Fans Memorialize "the Day the Music Died" in Clear Lake, Iowa

Flowers and tributes are left at the site of the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson near Clear Lake, Iowa on February 2, 2009. Singer Don McLean coined the phrase "the day the music died" in his hit song American Pie referring to the death of the three rock 'n' roll pioneers in the early morning hours of February 3, 1959. Thousands of people descended upon Clear Lake to celebrate the 50th anniversary of "the day the music died". (UPI Photo/Brian Kersey)