Good Friends Back up on the Lake

Old Home Snowed Over

    I am up here in the Mooresville, North Carolina area on business, but the evenings mean that I have a chance to get together with some friends again.  Many of these friends I haven't seen in about 5 years, but it is great to get back together again with them.  This place has always been a special place, the lake offers much of the fun things that the waters around Key West do.

My Bartender Friend Dorothy

    Going back to some of the old watering holes and seeing that some of them have really changed, and others are still the same place that I hung out just like before.  On the Roxx, Rusty Rudder and Lake Town Tavern, all fun places here on the lake.  The only thing the lake lacks is RUM.    I can get by without all of my favorites for a couple of days, it is all about the friends that make it happen and so much fun when I'm up here that are important.  Until my next visit I must bid my friends up here adieu.

My Friend Holly

     Anyway, it has been a busy few days back up here again, but the work and the play is nearly completed, now it is time to pack back up and get ready to return to Key West this afternoon.  I really can not miss Karaoke at the Hurricane Hole tonight, that just really would not be right.  ;o)

The Venerable Rum Punch

     What is so good about most of the rum punch?   No matter where you travel in the Caribbean you are going to find a rum punch.  They are all a bit different, loaded with fruit juices and rums of all styles and nature.  As I have traveled around the Caribbean I find many versions of this venerable cocktail

      The Rum Punch was first brought to England by the British East Indies Company in the early 17 th century and would later spread from England throughout Europe in the following years.    These cocktails would usually be served in wide bowls with a ladle that would be later known as “punch bowls”.  Typically red in color, but often found to be a burnt orange color as well.

     Sporting names like “Planter’s Punch”, “Jamaica Rum Punch”, or just “Rum Punch”, all are very different in their ingredients and flavor.  Most of these are either extremely strong or very benine, but either way, very flavorful.

Planter's Punch

• 1 1/2 oz. Dark Rum
• 1/4 oz. Grenadine
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• 1/4 oz. Simple Sugar Syrup
• 1 oz. Pineapple Juice
• 1 oz. Orange or Passion Fruit Juice

Place all ingredients in a shaker with ice and shake until chilled.  Garnish with orange wheel and cherry.

 

Jamaican Rum Punch

• 20z. Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum
• 1 oz. Myer's Rum
• 1/2 oz. Coconut Rum
• 4oz. Pineapple Juice
• 4 oz. Orange Juice
• 1/2 oz. Lime Juice
• 1/4 oz. Grenadine

Mix all ingredients and put into a "Punch Bowl" filled with ice and orange wheels.

 

Bahama Bob's All Purpose Rum Punch

·         1 oz. Dark Rum

·         1 oz. Coconut Rum

·         1 oz. Crème de Banana

·         ½ oz. Crème de Cocoa

·         1 oz. Mango Liqueur

·         1 oz. Pineapple Juice

·         1 oz. Grapefruit Juice

Place all ingredients in a pint glass filled with ice and shake.     Garnish with a lime wheel and a cherry.

 

Waking Up in the Freezing North

     Today instead of waking up in the warmth of Key West, it is Mooresville, North Carolina where it is freezing cold.   Just a short business trip to take care of some pressing things, and it is back to Paradise.  

     It is not all bad, it has been nearly 5 years since I was last here, the place keeps getting more and more crowded.  It is good to see many of my old friends again and even tip a rum or two in the North.   The fun up here hasn't changed much it is still all about the boats the lake and the good conversation with the friends.

     I'll be showing you some of the fun that I am having and some of my old haunts as I roam around lake Norman and get back with my old friends.  ;o)

Windy Sunday In Key West Reminds Me of Regatta Time

     Today is still windy and it always reminds me of regatta days down here.  The big boats with spinnakers filled and close in racing making the day exciting in the wind blown waters off of Key West.

Key West's Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn Among the Best for 2014

The Speakeasy Inn and Rum Bar on Duval Street in Key West

     The folks at the Rum Journal have made The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn in Key West to be one of the Top 15 rum bars in the world for 2014.   This is an honor for all of us involved.   A lot of work and effort has gone into the bar in the past five years since Anne Perina  has taken over as owner of the Speakeasy Inn and Rum Bar.  She and her mother Barbara Perina, General Manager, have given us all the where with all and the financial backing to accumulate the fine collection of 240 different rums that we now carry.  They have helped us to spread the word about the qualities of fine rums and how to enjoy them.


