'Remembering Patsy and her friends'...

 

What can you say about Patsy Cline? Words cannot describe her unmatched

talent. Her incredible career in the recording industry and live performing

touched thousands of people in the late 50’s and early 60’s.  Her biggest years

were from 1957-1963, she was putting out hit after hit, packing theaters

across the country and performing on the Grand Ole Opry. If you were one of

the lucky ones out there to have seen her in person… you were truly blessed.

She was the first female country singer to be inducted into the Country Music

Hall of Fame in 1973. Her music touched the soul, whether you were a country

music fan or not. Sweet Dreams, Crazy, She’s Got You, the list is endless. We

lost her crystal clear voice when she was just thirty years old, and we were all

cheated because of her untimely death. Play her music, remember her, and

pass it on……

Cowboy Copus, a young man from Ohio who started is music career while

appearing on local radio stations, as so many entertainers did fifty years ago.

A member of the Grand Ole Opry, Copus was known as the Country Gentleman

of Song. He was a solid entertainer who played the circuits of fairs, country

music halls and special events. His hits included Signed, Sealed and Delivered,

Tennessee Waltz and Alabam. His band was known as the Gold Star Rangers.

Cowboy Copus was just 50 when he was killed on that foggy, rainy day in March

of 1963.

Hawkshaw Hawkins, born in West Virginia, a country singer who had a rich,

smooth vocal presentation. With a six foot five inch frame, Hawkshaw commanded

the stage when he made an appearance in his spangled outfit and boots. I was

lucky to see him perform at the Steuben County Fair in Bath, NY. My father who

had a country and western band himself loved Hawkshaw and took me to see

Him, I believe it was in August of 1960, perhaps 61.  Hawkshaw performed for

years on WWVA in Wheeling and his signature song was Sunny Side of the Mountain.

In 1962, his biggest hit was released, just three days after his death was

Lonesome 7-7203 and that song was huge for weeks and months to follow.

Hawkshaw was just 42 when he died, but his fans continue to enjoy him. 

Randy Hughes, a session guitarist had met Patsy in 1959 and soon after became

her manager. He was the pilot and owner of the aircraft flying the night of the accident.

Hughes, age 34, was also the son-in-law of Cowboy Copus. Hughes did hold

a private pilot’s license but did not have an instrument rating, so he had to fly by

visual flight rules only. Hughes bought the aircraft in 1962, less than a year before

the day of the fateful crash. He had only logged 44.25 hours in the Piper Comanche

and only had a total of 160.10 hours flight time in his career. 

'Once you're published'....

It's amazing how the world has changed since the
intervention of the internet... in all phases of living
it seems.

The world of business has taken on a whole new
level of selling, promotion and marketing...and I
found that out quickly after publishing my first
book almost two years ago.

Since the release of Undertakings of an Undertaker,
My whole being has changed it seems.  My
'slow mail' volume has increased, my internet
activity has soared significantly... and much
more ominous and less interesting are the
'offers' that I 'shouldn't refuse'.

I have received offers from other companies who
want me to do business with them, but that of
course would be at a nominal fee of just one
or two thousand dollars to be affiliated with them.

A publishing company in Atlanta this week
desperately wanted me to participate in a New
York book fair coming up in N.Y.C.... and it
was only going to cost me $2,000, taken in
payments for my convenience.  I've had
companies who wanted to make me T-shirts,
coffee mugs... small plastic caskets to
promote my book....ha... you name it,
the list is endless.

Some where in some of those offers, a legitimate
one might exist...but you wouldn't have
enough time in this life or the next to
find that 'needle in the haystack.'

So as I continue to work on book number two
for hopefully later this year...I have a new
'caution' flag up around me... like the
old robot on Lost in Space who used to
utter...Warning..Warning...

Sitting at an old manual typewriter a few
years ago seemed so much simpler... and
a whole lot stressful.  I think I still
have that machine somewhere.

On Lady Gaga......

It seemed like just a couple of years ago that I

wasn't all that excited about Lady Gaga...she had

some pretty wild outfits... especially the 'raw

meat thing' she modeled awhile back....she does

know how to get attention, that's for sure.  But

last year  when she did the anthem at the super

bowl... I  all of a sudden took notice... and

started  to  listening to her.  She is an incredible

talent, on the piano and at the microphone.  And

this year's super bowl halftime I thought was an

outstanding performance. The visuals, the

overall presentation; everthing I thought was

superb... and that from me, a cranky old

white man who really 'isn't with' the modern

times at all.  So Lady Gaga; my old hat is

off to you!  Great job... keep pounding out

the good stuff for us....you will inspire a lot

of new performers I am sure.

'Two years ago'...

Hard to believe it's been two years since the publication of
my book on decades spent in the funeral business.

The response has been awesome, and all of you have my
extreme thanks for your support.

2017 brings new challenges, personally and professionally.


A new book is underway, more about that coming up...



My Facebook community and blog readers are sensational, loyal and dedicated; you are all the best!

Stay safe, sane, pray for our new president. Enjoy your family, friends and neighbors. Our time here is short indeed... let us all invest in it wisely.

'The pistol and the exhumation'....

This is the final installment in the five part series about

the Buddy Holly crash of 1959.  The other four parts

are here as you scroll down. I'ts an incredible story,

and fascinating to review.  Hope you've enjoyed it. 

The pistol and the exhumation….

A few weeks after the Buddy Holly plane crash, farmer Albert Juel was plowing the field

where the crash had occurred.  Holly owned a 22 caliber handgun and had placed it in the

bottom compartment of his overnight bag. During the crash, the bag had been thrown out

and had been torn open, dislodging the gun in the snow. It remained there and was found

the day farmer Juel was plowing. Juel took the gun and turned it into the local sheriff, but

not before firing the weapon himself. (There is difference of opinion on whether or not he

shared that ‘firing’ information with the sheriff.)   

