The Day the Music Died

The event that spawned the iconic hit song, American Pie, by Don McLean, happened 56 years ago today when Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and JP Richardson were tragically killed when the plane they were riding in crashed shortly after take off. How tragic that their lives were cut short so young ... Buddy Holly was only 22, JP Richardson was 28, and Ritchie Valens was a mere 17 years old.

Their deaths preceded my birth, but many of the songs recorded by these three individual are early rock and roll staples that everyone has heard and can sing along with. One can only imagine the music the world was deprived of "the day the music died".

Even more popular than their music, is the song about their death ... American Pie! Oddly enough, there is an entire website dedicated to the meaning of the lyrics ... UnderstandingAmericanPie.com.