The Music Died In An Iowa Corn Field [VIDEO]

It happened 56 years ago today, some 10 hours and 31 minutes east of Cheyenne. It was 1959, when 22 year old Buddy Holly, was touring in an unheated tour bus so cold, his drummer had already been sent to the hospital for frostbite. Wanting to sleep in a warm bed and do some laundry, Buddy booked a single engine Beechcraft Bonanza to take them from a concert in Clear Lake, Iowa to their next “Winter Dance Party” show in Fargo,North Dakota.

Buddy and his tour mates The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, were in the hands of a young and inexperienced pilot who didn't bother to check on the bad and getting worse weather that lay ahead as they took off from Mason City at 1 in the morning. Five minutes after takeoff, they were all dead. Cause Of Death: bad weather and pilot error.

The Big Bopper was on-board because he had traded places with Waylon Jennings, whose last conversation with Holly had Buddy teasing Waylon, “I hope your bus freezes over.” Waylon’s last words to Buddy were “Well I hope your plane crashes.” Imagine living with that on your conscience.

It wasn't true, but it was referred to as 'The Day The Music Died,' in the Don McLean song American Pie.

Holly is gone, but he leaves a legacy of great songs and moving rock and roll forward. You can also hear his echoes in artists like Paul McCartney,Bob Dylan and many others.