National Day the Music Died Day is a holiday that remembers one of the saddest days in music history and is observed on February 3rd every year. This day commemorates the deaths of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper). These three musicians died on February 3, 1959, in an airplane accident in Iowa.

This tragic event has echoed throughout the years as people still make the trip to Clear Lake, Iowa, every year to honor the memories of these musicians. This event was also memorialized in the 1971 Don McLean hit “American Pie.”

Facts About Holly, Valens, and The Big Bopper

Let’s take a quick look at some of the interesting facts we’ve uncovered about these three musicians. The following facts are the ones we’ve uncovered while researching this holiday.

• On February 13, 1955, Buddy Holly opened for Elvis at the Fair Park Coliseum.
• The song “Peggy Sue” was originally “Cindy Lou.”
• The song “That’ll Be The Day” was Holly’s only number one hit.
• The song “La Bamba” was a smash hit for Ritchie Valens.
• In 2001, Valens was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
• The Big Bopper’s real name was Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.
• The Big Bopper was an American disc jockey, singer, and songwriter.
• The Big Bopper was married to Adrianne Joy Fryou on April 18, 1952.

Observing National The Day The Music Died Day

Every year, people from all over the world visit the resort town of Clear Lake, Iowa, to commemorate the lives of Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly, and the Big Bopper on this day. Of course, people don’t have to make a special trip to observe this holiday.

They can simply listen to the music of these musicians or the Don McLean song “American Pie.” People can also use the hashtag #DaytheMusicDied on social media to spread awareness about this day.