Buddy Holly Dies

In 1959, on the 3rd February, American rock-n-roll singer song-writer Buddy Holly died. The 22-year-old died with his two fellow performers Jiles P Richardson (Big Bopper) and Ritchie Valens when their plane crashed shortly after it took off in Iowa. The trio were travelling to Minnesota for a concert as part of their Winter Dance Party Tour, which was to take in more than 20 cities in three weeks. Buddy, who was born Charles Hardin Holley, had several hit records including That'll Be The Day, which got to number one in the US and the UK in 1957. Although his career was short, he had recorded so many songs before he died that his record company Decca were able to release brand-new Buddy Holly albums and singles for 10 years after his death.