50th Anniversary of “The Day the Music Died”

Writing this blog from Lubbock, Texas, today is especially signficant as the 50th anniversary of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly (a Lubbock native), Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper (Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr.), and the plane’s pilot.

In a related story, the Big Bopper’s casket is heading to e-Bay.  In 2008, his casket made of 16 gauge steel was exhumed so that his remains could reinterred in a new casket along with a statue and historical marker in a more conspicuous location.

The original casket is on display at the Texas Musicians Museum in Hillsboro, Texas.  The casket is in good shape and has only some small rust spots and a white lime stain showing how high the water level once reached on the casket.  The water did not, however, enter the casket.

The Big Bopper’s son, Jay, who was born after the death of his father, does not want the casket stating that is is “just a metal box.”

The casket is expect to be listed on e-Bay within the next few weeks.

Jay hopes the proceeds of the sale will help raise money for a musical show about his dad and keep his legacy alive.  A portion of the proceeds will also go to the museum.

See Ron Franscell, Big Bopper’s casket a macabre marketable on e-bay, Beaumont Enterprise, Dec. 27, 2008.