After testing, it had been determined that the gun had been recently fired…. giving all

kinds of speculation that something might have happened on board that flight involving

the pistol. The facts finally surfaced, but not before planting a seed of inquiry into the mind

of Jay Richardson, only son of J.P. Richardson the Big Bopper.

It’s summer 2007, the Big Bopper’s son Jay Richardson wanted to have his father exhumed.

He had never seen his father, J.P. had died three months before Jay’s birth. There were

unanswered questions…how severe were his father’s injuries? On a long shot, was that pistol

involved in some way, shape or manner?  His father’s body was found the farthest from

the airplane wreckage… had he survived the crash and tried to go for help?  And so

Jay employed Dr. Bill Bass a credentialed forensic anthropologist to examine his father

upon his exhumation. The grave was at the Forest Lawn Cemetery in Beaumont, Tx.

There were a few people present at the exhumation including a film crew. The grave was

opened, the vault was raised, opened and the metal Batesville Casket removed. It was

in extremely good shape for being interred 48 years. In a private setting later that morning

the casket was opened and Jay saw his father for the first time. By all accounts the

Big Bopper was fully recognizable with his familiar crew cut he sported in 1959. The

embalming had been superb, and the restorative art to his features also done well.

Dr. Bass and his assistants removed the body, performed an extensive examination and

multiple groupings of x-rays. Dr. Bass concluded and reported to Jay that there was

no foul play in the death of his father and that he had died from massive trauma, and

that he died instantly.  Batesville Casket Co. provided a new casket in which J.P. was

placed and a small procession drove him to his new resting place. The rumors

were nixed, Jay had seen his father for the first and only time, and had laid his father

back to rest. Sadly, Jay himself passed away in August of 2013.   

So the rumor that the pistol was somehow involved in the crash was finally

dismissed.  Jay Richardson finally got to see his father for the first time….it

must have been a  very bittersweet day for him, for sure.  

February 3^rd of 1959 is talked and written about a lot…even 58 years later.

The lack of sophisticated weather tracking, communications and equipment

were most likely all factors in this terrible day. Accidents similar to this are

rare today. The four lost that day will not be forgotten. Their memories will

be perpetuated as time marches on…and that’s the way it should be.

The picture is of the casket of J. P. Richardson being disinterred in 

2007. His son Jay requested a full autopsy and a chance to see his

father, for the first and only time. 

The conclusions....

The conclusions of the crash…

Before the NTSB, there was the Civil Aeronautics Board (CAB).  They were the official

agency in charge of investigating the who, what and why of the Holly plane crash.

The post crash investigation at the scene came to no immediate conclusions. The

instrumentation all appeared normal with gauges and readings in their acceptable

parameters.  The engine gave no clues to mechanical failure or loss of power, the

propeller hub upon inspection proved the engine was performing normally at the

point of impact.

There was no part of parts of the wing, or moveable control surfaces

 found far away from the aircraft that might indicate an early departure from the fuselage  before the crash. Upon reviewing the autopsy report of pilot Roger Peterson, nothing remarkable was found that would indicate a medical emergency that would affect his flying senses or motor functions.

His injuries as the other victims were of mass trauma including the head and brain.

The young pilot Peterson was certified to operate under visual flight rules; i.e.

you need to be able to see where you are going. On that particular night, the lack of

a good horizon, low clouds, minimal amount of ground lights in the little populated area

would all make for poor visual flying. Add into the mix some gusting winds, perhaps

a snow squall engulfing the airplane and his not being familiar with the on board gyro

system could bring about spatial disorientation.., thinking you are actually gaining

altitude when in reality you are descending. CAB also mentioned that the weather

briefing was ‘seriously inadequate’ which was given Peterson. To my knowledge the

CAB never attempted to calculate the final weight of the aircraft with its’ passengers,

fuel and luggage.. if the aircraft was overloaded and the center of gravity was

compromised the plane would be severely challenged to fly correctly.  In 2015, the NTSB,

who succeeded the CAB had considered re-opening the crash investigation. That was

proposed by a pilot L.J. Coon, who felt the first conclusions were not correct.

He thought a possible right rudder failure, fuel readings and that improper weight

distribution as mentioned above could be involved. Coon also thought that Peterson

may have tried to land the aircraft, a distinct possibility, and that his efforts should

be noted in the official record. The NTSB in 2016 considered re-opening the

investigation into the crash, but it never happened. And there you have it.

 There are rumors the plane still exists…..and that the Dwyer family has at

least part of it hidden away. (Jerry and Barb Dwyer, were the owners of the airplane.)

Jerry Dwyer passed away in Clear Lake in January 2016. He was writing a book

about the whole affair…his wife has stated she will continue and eventually

finish the book in his memory and honor.

Next and finally; the pistol found at the scene and the years later exhumation

of J.P. Richardson

A quick note..

The first three writings about the Buddy holly crash you will find below.
By the end of the week, the final two will be published; the conclusions
of the investigation and a story about a pistol found at the scene, and
the exhumation of the Big Bopper.

Just confirmed today; on Friday, Feb. 3rd at 10:10 a.m., I'll be on the
air in Rochester with brother Wease and his morning show. It's the
58th anniversary of the Holly crash and we'll be talking about it
extensively. You can hear it live by just googling the Wease,
Rochester, N.Y... it will take you to I Heart radio...you can hear it
wherever you might be.  Hope you'll join us for a great show on
Friday, Feb. 3rd, 10:10 a.m. ! The picture is of brother Wease in his
studio at FM 95.1.