Friday Marks the 53rd Anniversary of "The Day the Music Died"

Hulton Archive/Getty ImagesFriday, February 3, marks the 53rd anniversary of the plane crash in Mason City, Iowa, that took the lives of rock 'n' pioneers Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.  The tragedy occurred in the early morning hours, after the three stars had finished a concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, and were headed to the next stop on their Winter Dance Party tour.  Late country star Waylon Jennings, who was a member of Holly's backing band at the time, fatefully gave up his seat so that 22-year-old singer Holly could travel on the plane.  The incident has become known as "The Day the Music Died."

Each year since 1979, a special Winter Dance Party event has been held at the Surf Ballroom to commemorate the lives of Holly, Valens and Richardson.  This year's edition kicked off this past Thursday and will wrap up Saturday with a tribute concert headlined by Pat Boone.  The festivities are being hosted by The Big Bopper's son, J.P. Richardson Jr.

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