On February 3 , 1959 , American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly , Ritchie Valens , and `` The Big Bopper '' J. P. Richardson were killed Killing in a plane crash Catastrophe near Clear Lake , Iowa , together with pilot Roger Peterson .

After stopping Process_end at Clear Lake to perform Hold , and frustrated by such conditions , Holly chose Choosing to charter Renting a plane to reach Arriving their next venue in Moorhead , Minnesota .

However , it weakened Cause_change_of_strength to a Category 3 hurricane before making landfall in Johnson 's Bayou , Louisiana , between Sabine Pass , Texas and Holly Beach , Louisiana , with winds of 115 mph ( 185 km/h ) .