On the morning of February 3, 1959, a tragic plane crash claimed the lives of Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, J.P. Richardson, and pilot Roger Peterson. Known as The Day the Music Died, the crash left a lasting impact. In this first part of the series, we reflect on the events leading up to that fateful flight, tracing Buddy Holly’s decision to part ways with his manager and embark on a tour that would change everything.