3 Rock 'n' Roll Stars Die in Plane Crash Buddy Holly, 22; Ritchie Valens. Richardson, 24 (I. to r.), Mason City, Iowa, Feb. singing stars, whose records lions of teen-agers, were killed (UPI fotos 17, and J. P. (Big Bopper) who died in plane crash. 3 (AP).- Three rock 'n' roll and appearances stirred milearly today in an Iowa field.