On February 3, 1959, a small aircraft carrying early rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. Richardson (known as The Big Bopper) went down in Iowa killing all aboard, a tragedy that Don McLean memorialized with his early ’70s, six-verse opus “American Pie.” While those young hitmakers left Earth too early, the songs of the mid-Twentieth Century live in our hearts and on our turntables forever.
My mother grew up on these tunes, and then so, too, did I. Today, we broadcast a baker’s dozen of them on Nashville’s Music Experience for a throw WAY back to 1950s doo wop, guitar-forward gospel, country crooning, harmony-rich folk and ample hip-swiveling rock ‘n roll.
Stream the February 6 #ThematicStatic and tune in next week for a roaring good time when we sonically celebrate The Year of the Tiger with songs about cats!
#ThematicStatic Playlist
Wanda Jackson – “Let’s Have a Party”
Buddy Holly – “Words of Love”
The Cadillacs – “Speedoo”
Ritchie Valens – “La Bamba”
Billie Holiday – “Solitude”
Ray Charles – “Mess Around”
Fats Domino – “Blueberry Hill”
Sister Rosetta Tharpe – “Up Above My Head, I Hear Music in the Air”
Jackie Wilson – “Lonely Teardrops”
Patsy Cline – “Three Cigarettes In An Ashtray”
Elvis Presley – “Heartbreak Hotel”
The Everly Brothers – “Bye Bye Love”
The Flamingos – “I Only Have Eyes For You”
