The Big Bopper 40 radio airplay through January, 1959. With the success of "Chantilly Lace", Richardson took time off from KTRM radio and joined Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Dion and the Belmonts for a "Winter Dance Party" tour starting on January 23, 1959. On the 11th night of the tour (February 2, 1959), they played at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. That night, Holly chartered an airplane from Dwyer Flying Service in Mason City, Iowa, intending to fly himself and his bandmates Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup to their next tour venue in Moorhead, Minnesota. The musicians had been traveling
Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story his pregnant wife not to fly, as he and the other two headliners board a small plane and take off into the night destined for their next show. During a snow storm, in the dead of night, the plane crashes and spares no survivors. Joseph Butcher took over the role of Joe B. Mauldin for the 2016/17 tour to high critical acclaim. Alex Tosh also originated the newly written role of Denzel Jefferson Macauley. Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story Buddy – The Buddy Holly Story a musical in two acts written by Alan Janes, and featuring the music of