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There's a scene in American Graffiti where the cool greaser character, John Milner says, "Rock and roll's been going downhill ever since Buddy Holly died." I first saw that movie with my dad in our local theater when it first came out. My dad was a first wave rock and roller who idolized Buddy, Elvis, Little Richard, Chuck Berry and Jerry Lee and he absolutely hated the Beatles, Stones and Dylan. I remember sitting in the theater and being shocked to hear that quote about Buddy Holly because I'd heard my dad say the exact same thing a hundred times before. I also remember looking over at my dad and seeing him crying because someone on the big screen just reaffirmed everything he believed about rock and roll in one simple quote. .. . Buddy Holly's plane went down in an Iowa corn field 60 years ago today. Even though I keep trying to think of his life, legacy and music, I keep thinking about sitting in a movie theater with my dad back in 1973. I guess that's the power of art.

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