A career which was far too short... The Day The Music Died was February 3rd 1959. Don McLean's lyrics in 'American Pie' reflect what a great many thought on hearing of the death of Buddy Holly in an aircrash in Iowa, together with Richie Valens and The Big Bopper. Although his music career was tragically short, Buddy Holly's influence far out-lived him with many artists, including The Beatles and The Rolling Stones citing him as their biggest inspiration.