Who they were
Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J. P. Richardson died when their aircraft crashed in Iowa on 3 February 1959.
Inside the story
Spoiler warning — this section reveals what happens to Buddy Holly in the Utopia Series.
Buddy Holly survives a small aircraft crash near Lake City and is discovered by Robert Maheu. Buddy Holly is transported to Utopia island in a specially prepared wooden crate. Buddy Holly learns he cannot return to the outside world after his faked death. Buddy Holly resides in Utopia, where his apparent death was an elaborate disappearance and cover-up. Buddy Holly is transported to Utopia via body replacement and covert transport. Buddy Holly is transported to Holly disappears after body substitution and covert transport by Cann's operation. Buddy Holly reaches Utopia and is welcomed by Hughes and James Dean. Buddy Holly is discovered in the Lake City crash area.
Further reading
From the Utopia Files: What If Buddy Holly Had Lived?.