     The Rum Journal has set the standards as to what constitutes a rum bar and what makes it a great one.  "What is a rum bar? It’s not a beach bar. It’s not a pub. It’s not a tiki bar. It’s not a rum shop. The way we see it, a rum bar is a bar dedicated to the glory of rum, with a list of rums large enough to do justice to the Noble Spirit and a relaxed but adventurous atmosphere that lives up to all of its natural romance. Rum must be the soul of the bar. And as the gospel of rum continues to spread across the globe, we thought we’d do something rather ambitious — put together a list of the world’s best rum bars, including both the best of the Caribbean and the wider world."



Martin Cates  of Smuggler's Cove San Francisco

The Rum Journal's Top     15 Rum Bars in the World


• 1. Papa Zouk - Antigua
• 2. Lebensstern - Berlin
• 3. Smuggler's Cove - San Francisco
• 4. Rum House - New York City
• 5. La Rhummerie - Paris
• 6 Rumba - Seattle
• 7. Fish D'vine - Australia
• 8. Tafia - Tokyo
• 9. Cubaocho - Miami
• 10. Trailer Happiness - London
• 11. Cana Rum Bar - Los Angeles
• 12. Rum Bar  - Key West
• 13. Q's Rummeria - Rome
• 14. La Rhummerie _Guadeloupe
• 15. Rum Bar - Key Biscayne



The Rum Bar at the Speakeasy Inn - Key West

     The Rum Bar is a place that is dedicated to fun first, then to the education and enjoyment
of some of the finest rums available to us here in Florida.   It is a real honor to be considered among such well known group of bars such as "Smuggler's Cover" in San Francisco and "Trailer Happiness" in London.   We tap every distributor we can find to provide some of the new and unusual rums from around the world.   Providing the knowledge about the rums in order to match the palate of the customers to a rum that will give them an interesting new experience.   It is working with those that are interested in learning about rum and trying something new in their lives.   According to the Rum Journal.  "Set at the Speakeasy Inn on Duval Street in Key West, the Rum Bar is led by “Bahama Bob” Leonard, one of the world’s leading experts on rum. It’s a classic in the heart of a town that loves the spirit."

     Should you get the opportunity to come to Key West, stop by and get to know us and our superb collection of rums.  You will not be disappointed I'm sure.  ;o)

    

Valentine's Day Cocktail

   
Valentine's Day is always a dilemma as to the right cocktail for the occasion.   It is a tough one to try and create as well, but with a little bit of effort, and some creative juices flowing, generally rum. I've come up with one for this year.

     This year I've created an idea based on a El Floridita Daiquiri and just getting a little bit girly girl added.   This will be a fun sit down on the veranda or some place warm if you are north of Key Largo and enjoy cocktail for the special evening.  



Bahama Bob's Valentine's Day Daiquiri

• Juice of 1/2 Lime
• 1/2 oz. Agave Nectar
• 2 1/2 oz. Premium White Rum ( Diplomatico Blanco or Matusalem Platino)
• 1/2 oz. DeKuyper Pomegranate  Liqueur
• 1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice

Place all ingredients in a blender with ice and blend until silky smooth.  Pour into a Martini Glass and garnish with an orange zest.

     This will put the love in the air and some relaxed fun into the evening.  ;o)

St. Kitt's Own Brinley Gold Shipwreck Rums

St Kitts

   The beautiful Caribbean Island of St. Kitts is the home to Brinley Gold Shipwreck Rums.  These are
a cut above the rest when it comes to flavored rums.   They have the flavor and the punch that most of the others left behind.  

  The cannons on Brimstone Hill protected St. Kitts and her precious sugar cane from invaders for hundreds of years.   Many a ship fell to her demise in Frigate Bay over the years as St. Kitts would be under attack by British and European raiders.

     Robert and Zackary Brinley founded the St. Kitts Rum Company in the early1990's.   Their mission was to blend and create some of the best flavored rums anywhere.   Their rums are aged in American whiskey and bourbon barrels for four years.   The boy would flavor and spice these rums and take them around to markets, bars and restaurants to introduce them to the public.   Their work and drive to get people to try the rums has paid off, they are recipients of several awards from the International Rum Festival, Ministry of Rum Tasting Competition and have received several other awards for their expressions of flavored rums.

      Their Spiced, Coffee, Mango, Vanilla, Lime  and Coconut flavors are all made with the finest flavors and spices available.   The rums flavor, aroma and finish show the quality of their efforts.  The rum maintains a 72 proof unlike most of the other flavored rums low proofs.  The fine quality of the rum to start with just adds to the expressions shippable flavors.

