A true pioneer of the rock 'n' roll genre, Buddy Holly’s death in a plane crash 50 years ago on 3 February, 1959 - alongside Ritchie Valens and Jiles Perry “Big Bopper” Richardson - became known as "the day the music died”.

He is credited with being a major influence on a host of stars who followed him to rock and pop success including The Beatles.

Perhaps his greatest hit single was That’ll Be The Day , a number one best seller. But his lead-guitarist role on hits such as Peggy Sue and Not Fade Away also defined his short but prolific career. He was just 22 when he died, but had left so many recordings behind that his record label was able to release brand new albums and singles for 10 years after his death.

He was born Charles Hardin Holley in Lubbock, Texas, on 7 September, 1936. The Holleys were a musical family and he learned to play the violin, guitar and piano.

In 1949 he teamed up with school friend Bob Montgomery as “Buddy and Bob”. Influenced by bluegrass music, the pair sang harmony duets at local clubs and high school talent contests.

After seeing Elvis Presley sing live in Lubbock in early 1955, he switched to rock and roll and, a few months later, was lucky enough to appear on the same bill with Presley.

At a local rock show, Mr Holley opened for Bill Haley and His Comets, a performance which landed him a solo contract with Decca Records. Upon signing the document on 8 February 1956, Holley noticed his name spelt without the ‘e’. Buddy Holly became his new public name.

On return home to Lubbock , he formed his own band, the Crickets. They became a massive hit in England after a month-long tour in 1958 and inspired future Beatles Sir Paul McCartney and John Lennon.

After two successful international tours and hit singles like Everyday , Listen to Me and Heartbeat , he left the Crickets to pursue his solo career. He was now married to Maria Elena Santiago and she was expecting their first child.

Mr Holly signed up to play a Winter Dance Party package tour of the Midwest which was due to play 24 cities in three weeks. But it was a harsh winter and the less than reliable tour bus had no heating. After a performance in Iowa, Mr Holly decided to charter a plane to get him and his two back-up musicians - Waylon Jennings and Tommy Allsup - to the next gig on the list. But The Big Bopper, who had become ill on the tour asked Mr Jennings if he could have his seat, and the future country and western star agreed.

It is claimed that on hearing the news that Mr Jennings was not going to fly with him, Mr Holly joked: "Well, I hope your old bus freezes up." Mr Jennings responded in similar vein, "Well, I hope your plane crashes." This light-hearted banter was said to have haunted the surviving musician for years.

In another twist of fate, 17-year-old Ritchie Valens tossed a coin with Tommy Allsup to see who would claim the final seat on the plane, and Mr Valens won.

Eight miles from take-off, in the early hours of 3 February, 1959, the plane crashed in a cornfield, killing all on board instantly.

The Buddy Holly Story has become a Broadway and West End musical and a film - but probably the most famous tribute to the great man was Don McLean's song American Pie , which coined the phrase “The Day the Music Died” to refer to the date of the plane crash.