10 Classic Rock Artists That Died Too Soon

In the era of rock stars like Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee Lewis, Buddy Holly stood out as a bit of an oddity. Even though his thick-framed glasses and Texas hiccup separated him from the crowd, his way with melody was integral in shaping the sound of rock and pop going forward.

While Holly was poised to become one of the greatest to ever play rock and roll, his ascent was cut short after one fateful night in Iowa. As Holly was out on tour with Radio DJ the Big Bopper and solo artist Richie Valens, the plane that each performer was travelling hit some icy terrain, which caused it to come crashing down in a cornfield, killing everyone on board.

This event was so catastrophic for the music world that it has gone down in history as "The Day The Music Died." Though his time may have been short, Holly's shadow looms large over the rock community, with acts like the Beatles citing him as a primary influence and John McLean immortalizing his death in "American Pie."

Holly may not have been around to see how big his music eventually got, but generation after generation have been able to make a career in music thanks to the groundwork he laid.