Widow marking 50 years since Holly's death

CLEAR LAKE, Iowa, Feb. 2 (UPI) -- Maria Elena Holly says she will mark the 50th anniversary of her husband Buddy's death by attending a tribute concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa.

The Surf was the last venue Holly played before he and his fellow rock 'n' roll icons Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash on their way to their next gig on Feb. 2, 1959. Their deaths were immortalized in the song "American Pie," which refers to the date the tragedy happened as "the day the music died."

Holly's widow told the Minneapolis Star Tribune she planned to attend a concert Monday night that was to feature performances by Tommy Allsup -- who was on the 1959 tour with Buddy Holly, Valens and Richardson -- and Bobby Vee.

"Celebrating Buddy's music, that's what I'm here for," Maria Elena Holly told the Star Tribune. "I actually have a bittersweet feeling because, of course, you can't stop thinking this is where it happened. But when I come in and see all the fans that are here, 2,000 people at the Surf, dancing and enjoying themselves, that erases from my mind that this is where this happened."

Holly went on to say it was important to her late husband that his music "be liked and enjoyed."

"And 50 years later, it is still fresh," she said. "You hear the fans say, 'Oh, this music will never die.'"