The 1959 Midwestern tour of 24 cities, billed as the Winter Dance Party, included some of music's biggest names. Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper were the star attractions, but the trio never got a chance to finish the dance. On Feb. 3, 1959, a plane carrying them crashed outside Clear Lake, Iowa, killing all three men and leaving rock music with a heartbreaking void.
(AP Photos)