It was 56 years ago that a plane carrying Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, Richie Valens and their pilot went down near Clear Lake, Iowa. The trio were part of the Winter Dance Party tour and had just finished a show at the Surf Ballroom. Trying to get to their next destination faster and avoid a cold bus trip, they hopped a plane and the rest is rock and roll tragedy.
Freelance travel writer Mary Bohlen visited Clear Lake, including the site of the crash, for her article in the Illinois Times.
Mary also explains how Springfield was the final stop of the tour. Despite the accident that took the lives of the three budding stars, the show went on at the armory and packed the house on February 15, 1959.