     The Brinley Brothers introduced a Spiced rum in 2011 dedicated to the British Troop Ship sunk in Frigate Bay in 1782.   Brinley Gold Shipwreck Spiced Rum is made with Madagascar vanilla, oranges, nutmeg, clove and other unusual Caribbean island spices.  This rum is arguably the finest tasting spiced rum that you will ever taste.

     These rums make for a great mixed cocktail boasting flavors to make your creations among the most memorable ever.  

     Try this quick mix when you are ready for a good coffee flavored cocktail.

Chilled Coffee Latte

• 1 1/2 oz. Brinley Gold Coffee Rum
• 1/4 oz. Amaretto
• 1 oz. Half and Half

Shake all ingredients in a shaker filled with ice until it is chilled and strain into a Irish coffee glass and top with fresh ground nutmeg and whipped cream dollop.

    The entire line of Brinley Gold Shipwreck Rums got a face lift in 2012 revealing the "shipwreck" name in all of the Brinley Gold expressions.  The same quality rum with a new and exciting image for the shelves.  This is the "top shelf" of the flavored and spiced rums and is well deserving of the finest tasting spiced rum they are claiming.

    No matter which of these rums that you try I feel you will be surprised by the great flavors and quality of the rum itself.   ;o)

Savor the Adventure of Channel Marker 43

    With Havana still on my mind from Monday, I got thinking about a new cocktail with Hemingway's fishing yacht in mind.   Pilar Dark Rum came immediately to mind with its dark full bodied flavor and staying with a nautical mood.   I was looking aft toward the channel behind the marina and the red channel marker lit up and idea for the new cocktail.

     I came up with a new idea for a new cocktail born form the sea.   This had to be a simple three item cocktail with a bold and sophisticate taste that would be fitting to the rum and the man.   It needed the style of his writing and the bravado of his adventurous lifestyle to fulfill the expectations of the cocktail.   Set your mind off to an adventure sitting of the aft deck of Pilar hauling in huge sailfish and savor the flavor of this cocktail.




Channel Marker 43

• 2 oz. Pilar Dark Rum
• 1/2 oz. Liqueur 43
• 2 oz. Barritt's Ginger Beer

Place the Pilar and the Liqueur 43 in a 12 oz. glass with ice, stir and top up with Barritt's Ginger Beer.   Optional garnish with a lime wedge or wheel.

  

2014 Rum Renaissance Festival is Fast Approaching

     The 2014 Rum Renaissance Festival is fast approaching, now is the time to get your tickets and room reservations.  The Doubletree by Hilton Miami Airport Convention Center is where it is going to be happening again this year and a great place to stay to be a part of all that is going on.

There are a lot of events that will take place during the week and tickets and more information is available at http://www.rumrenaissance.com/    The web site has all the information you will need to get your tickets and hotel reservations.

     I will be there all week long again and will be looking forward to getting together with my friends again this year enjoying all of the fine spirits of the Sugar Cane.    I'm going to be a part of the judging panel and there to help you get any information that you will need during the show, but realistically just there to have fun along with all the rest of my friends and fellow rum lover.   I will be in the Ask a Rum Expert Booth again to answer your questions or just chat and enjoy a nice rum.



      There are so many of my friends from the industry going to be there and you will have the chance to meet many of them as well.  Rum producers, distillers, master blenders and so many others.  This is an event that you really don't want to miss out on.  ;o)

Wandering Havana Around Sunrise

Sunrise over the Bacardi Building

    As an early riser I get the opportunity to wander around places that I visit before the crowds get moving and a chance to enjoy where I am in a semi private way.   I thoroughly enjoy these sojourns and love to photograph some of the places and events that I witness in the dawn.
    From the Telegrafo Hotel I first notice the sun rising on Havana and the way it illuminates the clouds.  The back lighting of the buildings just puts a smile on my face.

Inglaterra Hotel and National Theater

     Last year I visited Havana and spent some mornings wandering around the park.   The morning sun is low in the sky and makes for some absolutely beautiful sights.  I hope that you enjoy this stroll as much as I did. 

     The morning sun brings to life several of these historic buildings like the National Theater, and the Inglaterra  Hotel.  The street view from the park is really breath taking as the rays of the sun bring the colors of the buildings to life.

