Buddy Holly, a rising pop music genius not yet 23 years old, died in a plane crash today, 57 years ago.

We can do all we can, and do everything right, but so much in our culture and lives is determined by pure luck, good, bad, and as in this case, terrible.

I think about this every February third.

Here’s Buddy, with one of my favorites:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOTv9jY4X5E

And here is Don McLean: