The Day the Music Died (February 3, 1959) by Emily Woodall

Source B: A Concert Poster Recovered from The Day the Music Died

raven728 — 2024-10-22 17:02:31 UTC

This is an original concert poster from the concert, The Winter Dance Party, that took place on February 1st, 1959, just two days before the accident. This is a primary source because it is an artifact that was recovered from the event that took place.

Source F: Encyclopedia on The Day the Music Died

raven728 — 2024-10-22 17:13:40 UTC

This is a section within the Accidents & Disasters part of Encyclopedia Britannica that retells the events of what happened on February 3rd, 1959. It is an example of a secondary source because the information comes from an encyclopedia that is writing based on information that came from primary sources.

Source H: The album cover of ¨American Pie¨ also has the same name as a famous song.

215917_9 — 2024-10-22 17:15:37 UTC

The song ¨American Pie¨ is by Don McLean. The repeating of the words ¨The day the music died¨ is inspired by his experience of being a newspaper boy the day the music died. It is a well-known song for this reason.

Source C: My Way by Paul Anka

2024-10-23 04:04:40 UTC

This is an autobiography written by an artist named Paul Anka who was a friend of Buddy Holly, collaborating with him as well. He planned to collaborate with the three artists in the 'Winter Dance Party' tour until the tragic day that the three passed. His autobiography illustrates his friendship with Buddy. This is a primary source because it's a book about the author's true relations and experiences with the artists

Source G: A newspaper discussing the tragic deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper"

2208952 — 2024-10-23 04:12:39 UTC

The newspaper discusses the background of who the singers were and how they passed in a plane crash alongside the pilot, Roger Peterson after taking off in light snow on Tuesday, February 3rd, 1959. The snowy weather and winds gusting at 35 mph caused Peterson to lose control of the aircraft which led to the plane's left wing tip to hit the floor, parts of it beginning to rip off, crashing in cornfields in Clear Lake, Iowa. All four lost their lives. It is a secondary source because it was written by an individual recapping what he knew what happened instead of being an actual witness who wrote in the newspaper based on what he himself saw or experienced.

Source I: Documentary on The Day the Music Died

raven728 — 2024-10-23 23:29:34 UTC

This is a documentary made in 2022 that explores the secrets behind the song "American Pie," which was written by Don McLean in 1971 to honor Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper, (J.P. Richardson), and what happened to them on February 3rd, 1959. The documentary is an example of a secondary source because in the documentary, they are analyzing and describing information from other sources. Some examples of the sources they are analyzing is the song, American Pie, and other information about what happened on The Day the Music Died.

Source J: The Day the Music Died Book

raven728 — 2024-10-23 23:44:25 UTC

This book, The Day the Music Died, by Larry Lehmer recounts the events that took place during the last tour of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the Big Bopper. In this book, the author tells the story of the fatal accident that took place, while providing new information and pictures to help the reader better understand this tragic event. This is an example of a secondary source because the book is not an autobiography, and is instead a book written by an author who is only retelling the story of the event, but wasn't actually there when the event happened.

Source D: Videos from February 3rd, 1959 of the Plane Crash

raven728 — 2024-10-24 02:49:38 UTC

This is a video that goes over the theories about what truly happened with the plane crash on The Day the Music Died. While the entire video itself is a secondary source, within this video are live clips that were taken on February 3rd, 1959 from the Plane Crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. Because these videos of the plane crash were taken at the site on the day of the accident, it makes these specific clips a primary source, where as the rest of the video would be classified as a secondary source as it is speaking about theories of the accident from other primary sources (autopsies, interviews, etc).

Source E: Memorial Made At the Crash Site

220878_9 — 2024-10-24 05:50:23 UTC

This is the memorial that was made in the place where the plane crashed that day. Before this memorial, there was a guitar-shaped memorial, but later, it was switched to a giant pair of Buddy Holly's glasses sitting on pillars. This is a primary source because it is a picture of the memorial where the plane crashed.

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-day-the-music-died-memorial-clear-lake-iowa

Source A: A photograph of the plane crash

2208952 — 2024-10-24 15:59:45 UTC

On February 3 1959 pilot Roger Peterson lost control of the light aircraft named Beechcraft Bonanza he was flying due to the severe weather conditions of wind gusting at 35 mph and harsh snow. This led the plane to crash in corn fields in Clear Lake, Iowa killing him, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and "the Big Bopper." They suffered with blunt force trauma to their chests and injuries to their heads. This is a primary source as it's a real image of the tragic plane crash.

Source F: Interview about the song American Pie

220878_9 — 2024-10-24 16:06:20 UTC

This is an interview about the song American Pie and its real meaning. In the interview, they mention how the song has many references, one of which is the deaths of the three rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. Richardson. This is a primary source because it is a direct interview with the person who wrote the song and its references.

Source K: A poem by John F. McCullagh about The Day The Music Died

2208952 — 2024-10-24 16:20:46 UTC

John F. McCullagh beautifully crafted a poem about The Day The Music Died by discussing what happened on that fateful day alongside bringing light to the concealed perspectives of those heavily affected by the incident.