What You May Not Have Known About the Buddy Holly Crash

It’s been handed down by generations of rockers, but always bears repeating. One cold February night in 1959, a plane carrying the Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, and the most innovative and brightest rock stars of his time, Buddy Holly, crash minutes after takeoff. Here’s what you may not know…

Buddy’s signature dark glasses were found at the crash site, yet placed in a manila envelope and forgotten about for 21 years. Upon discovery, the glasses were returned to his widow, and are currently on permanent display at the Buddy Holly Center in his hometown of Lubbock, Texas.

Buddy’s wife, Maria Elena, was not contacted by the authorities at the time of the crash; rather hearing the news from TV. Subsequently, this instance paved the way for all news media with holding the names of those who have perished publicly, till the victim’s immediate families are contacted.

Maria Elena was pregnant at the time of Buddy’s death, but soon afterwards suffered a miscarriage. She has never been to his gravesite or crash site, did remarry, became a mother three times, and continues to live in seclusion in Dallas, TX.