a/k/a The Big Bopper: October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959.

Buddy Holly: September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959.

Ritchie Valens: – May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959.

Roger Peterson: May 24, 1937 – February 3, 1959.

L-R: Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., a/k/a “The Big Bopper”, Buddy Holly. Ritchie Valens and their pilot, Roger Peterson (age 21).(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

J.P. Richardson a/k/a The Big Bopper: “Chantilly Lace” (1958, written by J.P. Richardson). 

Buddy Holly: “Rave On” (1958, written by Norman Petty, Bill Tilghman and Sonny West).

Ritchie Valens: “Come On Let’s Go” (1958, written by Ritchie Valens).

Don McLean: “American Pie” (1971, written by Don McLean).

Stay safe & well.