     Looking ahead you can see El Capitolo, the equivalent of our own Congressional Building in Washington DC.   It was model after the United States Capitol Building and they truly resemble each other.   The morning lights just bring this pictures to life.    I love that there is just minimal traffic and only a few people moving about.  The dome is being restored at this time, and hopefully by the time I get to return the project will be completed.

El Capitolo

  
     Next time you are in one of these wonderful places away from home, get up with the sun and walk around.  You will be amazes how the dawn's early light brings your world to life in a very remarkable way.   ;o)

My What Our Oceans Provide

     We seem to find more ways to make use of our oceans, some for good and some not so good, but she is an incredible place and should be respected.   The balance that makes her so special needs to be preserved.  If you visit them please respect them, remember they are alive, there are enough dead reefs around the world already.  ;o)

Grenada Celebrates Its 40th Year of Independence Today

     I've gotten to know a little bit about Grenada in the past six months, and the more I learn about it the more fascinating it becomes to me.   This tiny 133 square mile island, located in the southeast Caribbean Sea, is loaded with so many fun and wonderful facets that it will take years to get to know about the island.



     Grenada has been invaded by so many European countries in its history,   The Spanish, English, and French had all colonized it at one point of time or an other.   In 1649, when France took full control of the island,   Grenada was the largest producer of sugar in the Caribbean and was one of the richest colonies of France.    In 1763, France yielded its control of Grenada to Great Britain.   The British ruled Grenada for more than 200 years. Finally on February 7, 1974, Grenada gained its independence from Great Britain. 

     I had the privilege of spending a few days there last November.  I found this wonderful little island very to be attractive and a fun place to spend some time.  The history, rum, scenery and the people left me with a very warm and wonderful impression of the island.   I am looking forward to my return to the "Spice Island" in November for the Caribbean Rum and Beer Festival.   

   Congratulations to  Grenada and its people for 40 years of independence and prosperity.   See you in November.  ;o)

Myths and Truths about Alcohol Consumption

     I ran across this interesting article about the myths on drinking alcohol and thought that you might enjoy reading it also.  There are so many different myths that are out there these days, I am glad that some one put them together and talked about them.

    

Business Insider

Kelly Dickerson

Feb. 6, 2014 

     You may drink, and you may party, but do you get My Drunk Kitchen wasted? 

     Well, it seems that drunk cooking video host Hannah Hart's learned her fair share from her series - she hosted Mental Floss's weekly video list laying out 29 common misconceptions about alcohol. 

     Here are the 8 biggest alcohol-related myths, and why they are false.  

1.   Liquor before beer never fear, beer before liquor never sicker. There's no magical order of drinking that will save you from a hangover the next day. The order you drink certain types of alcohol in doesn't matter - even switching between beer, wine, and liquor throughout the night won't make a difference. Bottom line: all that matters is how much you drink, not if you saved the beer for last. 

2.   Breaking the seal means you'll have to pee more all night. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it's already going to make you pee a lot. "Breaking the seal" the first time will not increase the amount of times you have to go to the bathroom, but drinking lots of alcohol will. 

3.   Blackouts can eventually be remembered. If you wake up fuzzy on the details from the night before, you probably shouldn't even bother trying to remember: it's impossible. When we drink too much the part of our brain that encodes memories actually switches off. People claiming they remember what happened after they blacked out are probably having what are called false memories. 

4.   The lines on a solo cup are for measuring alcohol. While the lines on a solo cup do come close to matching up with alcohol measurements (the bottom line is close to one ounce for liquor, the middle line is close to five ounces for wine, etc.) the Solo company has said repeatedly that the lines on the cup do not exist for that purpose. They even went to the trouble of making a graphic on their Facebook page illustrating their point. 

5.   Mixing energy drinks with alcohol makes you drunker. Turns out it just energizes you. The problem is the extra shot of energy can make you feel less intoxicated than you actually are. 

6.   Tequila makes you crazy. There is no evidence that a type of alcohol gets you a certain type of drunk. So anyone claiming that wine makes them sad, or whiskey makes them angry, doesn't have much scientific evidence backing them up. The number of drinks and speed of drinking have the biggest impact on your drunk mood. 

7.   Eating before drinking keeps you sober. Eating before drinking does help your body absorb alcohol, but it only delays the alcohol entering your bloodstream, it doesn't restrict it. Your body absorbs the alcohol slower after a big meal, so eating before drinking can help the severity of your hangover. Eating a lot after drinking won't do anything for your hangover. 

