The Winter Dance Party Tour had two performances scheduled at The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa on February 2, 1959.
Musician and songwriter, Buddy Holly wanted to charterer a plane for him and his band to fly from Mason City, Iowa to the tour's next stop in Moorhead, Minnesota. Roger Peterson, a 21 year old pilot, agreed to fly the group to the nearest airport in Fargo, North Dakota, where the musicians could catch a flight to Moorhead. The proposed arrangement promised an early arrival at the tour's next stop, so Holly made an finalized plans to leave after the second performance.
After touring for eleven days straight, everyone needed to do laundry. Buddy Holly planned to arrive in Moorhead early, get everyone's laundry done and get some rest before the next performance. Band member, Waylon Jennings, gave his seat to J.P. Richardson, "The Big Bopper," because Richardson was suffering with a cold. Ritchie Valens won a coin toss and a seat on the plane.
