Don McLean memorialized February 3rd, 1959 in his epic, 8-minute history-lesson as “the day the music died.”  The classic 1972 single is referencing the plane crash that killed musicians Buddy Holly, J.P. Richardson (better known by his performing name, the Big Bopper), and Ritchie Valens, along with the plane’s pilot, Roger Petersen.  One member of Holly’s band who did not make the flight went on to become a trailblazer in the country music genre, as one of the original “outlaws” of the music scene.