Yesterday marked the 65th Anniversary of the plane crash that took the lives of up-and-coming artists Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and DJ-turned hit recording artist, The Big Bopper, J.P. Richardson ... as well as pilot Roger Peterson.
It was the first true tragedy of rock and roll history ... and if you use the links at the bottom of this site and scroll back to nearly every February 3rd, you'll find our tributes ... everything from memories of a classmate of Richie Valens to the long-living legacy surrounding Buddy Holly's music.
Another big feature over the years has been coverage of the efforts of FH Reader LJ Coon to reopen the investigation into the crash. (In fact, Forgotten Hits was one of the first to publish LJ's studies on this matter.)
Unfortunately, he has yet to secure that investigation ... but that hasn't stopped Coon.
He has since put together a screenplay covering The Winter Dance Party (which you just KNOW will cover many of the questions he feels still need to be answered.)
Here is LJ Coon's latest appeal:
NASHVILLE FILM FESTIVAL SCREENWRITING COMPETITION,2024
(Music from The Screenplay - 'The Winter Dance Party Tour - 1959')
'Pretty Blue Eyes - Pretty Blue Eyes
*********************************************************************************************************
Our screenplay
(185 minutes | 29,438 words | 42 song clips | Historic Tour - 1959 photos)
FEBRUARY 3, 1959
The Bus Driver:
During the early morning hours of February 1, 1959, "That 'Piece of S.H.I.T Bus' almost killed us.
We were stranded in the middle of the road at 2:00 a.m. It was -20 degrees below zero - one musician developed 'frostbite on his toes' and had to be hospitalized. The Boys' morale was seriously depleted, and it was then that plans to charter an airplane surfaced as a way to get them out of that tin-can of a bus, and get them to the next show sooner.
The thought was if they chartered an airplane, it would get them to the next tour stop quicker, where they could clean their clothes, and also be able to get some well needed rest".
(12-Musicians) were on that 'Piece Of Shit,' management called a tour bus ...
Buddy Holly, Drummer Carl Bunch, Guitarist Tommy Allsup, Bass Guitarist Waylon Jennings,Ritchie Valens,The Big Bopper,DION,
and Belmonts Carlo Mastrangelo,Fred Milano; Frankie Sardo, Sqeegi and Thom Mason
(Management) on the bus: The Tour Manager (Samuel Sam Geller)
and The Bus Driver (Leonard Harlin Payne)
a). There was music, drinking, good times, and abusive conditions.
b). There was suspense.
c). An unborn child was lost and emotions were overwhelming.
d). This was a crime.
e). There was negligence.
f). A gun was involved.
g).
A Bus Driver - A Tour Manager - 12 Musicians almost froze to death in the middle of the night, with -20 below temperatures, and no heat.
h). In the end, four died.
i). The World was devastated.
Chicago,IL Friday January 23, 1959 9:00 a.m.
This was the beginning of The Winter Dance Party Tour-1959
Ritchie Valens:
Valens
was born as Richard Steven Valenzuela on May 13, 1941, in Pacoima, a
neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region of Los Angeles. The son
of Joseph Steven Valenzuela (1896 – 1952) and Concepción "Concha" Reyes
(1915 – 1987), he had two half-brothers, Roberto "Bob" Morales (1937 – 2018)
and Mario Ramirez, and two younger sisters, Connie and Irma.
Valenzuela was brought up hearing traditional Mexican mariachi music,
as well as flamenco guitar, R&B, and jump blues. He expressed an
interest in making music of his own by the age of five. Valenzuela was
encouraged by his father to take up guitar and trumpet, and later taught
himself the drums. Though Valenzuela was left-handed, he was so eager
to learn the guitar that he mastered the traditional right-handed
version of the instrument.
Buddy Holly:
MarÃa
Elena Holly (née Santiago; born December 20, 1932) is the widow of
American rock and roll pioneer Buddy Holly. As a receptionist at
Peer Music, she met with Holly and his band, the Crickets, on June 19,
1958, and Holly proposed to her after five hours on their first date.
Less than two months later, the couple married on August 15, 1958, in
Lubbock, Texas.
