Today is National the Day the Music Died Day. That sounds terrible if you ask me, so I had to do some research. And the background for this day is that on February 3, 1959, the plane carrying Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and J.P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) crashed which certainly explains the name of the day. But it was Buddy Holly-fan Don McLean who coined the expression in his 1971 hit American Pie.

“But February made me shiver
With every paper I’d deliver
Bad news on the doorstep
I couldn’t take one more step
I can’t remember if I cried
When I read about his widowed bride
Something touched me deep inside
The day the music died”

I understand the sentiment. For me, music died (at least shortly) in 2016 when three of my favorite artists (David Bowie, Leonard Cohen, and George Michael) all sadly passed away. I remember reading about George Michael’s passing after celebrating Christmas at my mother-in-law’s house: when the hubby and I went to bed in her guest room, I checked the news and there it was in bold, black letters. George Michael dead. I yelled “no!” and then started sobbing, worrying the hubby who thought something “serious” had happened. (He’s not a GM fan, what can I say? 😊 )

But the world would be a much bleaker place without music, so I don’t like the name “The Day the Music Died Day.” Not a day passes by without me listening to at least one favorite song. Music has the power to comfort, to cheer up, and to even take anger away.

Music is resilient, and even the loss of some of our greatest artists can’t kill it. So let’s celebrate that instead. Let’s celebrate by buying an album or listening to a favorite song or making a playlist of favorites that’ll cheer us up in difficult times. Let’s celebrate by reading (or re-reading) a book with musicians. Or do what I’m going to do: kiss a favorite musician! (I mean my hubby! I’m not going out trying to find a random musician on the street and planting a kiss on them in these times, promise! 😊 )

I put together a little list for you if you need help to get started.

Here are three of my favorite M/M romance books with musicians, and I warmly recommend all of them:

Perfect Imperfections :: Invitation to the Blues :: All That Heaven Will Allow

Here’s the beginning of a playlist featuring three fabulous songs by three of my favorite LGBTQ artists (click the names to watch the video on YouTube):

Star People by George Michael
I want to break free by Queen
Love to Hate You by Erasure

Please help me fill the lists with your favorites in the comments! What book about musicians do you want to recommend? What’s your favorite song? Tell us! 😊