On February 3, 1959, Buddy Holly was killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. Don McLean wrote about this, in a roundabout way, inside his iconic tune American Pie. In the song, we know he referenced Holly’s passing as The Day the Music Died.

This is known to be the last photo taken of Buddy Holly that dreadful night. Recognize the bass player to his right? Waylon Jennings.

Five years and six days later, the bunch Buddy inspired began landing via airplane. February 7, 1964, was the day The Beatles landed in New York ahead of The Ed Sullivan Show.

I wish I could have been there. The Beatles are as ubiquitous to me as any group can be. I think the word is timeless. Timeless. A word that gets thrown around at bit for effect. For me, timeless and The Beatles fit. When I was eight, I was listening to The Beatles. The song Got to Get You Into my Life was on a new 45 in 1976. Rock and Roll Music was the album, I guess. Some kind of re-release. I don’t know. The point is The Beatles were a mere six years broken up at the time. But for me, it could have been forever ago. Right at this moment I am listening to The Beatles’ song Here, There, and Everywhere. This song has not grown on me. I hear what I heard in 1977 on the Love Songs compilation.

That is what I am listening to right now. A 48-year-old piece of well-preserved vinyl. And The Long and Winding Road was melancholy then and it is now. The music of The Beatles has not grown on me. This music grew with me. We got along straight away all those years ago.

For those of you who watched The Ed Sullivan Show that night, my hat is off to you.

Buddy Holly showed the way. Writing his own songs. Having a say in the recording process. He knew what Tim Krekel told me many years ago. “You have to do what is right by the song.”

A nod to Tim Krekel.

I was lucky enough to be standing a few feet away from Don McLean one night on a high school football field as he sang American Pie. Don signed my poster after the show.

A cold month that brought so much music to so many of us. Timeless.

Speaking the rights.

Danny Johnson