The Brief
- Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash on Feb. 3, 1959.
- It became known as “The Day the Music Died.”
- While the plane crashed in Iowa amid a snowstorm, Wisconsin played a big part in the events of that fateful night.
MILWAUKEE – For fans of rock ‘n’ roll history, today is known as “The Day the Music Died.” Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper died in a plane crash during a snowstorm on Feb. 3, 1959.
Local perspective:
While the plane crashed in Iowa en route to North Dakota, Wisconsin plays a big part in the events of that fateful night. The performers kicked off what was supposed to be a three-week tour – dubbed the “Winter Dance Party” – at the Million Dollar Ballroom in Milwaukee on Jan. 23, 1959.
The group was traveling by bus – a converted school bus, not the luxury rides of today’s stars. Early on Sunday, Feb. 1 of that year, they were heading down Highway 51 on their way from Duluth to their next gig in Green Bay. The bus broke down near the town of Hurley, Wisconsin in the wee hours of the morning. The musicians were stranded without heat for several hours until a passing driver came to their rescue.
An area of high pressure had been over the Plains Region for several days, bringing with it plenty of bitterly cold air.…