Musicians and small planes.

[Conor Dary]

Not a good combo....

• ...with the death of singer Jenni Rivera in a small private plane in Mexico, it reminds me again how common these of musical acts in small planes seem to be. It’s almost like a recording industry cliche, though certainly I don’t mean that to diminish the personal tragedy involved.
  
  I also get that it’s very difficult to get a real sense of ‘commonness’ with high profile events spanning periods of many decades.
  
  But just off the top of my head:
  
  Buddy Holly
  
  Richie Valens
  
  ‘The Big Bopper’
  
  Otis Redding
  
  Stevie Ray Vaughan
  
  Ricky Nelson
  
  John Denver
  
  Patsy Cline
  
  Jim Croce
  
  Aaliyah
  
  Half of Lynyrd Skynyrd

http://talkingpointsmemo.com/archives/2 ... ?ref=fpblg

[lonewolf]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

Reba McIntires band.

[tandfman]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

Musicians die when bigger plans crash, too. William Kapell was in a DC-6. Far from a 747, but not a small plane.

[gh]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

The Big Bopper wasn't supposed to be on the Holly plane, but a member of the band gave up his seat so he could it because the Bopper had a bad cold. Had that not happened, what legendary career never would have happened?

(another question: if Bopper hadn't been on that plane, would he even be remembered today?)

[marknhj]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

Every time I've been in a small plane I've been terrified; I'm amazed more don't crash.

I'm not sure which was my worse experience: flying from John Wayne to San Jose with significant turbulence all the way, or flying straight at whatever the main mountain in Kuai is called in a pissing down rain storm while "sightseeing" past the windscreen wipers.

[Blues]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

Supposedly Jimmie Vaughan and his wife were also supposed to be on the helicopter that crashed and killed his brother Stevie Ray, but 3 members of Eric Clapton's management had already grabbed seats on the 3rd helicopter that was supposed to be reserved for the Vaughans, and with only 1 seat remaining, Stevie asked his brother Jimmie and Jimmie's wife for the last seat, since he wanted to get back to Chicago from Alpine Valley in Wisconsin as soon as possible, and didn't want to wait and ride in the 4th helicopter...

Stevie Ray Vaughan is definitely one of my favorite guitarists of all time.

[Conor Dary]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

The Big Bopper wasn't supposed to be on the Holly plane, but a member of the band gave up his seat so he could it because the Bopper had a bad cold. Had that not happened, what legendary career never would have happened?

(another question: if Bopper hadn't been on that plane, would he even be remembered today?)

Wasn't it Waylon Jennings?

As to the second question, I doubt it.

[dj]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

Glenn Miller

[tandfman]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

(another question: if Bopper hadn't been on that plane, would he even be remembered today?)

I think the answer is yes, for three reasons. First, if hadn't been on that plane, he presumably would have continued to be productive. Second, Chantilly Lace alone would be rememberd. Third (and not necessarily last), his name alone would be memorable. (Do you think Lolo would be as well known if her name were Mary?

[tandfman]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

More for the list:

Buddy Clark (from lonewolf's era)

Grace Moore (another oldie)

Jacques Thibaud (and another)

[TN1965]

Re: Musicians and small planes.

Musicians die when bigger plans crash, too. William Kapell was in a DC-6. Far from a 747, but not a small plane.

Kyu Sakamoto (known for "sukiyaki" song) also died in a big commercial plane crash.