RolandNote.com: The Ultimate Country Music Database

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An instant history for your favorite artists, plus producers, musicians, songwriters and others

Oct 24, 1930

J.P. Richardson--a.k.a. "The Big Bopper"--is born in Sabine Pass, Texas. Known for his pop hit "Chantilly Lace," he writes Hank Snow's "Beggar To A King," George Jones' "White Lightning" and Sonny James' "Running Bear"

Jan 23, 1959

Buddy Holly performs in Milwaukee, where the temperature is 25 below, sharing the bill with Ritchie Valens, Frankie Sardo, The Big Bopper and Dion. Waylon Jennings plays bass for Holly on what proves to be the first date on Holly's final tour

Feb 2, 1959

Buddy Holly plays his final concert, using a band that includes Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup, at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. It's also the last show for J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) and Ritchie Valens

Feb 3, 1959

Rock pioneer Buddy Holly dies in a plane crash near Mason City, Iowa, along with touring partners The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens. Holly's bass player, Waylon Jennings, gave up a seat on the plane

Aug 1, 1973

"American Graffiti" debuts in theaters. Many of the movie's pop and rock songs have found, or will find, new life in country music. Among the songs remade in country are "Chantilly Lace," "Only You (And You Alone)," "Johnny B. Goode," "Ain't That A Shame" and "Crying In The Chapel." It also features two songs by Buddy Holly

Aug 13, 1973

MCA releases the "American Graffiti" soundtrack, featuring numerous songs that have--or will--become country hits, including "Ain't That A Shame," "Chantilly Lace," "Crying In The Chapel," "Johnny B. Goode" and "Only You (And You Alone)"

Jul 6, 1987

The movie "La Bamba" is released. The biopic covers the life of Ritchie Valens, who died in the plane crash that took the lives of Buddy Holly and The Big Bopper. All three are portrayed in the picture, as are Eddie Cochran, Jackie Wilson, songwriter Sharon Sheeley and future Nashville studio guitarist Tommy Allsup

Sep 10, 1993

Val Kilmer sings "Heartbreak Hotel" on screen in the debut of "True Romance," a Quentin Tarantino film starring Christian Slater and Brad Pitt. The movie also features The Big Bopper's "Chantilly Lace," Burl Ives' "A Little Bitty Tear" and Shelby Lynne

Mar 11, 1996

"Rock & Roll Era: 1958" is certified gold and platinum by the RIAA. It features Conway Twitty's "It's Only Make Believe," Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly, Duane Eddy and the original versions of "Johnny B. Goode," "Summertime Blues" and "Chantilly Lace"

Jul 7, 2003

E! Entertainment names the "101 Most Shocking Moments In Entertainment." The death of Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens, the "Day The Music Died," ranks #25

The Ultimate Country Music Database

RolandNote.com is a detailed country music database compiled by veteran music journalist Tom Roland that chronicles more than 60,000 events and 10,000 recordings.

Discover what happened in country music on a particular date or in a particular month, get the history of your favorite country songs or your favorite country artists.

From George Jones to George Strait, from the Carter Family to Carrie Underwood, from Johnny Cash to Jason Aldean, from Hank Williams to HARDY, from Merle Haggard to Miranda Lambert.

RolandNote.com is the ultimate country music database!