February 3, 1959 - The Day the Music Died

On February 3, 1959, a small-plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, killed three American rock and roll musicians: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, as well as the pilot, Roger Peterson.The day was later called The Day the Music Died by Don McLean, in his song "American Pie"

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Music_Died