The Day the Music Died

The Day the Music Died - The lives of many musicians have been ended by airplane accidents. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, the Big Bopper, Rick Nelson, and three members of Lynyrd Skynyrd all died in airplane crashes.

Stevie Ray Vaughan along with three members of Eric Clapton's entourage (agent Bobby Brooks, bodyguard Nigel Browne, and assistant tour manager Colin Smythe) died in a helicopter crash.

"American Pie" is a song by American folk rock singer and songwriter Don McLean. Recorded and released on the American Pie album in 1971, the single was a number-one US hit for four weeks in 1972. In the UK, the single reached No. 2 on its original 1972 release and a reissue in 1991 reached No. 12. The song was listed as the No. 5 song on the RIAA project Songs of the Century.

McLean dedicated the American Pie album to Holly.

To gain time to sleep and launder clothing after a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, and to avoid the long bus journey to Moorhead, Minnesota, Holly chartered a plane for himself, Ritchie Valens, Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup. Jennings gave up his seat to J. P. Richardson (the Big Bopper), who was suffering from influenza and complaining that the bus was uncomfortable for a man of his size.

The pilot, Roger Peterson, took off in inclement weather, even though he was not certified to fly by instruments only. In the early morning hours of February 3, Holly, Valens, Richardson and pilot Peterson were killed when the plane crashed shortly after take-off.

Pull Over!, Don't Stop! -and- Flying High

Pull Over! - 'hot-rod' golf cart eludes Morgan County Sheriff's deputies
Don’t Stop! - gadget that guarantees every traffic light will be green when you get there
Flying High - United Airlines pilot arrested in cockpit before takeoff on suspicion of being drunk

On this day in history: October 20, 1977 - En route to a gig at Louisiana State University, Lynyrd Skynyrd band members Ronnie Van Zandt and Steve Gaines are killed when their private plane runs out of fuel and crashes into a swamp in Gillsburg, Mississippi.

Born on this day in history: October 20, 1931 - Mickey Mantle (1931 - ) Born in Spavinaw, Oklahoma, baseball player Mickey Mantle had an 18-year career as a Yankee outfielder (1951-68). The switch-hitting slugger hit 536 home runs and was voted American League Most Valuable Player three times (1956-7, 1962). Mantle was elected to baseball's Hall of Fame in 1974.

Scripture of the Day: Fear the LORD your God and serve him. Hold fast to him. — Deuteronomy 10:20

Video of the Day: Challenger: Faster than a Speeding Bullitt - submitted by Darin

McCain throws Joe the Plumber at Obama! Click to enlarge.

Perspective

A man and his wife watched new neighbors move in next door. The following morning, the wife saw the new neighbors' wash hanging on the line and remarked, "Would you look at those clothes. They're not clean. That woman has no idea how to do laundry."

A few days later, laundry hung on the line, and again the wife remarked on it: "Look at that. That laundry's filthy. When will she learn."

Several days later, the wife remarked similarly regarding the laundry that hung on the line that morning.

Then, one day the wife peered out the window and saw sparkling-white sheets and bright clothing hanging on the neighbors' line. "Well," the wife remarked, "she finally learned how to do laundry."

"No," her husband countered. "I washed your windows."