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Plane crashes have accounted for a considerable number of musical deaths. Buddy Holly, one of the founders of rock'n roll died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959, aged 22. On the same plane were Ritchie Valens, 17, and Jiles Perry Richardson, 29, better known as The Big Bopper. Waylon Jennings, bass player for Holly's band should have been on the plane, but gave his seat to Richardson, who had a medical appointment. The tragedy spawned the phrase THE DAY THE MUSIC DIED.
Guitarist Stevie Ray Vaughan died in a helicopter crash after leaving a concert; he was 35. Other musicians who died in plane crashes include 39-year-old Country singer Jim Reeves, 30-year-old singer Patsy Cline, metal guitarist Randy Rhoads, and singer/songwriter John Denver. Randy Rhoads was just 25 when he and two other members of Ozzy Osbourne's entourage were involved in a bizarre accident while they were showboating with a light aircraft. The plane clipped a bus then smashed into a house before exploding in flames. John Denver was 53 - still a relatively young man - when the light aircraft he was piloting plunged into Monteray Bay. One of his most famous songs was Leaving On A Jet Plane.
Relatively few musicians die at sea, but 41-year-old British singer Kirsty MacColl was killed in a bizarre boating accident while holidaying in Mexico.
Famous people and public figures from all walks of life are often targeted by the mentally disturbed, but fortunately very few musicians have been assassinated. The most famous was undoubtedly former Beatle John Lennon who was shot dead by a deranged fan in New York in December 1980. Just as sadly, soul singer Marvin Gaye was murdered by his father on April 1, 1984, just one day before his 45th birthday.
One good thing that can be said for dying young is that it often leads to literary immortality. All the musicians mentioned above have been the subjects of countless magazine articles, books, films, or websites maintained by adoring fans.
Interesting link: http://www.umkc.edu/imc/diedyoun.htm
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