8.   A night cap helps you sleep. A drink before bed will help you fall asleep faster, but your body will actually spend less time in REM, and the quality of your sleep will suffer. 

     Check out 21 more alcohol misconceptions in the video below and you can read more @

 

http://www.businessinsider.com/29-common-misconceptions-about-alcohol-2014-2#ixzz2sd2sClmG

 

     Go online and check out the rest of the story and video, I think you will find it amusing as well as enlightening.   ;o)

Who's The Soberest and the Drunkest Cities in America?

The results are in and Key West didn't even make the list.  with 255 bars on a 2 by 5 mile island we are not even a blip results.  There are some very interesting results that I would not have expected, like Miami among the soberest, and such a group of Central Valley California towns among the drunkest.   Anyway take a look at the list  and see where your city ranks.  ;o)

STONE-COLD SOBER
1.    Salt Lake City, UT
2.    Jersey City, NJ
3.    New York, NY
4.    Plano, TX
5.    Chicago, IL
6.    Miami, FL
7.    Boston, MA
8.    Virginia Beach, VA
9.    Newark, NJ
10.  Bridgeport, CT

11.    Baton Rouge, LA
12.    Raleigh, NC
13.    Atlanta, GA
14.    Manchester, NH
15.    New Orleans, LA
16.    Dallas, TX
17.    St. Paul, MN
18.    Philadelphia, PA
19.    Honolulu, HI
20.    Burlington, VT

31.    Wilmington, DE
32.    Kansas City, MO
33.    Orlando, FL
34.    Fort Wayne, IN
35.    San Francisco, CA
36.    Wichita, KS
37.    Norfolk, VA
38.    Chesapeake, VA
39.    Detroit, MI
40.    Minneapolis, MN

41.    Los Angeles, CA
42.    Charleston, WV
43.    Madison, WI
44.    Omaha, NE
45.    Louisville, KY
46.    San Jose, CA
47.    Jackson, MS
48.    Pittsburgh, PA
49.    Aurora, CO
50.    Houston, TX

51.    Lincoln, NE
52.    Portland, OR
53.    Boise City, ID
54.    Anaheim, CA
55.    Providence, RI
56.    Buffalo, NY
57.    Greensboro, NC
58.    Indianapolis, IN
59.    Washington, DC
60.    Milwaukee, WI

61.    Anchorage, AK
62.    Albuquerque, NM
63.    Winston-Salem, NC
64.    Columbus, OH
65.    Jacksonville, FL
66.    Sioux Falls, SD
67.    Cleveland, OH
68.    Cincinnati, OH
69.    Lubbock, TX
70.    Sacramento, CA

71.    Des Moines, IA
72.    Las Vegas, NV
73.    Tampa, FL
74.    Fort Worth, TX
75.    Columbia, SC
76.    Colorado Springs, CO
77.    Fargo, ND
78.    Oklahoma City, OK
79.    Tucson, AZ
80.    Riverside, CA

81.    Phoenix, AZ
82.    St. Petersburg, FL
83.    Denver, CO
84.    El Paso, TX
85.    Tulsa, OK
86.    Lexington, KY
87.    Nashville, TN
88.    Corpus Christi, TX
89.    San Diego, CA
90.   Toledo, OH

OVER THE LIMIT
91.    Reno, NV
92.    St. Louis, MO
93.    Austin, TX
94.    Billings, MT
95.    Fresno, CA
96.    San Bernardino, CA
97.    Cheyenne, WY
98.    Stockton, CA
99.    San Antonio, TX
100.  Bakersfield, CA

Read More at http://www.weather.com/health/americas-drunkest-cities-20131125

This is a very interesting list and I hope that you enjoy reading it as much as I did.  ;o)

 

 

Antigua Through the Windshiels

     Antigua is one of the Caribbean islands that has many faces.  It has bustling cities, open country farmland with violent coastlines on one side and serene calm waters on the other.  It is an island of opposites as you travel around it.   We had the opportunity to enjoy the island on scooters, so through the windshield is a bit of a story, but I'm sure you get the idea.   The texture of the countryside becomes clear as soon as you break out of St. Johns city limits, the open grass and forests with very laid back country atmosphere becomes clear.

     As you approach the northeastern corner of the island things become very different.   It is a much more arid climate.   The plant life as well as the animal life begins to change dramatically.   More of the succulent plants are appearing and wild donkeys are seen moving across the now gravel roads.     This is a more natural part of the island and very beautiful in deed as we slowly drive toward the coast and the Devil's Bridge.

