#masoncityairport

[mhuntington7]

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED - Near Clear Lake, Iowa. It was here, in the early morning hours of February 3rd, 1959, where rock legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson (along with pilot Roger Peterson) perished in a tragic plane crash that shocked and saddened the nation and a generation. Known as “The Day the Music Died” - after its melancholy reference in singer Don McLean’s 1971 song of innocence lost, “American Pie” - this rock-n-roll tragedy is still remembered by fans to this day. Photos by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #DonMcLean #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #BuddyHollyMemorial #BuddyHollyMarker #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #RoadsideAttraction #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #clearlakeiowacarshow (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8HsZcgFQHH/?igshid=NGJjMDIxMWI=

[mhuntington7]

THE BUDDY HOLLY MEMORIAL NEAR THE CRASH SITE - Near Clear Lake, Iowa. A metal memorial to be-speckled rock star Charles Hardin Holley (1936-1959, aka Buddy Holly) - frontman for The Crickets and singer of “Peggy Sue” (1958) and “That’ll Be The Day” (1958) - who died in a plane crash near this spot on February 3, 1959. Performers Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”), with pilot Roger Peterson, also perished in this tragic plane crash event that would come to be called “The Day the Music Died” after its reference in Don McLean’s song “American Pie” (1971). The crash site is at the end of a short trail from this memorial. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #BuddyHollyMemorial #BuddyHollyMarker #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #RoadsideAttraction #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearLakeIowa (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6v_S0GF0kG/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mhuntington7]

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED - Near Clear Lake, Iowa. It was here, in the early morning hours of February 3rd, 1959, where rock legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson (along with pilot Roger Peterson) perished in a tragic plane crash that shocked and saddened the nation and a generation. Known as “The Day the Music Died” - after its melancholy reference in singer Don McLean’s 1971 song of innocence lost, “American Pie” - this rock-n-roll tragedy is still remembered by fans to this day. Photos by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #DonMcLean #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #BuddyHollyMemorial #BuddyHollyMarker #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #RoadsideAttraction #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #clearlakeiowacarshow (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8HsZcgFQHH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mhuntington7]

THE BUDDY HOLLY MEMORIAL NEAR THE CRASH SITE - Near Clear Lake, Iowa. A metal memorial to be-speckled rock star Charles Hardin Holley (1936-1959, aka Buddy Holly) - frontman for The Crickets and singer of “Peggy Sue” (1958) and “That’ll Be The Day” (1958) - who died in a plane crash near this spot on February 3, 1959. Performers Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”), with pilot Roger Peterson, also perished in this tragic plane crash event that would come to be called “The Day the Music Died” after its reference in Don McLean’s song “American Pie” (1971). The crash site is at the end of a short trail from this memorial. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #BuddyHollyMemorial #BuddyHollyMarker #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #RoadsideAttraction #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearLakeIowa (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6v_S0GF0kG/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mhuntington7]

SKIES OF DESTINY: HOLLY, VALENS, BOPPER - Clear Lake, Iowa. The south end of Runway 18 at the Mason City Municipal Airport near Clear Lake and Mason City, Iowa. In 1959, this runway was designated as Southbound Runway 17 and it was from here where three rock legends soared into these skies to meet their fateful destinies. The small, one-prop 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza 35 (N3794N) plane that took off here at 12:55 a.m. into February 3rd’s wintry darkness was carrying Dwyer Flying Service pilot Roger Peterson and his three celebrity rock star passengers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”). The trio of musical headliners had just completed a concert at Clear Lake’s Surf Ballroom and chartered the plane in an attempt to leapfrog the long, frigid bus ride to their next gig in Minnesota. A number of other tour performers - bassist Waylon Jennings, guitarist Tommy Allsup and singer Dion - vied for a spot on the plane that night, but gave up their seat or “lost” a lucky coin toss that saved their lives. Jennings later regretted joking with Holly beforehand about “hoping that the plane crashes” and carried that regret for the rest of his life. The plane did, indeed, crash not too long after take-off as it flew northwest towards Hector Airport in Fargo, North Dakota - the wreckage and remains were found in a farmer’s field the following day. The Day the Music Died. The cause of the crash was determined to be from loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #WaylonJennings #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearLakeIowa (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6rEdUUlP3I/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mhuntington7]

THE SURF BALLROOM: THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MUSIC DIED - Clear Lake, Iowa. Originally built across the street in 1933, the Surf Ballroom was rebuilt here in 1948 following a destructive fire which destroyed the original building. Since then, the Surf has hosted countless legendary musical acts, including The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, The Beach Boys and many others. But this remote and rural Iowa venue is most famous for its connection to, perhaps, the most tragic event in rock-n-roll history. It was here where rock legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”) gave their last performance on February 2nd, 1959 before perishing in a plane crash in the early morning hours of the following day (known as “The Day the Music Died” as borrowed from Don McLean’s famous rock anthem “American Pie”). The final performance here, part of the “Winter Dance Party Tour,” was the 11th stop on the 24 venue schedule and featured an assortment of rock headliners and bands - which also included the likes of country star Waylon Jennings. The Surf Ballroom was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1979. The Surf still hosts events and operates a memorabilia-filled museum devoted to its place in musical and rock-n-roll history. The tragic crash site is a short drive north of here and is a place of pilgrimage for roadside travelers, fans, and rock aficionados. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #WaylonJennings #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearLakeIowa (at Surf Ballroom & Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6mbvi_lKUH/?utm_medium=tumblr

