Plane Crash Tragedies: The Musicians Who Will Always Be Remembered

I recently posted a blog entitled “Musicians Who Died At 27: Is It A Curse?” I briefly discussed members of the known “27 Club”, as well as their biographies and my points of view on the subject. As a reminder, the members of the “27 Club” were Brian Jones, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Jim Morrison, and Kurt Cobain. Now, I would like to discuss the famous musicians who died in a plane crash. Those who were killed in plane crash were Patsy Cline, the oldies trio Richie Valens, Buddy Holly, and The “Big Bopper”, Jim Croce, John Denver, Ronnie Van Zant, Randy Rhodes, Stevie Ray Vaughn, and Aaliyah. These musicians may not have died from extensive drug or alcohol use or died at the age of 27, but these were also another list of famous musicians who plunged into fame. These musicians are also legends in their own genre and will not be forgotten in our hearts. Their hits will always be remembered and will mean something to us in our own special way. Each of these plane crashes were a tragedy to me, and I feel that it should not happen. As I have said, it could be a curse or it could be the extensive fame they plunged into resulting them living short lives. We shall not forget them, for their music has been an inspiration to many.

Patsy Cline, also known as Virginia Patterson Hensley, was age 30 when tragedy struck on March 5^th, 1963. Her hits will be known as “Back In Baby’s Arms,” “Walking After Midnight,” and “Crazy.” She was a classified as a country singer. Her manager, Randy Hughes, the son of Cowboy Copas, flew Patsy to Kansas City for a benefit for the widow of a country disc jockey that died in a car crash. The return journey was hampered by storms and poor vision. Patsy Cline, Cowboy Copas, Hawkshaw Hawkins, and Randy Hughes were killed when their plane crashed in swamped woodlands in Camden, Tennessee. Patsy Clines’ identification was hardly recognized as only her shoulders, back of her head, and right arm were in one place. Patsy was first married to Gerald Cline, in which made her name Patsy Cline because it was suggested to her by Bill Peer, who helped her get started in her singing career. Patsy and Gerald did not have any children. In 1956, she was singing at a local dance when she met the love of her life, Charlie Dick. Eventually, Patsy Cline divorced Gerald and married Charlie in 1957. They had two children, in which their names are Julia Simadore known as “Julie” and Allen Randolph who they called “Randy.” Patsy Cline escaped death when her and her brother, Sam, were involved in a car crash in front of Madison High School in Nashville, Tennessee. Loretta Lynn, a new coming country singer at the time, sang “I Fall To Pieces” as a tribute to Patsy while she was in the hospital. Patsy and Loretta Lynn became friends shortly after.

(Information about Patsy Cline found at http://elvispelvis.com/airplanecrash.htm#1 and http://www.sing365.com/music/lyric.nsf/Patsy-Cline-Biography/8F73C22780484E014825693B000E9F2A)

The Oldies trio, Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The “Big Bopper” was a plane crash that is very clearly remembered. Buddy Holly was age 22 when tragedy struck on February 3^rd, 1959. His hits include “Peggy Sue” and “That’ll Be The Day.” He was one of the most influential artists of all time. Charles Hardin Holley was born in Lubbock, Texas on September 7^th, 1936. He jumped into a rock and roll background in country and western music. He is also credited for using over-dubbing and double-tracking. Buddy Holly had a backing band known as “The Crickets.” He married a woman named Maria and was pregnant with his child when he met his fate. Richie Valens, also known as Richie Valenzuela, was born in Pacoima. It was a neighborhood in the San Fernando Valley region in Los Angeles on May 13^th, 1941 of Mexican descent. His hits were known as “La Bamba” and “Donna.” Donna Ludwig was Richie’s girlfriend at the time Donna became a hit song. He was 17 years old when he met his maker. Jiles Perry Richardson, known as The “Big Bopper”, was 29 when he met his fate. He was born on October 24^th, 1930 in Sabine Pass, Texas. His hit is well-known as “Chantilly Lace” and “The Purple People Eater.” He worked as a disc jockey when he got his big break from Mercury records. The Oldies trio performed at a concert in Iowa. Instead of riding on a tour bus, in which is was having troubles with the heat due to weather conditions, they took an airplane. Come to find out, the plane crashed moments after take off killing the oldies trio.

