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Former Osage man met famous musician, Buddy Holly, hours before plane crash
by David Namanny, Press-News Editor
Last week marked the 51st anniversary of the death of legendary music icon Buddy Holly, whose last performance was at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake on Feb. 2, 1959.
This week, a former Osage resident, Neil DuShane (son of Vivian DuShane of Osage) is remembering that very day - "the day the music died." He was there at the Surf that night and actually met Holly in person. DuShane had driven to the Surf with his mother Vivian, as well as Jim Foth and Cheryl Cameron, who were friends from Osage High School.
1959 found Buddy Holly as the headliner to a package musical tour named the "Winter Dance Party", it also featured Ritchie Valens (whose recording of "Donna" was No. 10 in the U.S. charts), Dion and the Belmonts and "The Big Bopper," whose "Chantilly Lace" had been a million seller a few months earlier.
On Monday, February 2, the tour had reached Clear Lake and was due to appear the next evening at Moorhead Armory.
"During the evening concert, despite the inclement weather and road conditions, the Surf Ballroom was packed with fans young and old," recalled DuShane. "During one of the three intermissions that evening, as I sat in the hallway leading to the ballroom on a long padded bench, Buddy Holly came and sat beside me prior to his performance."
At 17 years-old, DuShane was in awe of Holly, but said he did not sense any celebrity attitude from the musician whatsoever.
"As we chatted, it didn't take long for me to realize Buddy was a down to earth humble individual," recalled DuShane. "A mother and a young boy about 10 years old came over and started talking to Buddy also. The mother was in despair as the young lad was having difficulty with motivation in learning a musical instrument.
Buddy being a true respectful gentleman explained to the youngster the joy and pleasure he has derived from his musical life, and the youngster seemed to accept his advice and was enthused to continue. Buddy went on to explain he called Maria in New York and told her that it was an awful tour; the buses were dirty and unheated and they were freezing riding inside plus there was heavy snow."
Accommodations were poor and the tour was behind schedule. Holly had told Maria that he was going on ahead to make arrangements for the next concert - he didn't tell her he had earlier chartered a four passenger Beachcraft Bonanza plane (Miss American Pie) to take himself, Waylon Jennings (his replacement bass player) and drummer Tommy Allsup to Minnesota, so they could get some laundry done and have a decent night's sleep. "After almost 48 years I still remember this experience as if it were yesterday," said DuShane.
DuShane recounts that when the others in the tour, heard of the arrangement both Jennings and Allsup got separate requests to give up their seats on the plane - "The Big Bopper" approached Jennings and said that he had a cold and that the bus was too cramped and freezing for someone his size and condition, could he have the seat. Waylon was young and didn't mind, he was enjoying the bus and the novelty of touring.
Ritchie Valens had never flown in a small plane before and was excited by the idea. He pestered Allsup who finally, reluctantly, agreed to flip a coin, Valens called heads and took the seat. "I've never won anything," Valens was heard to say.
After the show at approximately midnight, Buddy, Ritchie and "The Big Bopper" were driven to the Mason City Airport and paid their $36 fare.
They were unaware that the pilot, Roger Peterson, was not qualified to fly at night and was unfamiliar with the aircraft instruments. The plane took off shortly before 1 a.m. and headed northwest towards Fargo, N.D. - the nearest airport for the following evenings show.
The snow was heavy and the strong wind caused all of the instruments to fluctuate. The 21 year old pilot was forced to rely on the plane's altitude gyroscope - which happened to read the plane's pitch altitude the opposite way of conventional gyroscopes. Peterson had knowledge of this other type of gyroscope, but considering the snow and wind, he may have become confused. He may never have realized that what he thought was a climbing turn, he was actually descending.
The plane crashed five miles northwest of the Mason City airport, in a cornfield, killing all four occupants. The wreckage was found the following morning. As the news flashed around the world, millions of fans heard the news in stunned disbelief.
Thirteen years later, Don McLean recalled that cold fateful February day in his number one song "American Pie", as McLean said, "The day the music died."
"I had the honor two years ago, of walking to pay my respects in this desolate Iowa field," said DuShane. "Buddy had many popular songs. As I watch the 'Searchers' with John Wayne and John states 'That'll be the day,' sends me into memories of those days, growing up in Iowa."
Story created Feb 09, 2010 - 13:27:19 CST.
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