Charles Hardin Holley (September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959), known as Buddy Holly, was an American singer and songwriter who was a central and pioneering figure of mid-1950s rock and roll. His style was influenced by gospel music, country music, and rhythm and blues acts. In 1955, after opening for Elvis Presley, he decided to pursue a career in music. After a show in Clear Lake, Iowa, he chartered an airplane to travel to his next show in Moorhead, Minnesota. Soon after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing Holly, Ritchie Valens, The Big Bopper, and the pilot in a tragedy later referred to by Don McLean as "The Day the Music Died" in his song "American Pie".