Ritchie Valens was Killed on “The Day the Music Died” in 1959

Today in Latin American history, a plane crashed near Clear Lake, Iowa killing Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and pilot Roger Peterson in an incident that became known as “The Day the Music Died” in 1959.

The musicians had finished a set during the ‘“Winter Dance Party” tour in Iowa and were making the short plane ride to Minnesota.

The aircraft crashed shortly after taking off due to a combination of poor weather conditions and pilot error.

The expression “The Day the Music Died” comes from Don McLean’s song “American Pie.”

Other events that occurred on this day:

Today in LatAm history, a British military force, under Brigadier-General Sir Samuel Auchmuty captured the city of Montevideo, then part of the Spanish Empire now the capital of Uruguay in 1807

Today in LatAm history, José de San Martín defeated a Spanish royalist army at the Battle of San Lorenzo, part of the Argentine War of Independence in 1813

Today in LatAm history, Justo José de Urquiza defeats Juan Manuel de Rosas at the Battle of Caseros in 1852

Today in LatAm history, former President of Brazil João Café Filho who was in office 1954-1955 was born in 1899

Today in LatAm history, Colombian footballer Óscar Córdoba who played for the National team & Boca Juniors was born in 1970

Today in LatAm history, Puerto Rican singer and rapper Daddy Yankee who has won a Latin Grammy award was born in 1977

Today in LatAm history, a military coup overthrew Alfredo Stroessner who was dictator of Paraguay since 1954 in 1989

Today in LatAm history, Alberto Gonzales became the first Hispanic U.S. attorney general in 2005