On 3 February 1959 , a chartered plane transporting the three American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens and J. P. " The Big Bopper " Richardson goes down in foggy conditions near Clear Lake , Iowa , killing all four occupants on board , including pilot Roger Peterson . The tragedy is later termed " The Day the Music Died " , popularized in Don McLean 's 1972 song " American Pie " . This event , combined with the conscription of Elvis into the US Army , is often taken to mark the point where the era of 1950s rock-and-roll ended
The Day the Music Died
The Day the Music Died
1950s