day the music died

proper noun

February 3rd, 1959, the day when American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson.

“Frank Sinatra's death marked the Day the Music Died.”

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Meanings

day the music died1

proper nounthe day the music died
  1. Alternative letter-case form of Day the Music Died.

Day the Music Died2

proper nounthe Day the Music Died

alternative day the music died

  1. historicalFebruary 3rd, 1959, the day when American rock and roll musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and "The Big Bopper" J. P. Richardson were killed in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa, together with pilot Roger Peterson.
  2. broadlyAny other day perceived in an extremely sad light, especially one in which a musician or musicians died, or in which negative consequences to the music industry were otherwise caused.

    Frank Sinatra's death marked the Day the Music Died.

Origin

Coined in 1971 by singer-songwriter Don McLean, in his song "American Pie".

Full word history & related roots →
Cite this entry
APA

day the music died. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 5, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/day%20the%20music%20died

MLA

“day the music died.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/day%20the%20music%20died. Accessed November 5, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “day the music died,” accessed November 5, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/day%20the%20music%20died.

Source: day the music died on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.