Day 6 - 34 -- What if . . .?

A day in popular music history -- the day the music died. Sixty years ago a small plane crashed just after takeoff in the midst of a snowstorm in Iowa. On board were Buddy Holly (22 years old), J.P Richardson --The Big Bopper (28)), and Richie Valens (17). They and the pilot were killed. Other artists from the Winter Dance Party Tour continued travel on the bus with faulty heating. Two of those travelers nearly took the plane instead. Firstly, Dion didn't want to pay the extra fee, but Waylon Jennings did and then gave up his seat for Richardson who had a cold. Tommy Alsup lost a coin toss with Valens and traveled by bus. Many say that Holly was a very important influence on early rock and roll. Valens was an early latino mainstream singer. It is interesting to ponder what music would have looked like had they lived.

Two songs that come to mind on this day have been shared here before -- Don McLean's 'American Pie' and Waylon Jennings 'Old Friend.' Each deals with the pain felt on hearing the news of the crash with the latter dealing with demons carried around for years by Jennings. Instead of revisiting those songs today, I'd like to revisit the love songs written for the women in the lives of Holly and Valens. Maria Elena and Buddy had been married for less than six months when he died. The high school sweetheart of Valens was named Donna; the song named for her was released as a single with La Bamba as the B-side. Enjoy!

True Love Ways -- Buddy Holly

Donna -- Richie Valens