Karaoke Lounge

The Day The Music Died, February 3, 1959

In their short lives, they changed the world of music but it was the world of music that would be short-changed when three rock ‘n’ roll heroes were killed in a plane crash in the Midwest State of Iowa on the cold winter night of February 3, 1959.  Don McLean would later commemorate the deaths of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P.  Richardson, Jr. (The Big Bopper) in his song American Pie, with the well known lyric, “The day the music died”.

Buddy Holly, September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959

Bruce Eder of All Music writes:

In a career lasting from the spring of 1957 until the winter of 1958-1959 — less time than Elvis had at the top before the army took him (and less time, in fact, than Elvis spent in the army) — Holly became the single most influential creative force in early rock & roll.

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Ritchie Valens, May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959

Only 17 years old when he was killed, the flipside of his hit single ballad Donna, was a blend of rock and latin music titled La Bamba that has remained popular since his untimely death.

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J.P. Richardson “The Big Bopper”, October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959

An American rock ‘n’ roll radio disc jockey of the 50s, The Big Bopper took his name from the dance style of The Bop.  In 1958, his signature Top 40 song Chantilly Lace was released.

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Don McLean, American Pie

Don McLean’s 1971 No. 1 hit, American Pie, would become McLean’s signature song.

American Pie, lyrics tell the story of that fateful day …

A long, long time ago…
I can still remember
How that music used to make me smile
And I knew if I had my chance
That I could make those people dance
And, maybe, they’d be happy for a while.

But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step.

I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
But something touched me deep inside
The day the music died.

So bye-bye, Miss American pie.
Drove my chevy to the levee
But the levee was dry
And them good old boys were drinkin’ whiskey and rye
Singin’, “this’ll be the day that I die
“this’ll be the day that I die.”

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Sing-Along on The Day The Music Died

Danthe sings karaoke That’ll Be the Day, in the style of Buddy Holly

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Alyssa and friends sing a fun karaoke version of La Bamba in the style of Ritchie Valens:

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ChrissyBeMe2001 sings American Pie in the style of Don McLean

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Don’t let the music die, come on and share your voice with us.

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