Devil's Bridge

     The Devil's bridge is an area on the northeast coast that is particularly violent in nature.  The huge seas crashing against the cliffs  provide a spectacular sight with the huge sprays of water arise.   The Devil's Bridge is a place where many of the slaves would commit suicide in the days of the "Triangle Trade" in the 1700's.



Nelson's Dockyard

     Back into the country and down to the southwestern side and Nelson's Dockyards.



The southeastern side of the island is a rain forests and beautiful blue seas are of a much calmer nature.  The Dockyard is where the British Fleet would retreat to for repairs and provisioning after a tour of duty in the Caribbean.   There are many interesting museums and displays here that are well worth the time to see.

     From the Dockyard it is into the rain forest, then following the coastline back to St. Johns and back to the big city life again.  The differences as you move around this relatively small island are really amazing and fun to take in.  As we head back to St. Johns, I am wishing that I could spend more time exploring this colorful and historic island.

    Another day of looking through the windshield as I go from place to place exploring the fun places that I have been able to visit is over and I hope you enjoyed the trip.  ;o)

    

Where do we get Rum From?

Sugar Cane in the Fields

     I get asked on a regular basis where does rum come from?   Actually rum only has one rule for its production, it has to be made from a derivative of the sugar cane.   With that in mind, why is there so much rum production in and around the Caribbean? 

Water Power Cane Crusher

     Sugarcane is indigenous to tropical Southwestern Asia.   Different species likely originated in different locations, with Saccharum barberi originating in India and S. edule and S.officinarum coming from New Guinea.   Approximately 70% of the sugar produced globally comes from S. officinarum and hybrids using this species.   It is theorized that sugarcane was first domesticated as a crop in New Guinea around 6000 BC.

Loading cane in the crusher

     How did it get to the Caribbean region?   Well, you can give Christopher Columbus most of the credit for that.    On his second voyage, he brought sugar cane with him and distributed it around the islands that he visited.  It would spread throughout the region and to South and Central America as well.    Sugar was a commodity that was very popular and valued in England and Europe in the 1600's and the 1700's and he who controlled the sugar had the power and wealth at that time.


Cooking the Cane Juice

     Sugar production, is a process that takes the sugar cane stocks and crushes them into syrup and then cooks it in stages to extract the crystalline sugar.  The residue left after the cooking is completed is known as molasses.   Originally it was from the molasses that the rum was made.   There was a large amount of it and most every sugar plantation at the time had a rum distillery connected with it.  In fact most of the most famous brands of rum were a part of a very large sugar plantation.

     One of the interesting parts of my trip to Grenada last November was seeing the process being done the old way at the River Antoine Distillery.    Watching all of the steps leading from the field to the crusher, to the cooking pans, to fermentation and finally to the stills makes me appreciate the fine spirits of the cane even more.   ;o) 
    

55 Years Ago Today.

   

      In a frozen corn field in Clearlake, Iowa 55 years ago today, a day that became known as "the day the music died".   Buddy Holly, Richie Valens and JP "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed when their chartered plane went down in a snow storm.
    

     On this day in 1959, rising American rock stars Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson are killed when their chartered Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashes in Iowa a few minutes after takeoff from Mason City on a flight headed for Moorehead, Minnesota. Investigators blamed the crash on bad weather and pilot error. Holly and his band, the Crickets, had just scored a No. 1 hit with "That'll Be the Day."

     The distance between venues and the

conditions prevalent aboard the poorly equipped tour buses adversely affected the performers. Cases of flu spread among the band members, and Carl Bunch was hospitalized due to frostbite. Frustrated by the conditions, Holly decided to charter a plane when they stopped for their performance in the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, to reach their next venue in Moorhead, Minnesota. Carroll Anderson, owner of the Surf Ballroom, chartered the plane from the Dwyer Flying Service. Richardson, who was affected by the flu, swapped places with Waylon Jennings, taking the latter's place on the plane, while Tommy Allsup lost his place to Ritchie Valens on a coin toss. Dion DiMucci (of Dion and the Belmonts fame) decided not to board the plane for the $36 fee.

     It never ceases to amaze me how a series of minor events can change the course of history like it did at the Surf Ballroom on the night of February 3. 1959.  I just know that rock and roll took a huge turn that day and things never were the same afterward.   Rock and Roll would see several other losses of very talented people through the years, but nothing will ever match  " The Day the Music Died".