Wednesday, February 23, 2000:

Note: This story is from the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal archives. The story is a complete reprint from the original news feature. This web posting ©2001-2002, the Lubbock Avalanche-Journal. For more information about copyrights, view our web site.

From Lubbock Avalanche-Journal, Morning Edition
Wednesday, February 4, 1959
Page 1

Singing Star's Body Due Here Today
Services Pending For Buddy Holly, Victim Of Iowa Plane Crash - Three Others Die In Mishap
The body of Buddy Holly, popular 22-year-old singing star from Lubbock who was killed in an airplane crash near Mason City, Iowa, Tuesday, is scheduled to be returned here by chartered plane today for funeral services and burial.

Holly, two other rock 'n' roll singing idols, and the pilot of their chartered plane all were killed early Tuesday when the craft plunged into a snowswept Iowa field. The four-place plane crashed within minutes after taking off in light snow from the Mason City airport.

SECOND TEXAN KILLED
The two singers with Holly were Ritchie Valens, 17, Los Angeles, and J.P. (Big Bopper) Richardson, 28, Beaumont. Roger Peterson, 21, of Clear Lake, Iowa was the pilot.

Holly was the son of Mr. and Mrs. L. 0. Holley, 1606 39th St. An error in the spelling of his name in the singer's first contract - the dropping of the "e " - resulted in a difference between his professional name and that of his parents. His father said the youth never bothered to correct the mistake.

The three singers, members of a troupe touring Midwest cities, died because they wanted to make a fast hop between dates so they could get their shirts laundered, Fate took a hand in the crash in one other way and the flight narrowly missed cancellation.

DRUMMER MISSES FLIGHT

The chartered plane was to take the three singers to Fargo, N.D., in advance of the troupe's engagement there. The others went by chartered bus. All were scheduled for an appearance in nearby Moorhead, Minn.

Wayland [sic] Jennings, bass player with the troupe whose wife and two daughters live in Littlefield, originally was scheduled to accompany Holly and Valens on the flight.

But before takeoff, Richardson, complaining that his large size did notpermit comfortable sleeping on the bus, asked to replace Jennings. The request was granted.

Ironically, Rod Lucier, promoter of the tour [sic -Rod Lucier only promoted the Moorhead event], had tried to cancel the Moorhead appearance because of a gathering midwest snow storm. He telephoned the group's agency Monday night trying to call off the next appearance, Meanwhile, the plane carrying the singers took off.

Each of the three singers had soared to popularity among the teen-age rock 'n' roll set in recent years. Hollywood trade sources said the combined record sales of the three rock 'n' rollers was in the millions.

Holly was star of the Crickets, a recording group which he organized and which was accompanying him on the tour [sic]. The Lubbock youth hit the rock 'n'roll pinnacle with his recordings of 'Peggy Sue, 'That'll Be The Day' and 'Early In The Morning'.

BODIES THROWN FROM PLANE

A new recording, 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore', recently was listed among the top sellers. Holly listed about 44 recordings to his credit, including three albums.

When the four-seat, single-engine plane carrying the three singers crashed, it skidded across the snow for 558 feet. The body of Valens was thrown 40 feet. Richardson and Holly were found 20 feet from the plane.

The bodies of the singers were so badly mangled they were hardly recognizable. Deputy Coroner Ralph E. Smiley said the plane did not burn. However, Peterson's body was wedged so tightly in the wreckage it had to be cut loose with torches.

The wreckage and the bodies were not discovered until long after dawn. The other members of the troupe did not learn of their companions' fate until they reached Fargo.

WEATHER IS BLAMED
Authorities tentatively blamed weather conditions for the crash. Along with the light snow, the temperature was 18 degrees and a southerly wind was gusting at 35 miles an hour.

The left wing of the plane apparently struck the ground first and flew off. Pieces of the wreckage ripped off as the plane plowed across the field and piled up against a wire fence.

Holly leaves a bride of less than six months. He was married last Aug. 15 to Maria ElIna [sic] Santiago, a receptionist at Southern Music Publishing Co. in New York.

Mrs. Holly is scheduled to arrive here by plane today.

Holly's father said Tuesday night the singer's brother, Larry, 4803 17th St., and brother-in-law, J. E. Weir, 2307 49th St., were to fly to Mason City to make arrangements for return of the body.

A plane from West Texas Aircraft here will go to Mason City early today. A company spokesman said the plane would return, weather permitting, about 8 or 10 p.m. today.

Holly's survivors include the wife; parents; two brothers, Larry and Travis D. Holley, 5621 44th St.; a sister, Mrs. Weir, the matemal grandmother, Mrs. Eva P. Drake, 1606 39th St.; and the paternal grandparents, Mr. and Mrs. John Holley, Commerce.

Funeral arrangements are pending at Sanders Funeral Home.

Holly was described by friends as 'probably one of the biggest entertainment celebrities ever to hail from Lubbock'.

ORGANIZED THE CRICKETS
The young singer broke into the 'big time' two years ago this summer when he organized the Crickets, a rock 'n'roll quartet which made several appearances on national television.

The Crickets' rendition of 'That'll Be The Day', their first record, sold over a million copies. 'Peggy Sue' was another of their best sellers.

He started with a music [sic] at the age of 8 on violin. when he was 15 he switched to guitar and accompanied himself in his songs.

Holly broke with the Crickets about three months ago in a harmonious move. Since the break he has recorded 'It Doesn't Matter Anymore' and 'Raining In My Heart' with a full orchestra in the background.

Holly's parents said that though he broke with the original Crickets, the young singer organized a second group under the same name last month. The new group was accompanying him on the crosscountry tour at his death.

The record had been gaining in popularity, according to nationwide polls.

Valens'manager, Bob Keene, said, 'He was the hottest singer in the country. Everybody was saying he was the next Presley'.

'The original plan called for us to introduce the album on Valentine's Day, and we planned to call it 'Valens-Time Day,' Keene said.

Valens is survived by his mother who resides in nearby San Fernando.

His record 'Donna' was ranked fourth in the country in popular music.

At first the performers accompanying Valens, Holly, and Richardson didn't have the heart to go through with a scheduled performance at Moorhead Tuesday night.

But they changed their minds later and two other rock 'n' roll stars, singers Frankie Avalon and Jimmy Clanton, dropped other commitments so they couldJoin the troupe at Sioux City, Iowa, tonight, as replacements for the dead stars.

Their last performance in Clear Lake Monday night was thoroughly enjoyed by the trio. It was clear from their conversation as they were driven to the airport.

'We had as much fun as the kids did,' they said.