In early 1959 , two of Cochran 's friends , Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens , along with the Big Bopper , were killed in a plane crash while on tour . Cochran 's friends and family later said that he was badly shaken by their deaths , and he developed a morbid premonition that he also would die young . It was shortly after their deaths that he recorded a song ( written by disc jockey Tommy Dee ) in tribute to them , " Three Stars " . He was anxious to give up life on the road and spend his time in the studio making music , thereby reducing the chance of suffering a similar fatal accident while touring . Financial responsibilities , however , required that he continue to perform live , and that led to his acceptance of an offer to tour the United Kingdom in 1960
killed in a plane crash
The Day the Music Died
Eddie Cochran