On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly died in a plane crash
along with fellow musicians Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper, near Clear
Lake, Iowa. She suffered a miscarriage the following day and could not
attend Holly's funeral in Lubbock. In the following years, MarÃa Elena
Holly remarried Puerto Rican government official Joe Diaz, with whom she
had three children. In the 1978 film The Buddy Holly Story, she is
portrayed by actress Maria Richwine. As Buddy Holly's widow, she owns
the rights to his name, image, trademarks, and other intellectual
property. In 2010, Santiago-Holly co-founded The Buddy Holly Educational
Foundation with Peter Bradley.
The Bopper:
Jiles
Perry "J.P." Richardson Jr. (October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959),
known as The Big Bopper, was an American musician and disc jockey. His
best-known compositions include "Chantilly Lace," "Running Bear" and
"White Lightning," the latter of which became George Jones' first
number-one hit in 1959. Richardson was killed in an airplane crash in
Clear Lake, Iowa, in 1959, along with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and
Ritchie Valens, and the pilot, Roger Peterson.
Dion and The Belmonts:
were
an American vocal trio, prominent throughout the 1950s. All of its
members were from the Bronx, New York City. In 1957, Dion DiMucci joined
the vocal group, the Belmonts. The established trio of Angelo D'Aleo,
Carlo Mastrangelo and Fred Milano formed a quartet with DiMucci. Dion
and the Belmonts released four studio albums and one live album.
Frankie Sardo:
was born Frank Marco Sardo on September 16, 1936, in Brooklyn, New York,
into an Italian-American family. His father, Marco Sardo Sr. was a
bricklayer and his mother Anita (Avianca) Sardo, was a housewife. As a
young child, Frankie and his sisters (Marie and Antonette) lived in the
1300 block of East 95th Street in Brooklyn, New York. By age 5, Frankie
Sardo had his first musical debut on stage of the theatre of Little
Italy, in the Bronx. He continued to perform in these theatres, which
catered to Italian immigrants, along with his parents, Marco and Anita,
who had a comedy act. After high school graduation, Frankie attended
Fork Union Military Academy (FUMA)in Fluvanna County, Virginia, where
he also acted in stage plays. He served in the military in Korea. On his
return to the United States, Frankie joined a comedy group, before
making his first recordings as a singer for MGM Records in 1958.**************************************************************
The
Winter Dance Party Tour
and the early morning Clear Lake Iowa aviation
accident
A significant and compelling interview with Barb and Jerry
Dwyer provides an in-depth personal account of the February 3, 1959, aviation accident.
The Tour, 24-Days straight | 24 Locations | 24 Performances and what it was like on that bus as seen through the eyes of
The Bus Driver, The Tour Manager, and The 12-Musicians.
Never before has
a one-on-one fast paced behind the scene story offered so much of what
it was really like.
Starting on January 23, 1959 in California, in
Texas, in New York, as all involved traveled to Chicago and met up at
the GAC bus parking area Friday morning 9:00 a.m. to start Show #1. This
was the beginning of The Winter Dance Party Tour, 1959.
Informative,
involving, exciting, happy, boundary crossing, shocking, and emotional.
SUGGESTED CAST MEMBERS:
Denzel Washington (plays Leonard)
Pauletta Washington (plays Maida)
John Goodman (plays Sam)
Bryce Dallas Howard (plays Barb age-27)
Seth Gabel (plays Jerry age-27)
Kurt Russell (plays Jerry age-retired)
Goldie Hawn (plays Barb age-retired)
The Book Interviewer (TBD)
Ritchie Valens (TBD)
Buddy Holly (TBD)
Drummer Carl Bunch (TBD)
Guitar/Tommy Allsup (TBD)
Bass/Waylon Jennings (TBD)
The Bopper (TBD)
Dion/The Belmont's (TBD)
Frankie Sardo (TBD)
Irvin Feld (TBD)
GAC Management (TBD)
Devine Manager (TBD)
Laramar Manager (TBD)
Surf Manager (TBD)
Comment on the screenplay:
I find the content very engaging.
Many of the details you provide are great for setting the scenes, feeling the emotions
(frustration, physical exhaustion, exhilaration, etc).
Great ending.
I like the mystery of it.
Leaves one thinking once the story is over.
Great Job!
Denny Maratead Pfizer
Professor - Microbiology
L J Coon
Author: 'The Winter Dance Party Tour - 1959'
Author: 'The Edge of Living'
Author: 'The Final Hours of The Clear Lake Iowa Aviation Accident February 3, 1959'
Author: 'Livin in The Country Lane'
'Side of The Road Music'
BMI*
L J Coon Music Publishing BMI established 2001*
