Albert Leichter

Tommy Dee: Three Stars Still Shining Albert Leichter

Based on the only interview conducted with Tommy Dee since 1959, this book gives us the complete story behind the first tribute record to Buddy Holly, the Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens. Tommy Dee's song was written only hours following the trios' death as his reaction to the catastrophe. He only intended for it to be played on the radio station where he worked. But the opportunity came to record it professionally and he grabbed it. The result was Three Stars, which would do so well that it reached Number 11 on the national charts and has sold millions of copies since. Author Albert Leichter is a long time record collector, author of two music discographies, the newspaper column Rockin' All Nite Long, and five books on local Staunton, Virginia history.