[mhuntington7]

THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED - Near Clear Lake, Iowa. It was here, in the early morning hours of February 3rd, 1959, where rock legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson (along with pilot Roger Peterson) perished in a tragic plane crash that shocked and saddened the nation and a generation. Known as “The Day the Music Died” -after its melancholy reference in singer Don McLean’s 1971 song of innocence lost, “American Pie” - this rock-n-roll tragedy is still remembered by fans to this day. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #DonMcLean #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #BuddyHollyMemorial #BuddyHollyMarker #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #RoadsideAttraction #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearLakeIowa (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B8HsZcgFQHH/?igshid=1uj8i46v08wdw

[mhuntington7]

THE BUDDY HOLLY MEMORIAL NEAR THE CRASH SITE - Near Clear Lake, Iowa. A metal memorial to be-speckled rock star Charles Hardin Holley (1936-1959, aka Buddy Holly) - frontman for The Crickets and singer of “Peggy Sue” (1958) and “That’ll Be The Day” (1958) - who died in a plane crash near this spot on February 3, 1959. Performers Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”), with pilot Roger Peterson, also perished in this tragic plane crash event that would come to be called “The Day the Music Died” after its reference in Don McLean’s song “American Pie” (1971). The crash site is at the end of a short trail from this memorial. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #BuddyHollyMemorial #BuddyHollyMarker #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearLakeIowa (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6v_S0GF0kG/?igshid=15xizcf0pzbkp

[mhuntington7]

SKIES OF DESTINY: HOLLY, VALENS, BOPPER - Clear Lake, Iowa. The south end of Runway 18 at the Mason City Municipal Airport near Clear Lake and Mason City, Iowa. In 1959, this runway was designated as Southbound Runway 17 and it was from here where three rock legends soared into these skies to meet their fateful destinies. The small, one-prop 1947 Beechcraft Bonanza 35 (N3794N) plane that took off here at 12:55 a.m. into February 3rd’s wintry darkness was carrying Dwyer Flying Service pilot Roger Peterson and his three celebrity rock star passengers: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”). The trio of musical headliners had just completed a concert at Clear Lake’s Surf Ballroom and chartered the plane in an attempt to leapfrog the long, frigid bus ride to their next gig in Minnesota. A number of other tour performers - bassist Waylon Jennings, guitarist Tommy Allsup and singer Dion - vied for a spot on the plane that night, but gave up their seat or “lost” a lucky coin toss that saved their lives. Jennings later regretted joking with Holly beforehand about “hoping that the plane crashes” and carried that regret for the rest of his life. The plane did, indeed, crash not too long after take-off as it flew northwest towards Hector Airport in Fargo, North Dakota - the wreckage and remains were found in a farmer’s field the following day. The Day the Music Died. The cause of the crash was determined to be from loss of control due to spatial disorientation. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #WaylonJennings #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearLakeIowa (at Clear Lake, Iowa) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6rEdUUlP3I/?igshid=1np0f481a0j09

[mhuntington7]

THE SURF BALLROOM: THE NIGHT BEFORE THE MUSIC DIED - Clearwater, Iowa. Originally built across the street in 1933, the Surf Ballroom was rebuilt here in 1948 following a destructive fire with destroyed the original building. Since then, the Surf has hosted countless legendary musical acts, including The Temptations, The Righteous Brothers, The Beach Boys and many others. But this remote and rural Iowa venue is most famous for its connection to, perhaps, the most tragic event in rock-n-roll history. It was here where rock legends Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (aka “The Big Bopper”) gave their last performance on February 2nd, 1959 before perishing in a plane crash in the early morning hours of the following day (known as “The Day the Music Died” as borrowed from Don McLean’s famous rock anthem “American Pie”). The final performance here, part of the “Winter Dance Party Tour,” was the 11th stop on the 24 venue schedule and featured an assortment of rock headliners and bands - which also included the likes of country star Waylon Jennings. The Surf Ballroom was placed on the National Registry of Historic Places in 1979. The Surf still hosts events and operates a memorabilia-filled museum devoted to its place in musical and rock-n-roll history. The tragic crash site is a short drive north of here and is a place of pilgrimage for roadside travelers, fans, and rock aficionados. Photo by Michael Huntington - September, 2019. @Huntington_Strange_Travels #StrangeTravels #MichaelHuntington #HuntingtonAdventure #BuddyHolly #RitchieValens #JPRichardson #TheBigBopper #RogerPeterson #WaylonJennings #TheDayTheMusicDied #AmericanPie #BuddyHollyPlaneCrash #RockNRollPlaneCrash #WinterDancePartyTour #SurfBallroom #SurfBallroomMuseum #MasonCityAirport #ClearwaterIowa (at Surf Ballroom & Museum) https://www.instagram.com/p/B6mbvi_lKUH/?igshid=45wy30ky55bt