Looking Back - Buddy Holly Killed In Air Crash

On this day, exactly 50 years ago, rock 'n roll star Buddy Holly was tragically killed in a plane crash. Also killed in the crash were two other young rock stars, Jiles P Richardson, known as the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. After taking off from Clear Lake, Iowa, the single engined Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed shortly afterwards. The pilot was also killed. Reports suggested the plane spun out of control in a light snowstorm. Ironically, Holly only hired the plane after problems developed with his tour bus. The young musicians were on their way to Moorhead, Minnesota, the next venue in their Winter Dance Party Tour. Buddy Holly became a musical legend. Don McLean immortalised the tragedy with his 1972 hit American Pie. His 1957 hit That'll Be The Day went to number one in both the UK and the States. Born Charles Hardin Holley - changed to Holly after the mis-spelling on a contract - he was inspired by Elvis Presley, after seeig him at an early concert in his home town of Lubbock, Texas. Holly was commemorated in the musical Buddy which opened in London in 1986.