Buddy Holly died on February 19th, 1999.
Buddy Holly . In early 1959 , Holly assembled a new band , consisting of future country music star Waylon Jennings ( bass ) , famed session musician Tommy Allsup ( guitar ) , and Carl Bunch ( drums ) , and embarked on a tour of the midwestern U.S. . Carl Bunch . On February 3 , 1959 , Holly , Valens , and Richardson were killed in a plane crash en route to the next tour stop . On February 3 , 1959 , rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens , and J. P. `` The Big Bopper '' Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake , Iowa , together with pilot Roger Peterson .