(Information about Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and The “Big Bopper” can be found at www.starpulse.com/Music/Big_Bopper,_The/index.html , and www.wikkipedia.org, and www.answers.com/topic/buddy-holly, and http://elvispelvis.com/airplanecrash.htm#1)

Jim Croce was age 30 when his plane crashed on March 5^th, 1973. He was known for his hits as “Time In A Bottle”, “Bad, Bad LeRoy Brown,” and “I Just Had To Say I Love You In A Song.” Jim Croce was a university disc jockey and played in various rock bands before he moved to New York City in 1967 where he performed in folk clubs. By 1969, he and his wife, Ingrid, were signed to Capital Records for “Approaching Day.” The album was known as a failure causing him to return to Pennsylvania taking on work as a truck driver and telephone engineer. Two months later after Bad, Bad LeRoy Brown was recorded in 1973, he died in Natchitoches, Louisiana when the chartered Beechcraft D-18 snagged the top of a pecan tree during take off.

(Information on Jim Croce can be found at http://elvispelvis.com/airplanecrash.htm#1)

John Denver was 53 years of age when tragedy struck him on October 12^th, 1997. His hits included “Take Me Home Country Roads,” “Rocky Mountain High,” and “Thank God I’m A Country Boy.” He was born as Henry John Deutschendorf, Jr., on December 31^st, 1943. He was well known in the 1970’s, and hasn’t done much recording due to his charity work. Someone reported that John Denver crashed while trying to switch gas tanks on his plane as both tanks were empty. He was an experienced pilot, but it didn’t stop him for meeting his fate. He was killed instantly as the plane crashed in Monterey Bay, California.

(Information on John Denver can be found at http://elvispelvis.com/airplanecrash.htm#1)

Ronnie Van Zant was a band member known as Lynyrd Skynyrd. His plane crashed into a swampy area on October 20^th, 1977 from Greenville, South Carolina to Baton Rouge, Louisiana. The plane was apparently low on fuel when it crashed. Along him were, Steve Gaines, his sister and back up singer, Cassie, and manager Dean Kilpatrick were killed, but Gary Rossington, Allen Collins, Billy Powell, and Leon Wilkenson were all seriously injured but made a full recovery.

(Information on Ronnie Van Zant can be found at http://elvispelvis.com/airplanecrash.htm#1)

Randy Rhodes was 25 years of age when he met his fate. He is one of the best known guitar legends at all time. He was known to help Ozzy Ozbourne top back in the charts in the 1980’s. After taking a couple of band members for a joy ride on the plane, Rhodes and a make-up girl were persuaded to enlist. The pilot was high on cocaine and aimed the aircraft at an empty tour bus killing all the passengers.

(Information on Randy Rhodes can be found at http://elvispelvis.com/airplanecrash.htm#1)

Stevie Ray Vaughn was 35 when his plane crashed. He was born October 3^rd, 1954 in Dallas, Texas. He was a legendary blues guitarist and vocalist with hits, such as “Mary Had A Little Lamb” and “Little Wing.” With Eric Clapton’s admission, Stevie Ray Vaughn took over the show on a Wisconsin Amphitheater stage, leaving the other world-class participants, like Eric Clapton wondering what heights he would of taken to his virtuosity. The helicopter taking Stevie Ray Vaughn to Chicago after the concert slammed into a fog-shrouded hill near the amphitheater in the wee hours of August 27^h, 1990, which killed Stevie Ray Vaughn instantly.

(Information on Stevie Ray Vaughn can be found at http://elvispelvis.com/airplanecrash.htm#1)

Last but not least, the singer Aaliyah met her maker in a plane crash on August 25^th, 2001 in the Bahamas. Aaliyah was the forefront of the 1990’s mainstream of R&B music. She was also a model for Tommy Hilfiger, and acted in a movie “Queen Of The Damned” with Stuart Townsend. She also appeared in the movie with Jet Li “Romeo Must Die.” Aaliyah was killed in a plane crash after a video shoot in the Bahamas. She was 22 years of age. She was born as Aaliyah Haughton in New York, January 16^th, 1979. In Nassau, Bahamas, the small aircraft that crashed on the island of Abaco killed Aaliyah and several others. The plane was overloaded by hundreds of pounds causing the plane to crash after take off.

So you see. Not all musicians have died of drug or alcohol related deaths. Each of these musicians have had claim to fame by their unique talents. They will forever be missed. It is a shame that the “good die young” sometimes. Sometimes, fame can be a curse to those who have lived it. We take a look at the “27 Club.” Tragedies happen to everyone everyday, but these musicians have left behind music and talents that will never be afar.