That there were actually four killed... don't forget the pilot...

JR

I didn't know that. I'm not sure why but I always though he made it.

No, he was pinned in the wreckage. They hit the ground at a pretty good clip and cartwheeled a couple hundred yards.

Sad day. Shouldn't have happened.

JR

Who gave up their seat on the plane and lived to tell about it?

Waylon Jennings

And Tommy Allsup...

JR

14 here. Ricky Nelson's crash had more of an effect on me even though I was 40 something.

I was 9 at the time but my older sister made a big deal out of it. I remember it thru her.

VH1 did a Behind the Music on Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens back in 1998 and it's very good. Buddy's older brother was interviewed as was Don McLean. Gary Busey said that during the filming of the late-70s movie in which he played Holly that Holly's widow was on the set and kind of lost it at how much Busey looked like Holly when he was in full makeup. Same for Lou Diamond Phillips when he did "La Bamba" in 1987. Valens' sisters hung on Phillips crying just before they shot the airplane scene. When the Beatles met Ed Sullivan during their first U.S. trip in February '64 John Lennon asked Ed if the spot on the stage was where Buddy Holly stood in 1957. Sullivan said it was and the Beatles stood there in awe.

That is was good to be Waylon Jennings, Tommy Allsup, and Dion DiMucci (Dion and the Belmonts) that day? They all gave up seats on that plane.

Trivia, what was the last thing that Waylon Jennings said to Buddy Holly?

"...well, I hope your plane crashes", or words to that effect.

JR

2/3/59 was my 15th birthday.

I still remember the words:

"Chantilly lace and a pretty face
And a pony tail hangin' down
A wiggle in the walk and a giggle in the talk
Make the world go 'round"

LOL I doan feel so old fartish hanging with you older farts ;)

me too.