American Heartbeat 1959

In musical terms, 1959 was the year rock'n'roll lost its first great singer-songwriter. Buddy Holly perished when the single-engined Beechcraft light aircraft in which he was travelling fell to earth in a snowstorm near Mason City, Iowa. He was accompanied by fellow stars the Big Bopper and Ritchie Valens; we feature 'Donna', the last hit released in Valens' lifetime. The pop world they left behind was one that represented every kind of music, both pre-rock and beyond. In 1959, the British Invasion was still a handful of years on the horizon, as were such earthshaking events as the Cuban missile crisis and the assassination of John F. Kennedy. Enjoy the soundtrack to 12 rock 'n' rolling months.