Three Stars (song) Three Stars (song) "Three Stars" is a song written by Tommy Dee in 1959, as a tribute to Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper), who died in a plane crash earlier that year. The song was recorded by Tommy Dee with Carol Kay and first released on April 5, 1959, by Crest Records. It sold over one million copies and was awarded a gold disc. The lyrics suggested the three "stars" represent the three musicians that died in the crash. A year after Eddie Cochran recorded the song, he died in a car accident on his
Ritchie Valens club, "Tommy's Heads Up Saloon", in Dallas in 1979. The club was named for the fateful coin toss between Valens and him twenty years prior. "Boogie with Stu" from Led Zeppelin's "Physical Graffiti" album was inspired by Valens' song "Ooh, My Head". It did not credit Valens or Bob Keane, instead crediting Valens' mother. Eventually, a lawsuit was filed by Keane, and half of the award went to Valens' mother, although she was not part of the suit. On May 11, 1990, 31 years after his death, Ritchie Valens was finally honored. A star baring his name was unveiled on