Surprisingly many musicians have died in plane crashes, including some who are less well known than the stars.
Audio only:
And of course, we have to play:
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Does Eddie Cochran get a half vote?
Car crash on way to airport.
Posted by: cory | May 11, 2024 at 08:23 AM
Ronnie Van Zant, Steve Gaines and some other members of Lynyrd Skynyrd (1977).
Posted by: David Rosenfeld | May 11, 2024 at 09:57 AM
Also dying in the crash with Buddy Holly (who was no longer with the Crickets at that time) and Ritchie Valens was J.P. Richardson also known as "The Big Bopper" who recorded the hit record "Chantilly Lace."
Posted by: Dean Emeritus Jim Rosenblatt | May 11, 2024 at 12:11 PM
Randy Rhoads, a riffmaster
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ui79Uf817YA
Posted by: Red State Kulander | May 11, 2024 at 02:14 PM
The Faculty Lounge.
Once a thriving blog to debate the issues of the day, where some "conservative" voices were heard, and commentary was allowed on all topics.
Posted by: anon | May 11, 2024 at 04:37 PM
Although not a crash, Stan Rogers was killed in a fire on a plane. https://youtu.be/h2FjBokBAQo?si=QkAyn1ULug6Qe6zi
Posted by: Robert Clarke | May 11, 2024 at 07:08 PM
Since we have a helicopter crash in this mix (Stevie Ray), we might include a non-musician but major music impresario, Bill Graham.
Posted by: Richard Zitrin | May 11, 2024 at 07:20 PM
Good addition, Richard. My first ever lawsuit was against Bill Graham for wrongfully kicking me out a legendary Grateful Dead concert in 1971 at the Berkeley Community Theater: https://slate.com/culture/2015/06/grateful-dead-a-distinguished-law-professor-recalls-his-first-lawsuit-against-the-legendary-band.html
I was awarded $18.25 ($4 x 4 tickets + $2.25 court costs) in San Francisco small claims court. I feel sort of badly about it now, though I wish I'd saved the check.
Posted by: Steve L. | May 11, 2024 at 08:24 PM
A couple of interesting sidelights: Waylon Jennings was a member of Buddy Holly's band (yes, that Waylon Jennings), and was supposed to be on the ill-fated flight but gave up his seat at the last moment to the Big Bopper who had the flu. And there are many unconfirmed stories that Eric Clapton was supposed to be on the copter with Stevie Ray Vaughan, but plans changed at the last minute (Vaughan was the opening act for Clapton at the concert).
Posted by: David Rosenfeld | May 11, 2024 at 10:30 PM
technically Rick Nelson burned to death. The plae landed safely. Ritchie Valens won a coin flip and was on the fatal flight with Buddy Holly.
Glad you remembered Cowboy Copas and Hawkshaw Hawkins (the tallest country artist at 6'6"), two minor lights of the C&W genre
here's my favorite Copas song:
https://youtu.be/XVE0XyBy0SA?si=BAQJqusjpMIUErJd
Posted by: harold hawkins | May 12, 2024 at 07:10 PM
Anon: but TFL is so much better now; Lubet allows us to comment on his music videos!
Posted by: Free speech and democracy for me but not for thee | May 12, 2024 at 08:16 PM
Not sure, but I think Don McLean is not dead.
Posted by: Anon | May 14, 2024 at 01:45 PM
Don Mclean is indeed alive but the music died
Posted by: Bill Goodison | May 14, 2024 at 01:54 PM
In a plane crash?
Posted by: Anon | May 14, 2024 at 04:04 PM
Yes, the music died in the Buddy Holly plane crash
https://youtu.be/Z4q_MZ7CRvI?si=ISB7MAR-yBWkGett
How many musical references can you find in the lyrics?
Posted by: Bill Goodison | May 14, 2024 at 04:59 PM