Music’s Aviation Tragedies: Buddy Clark

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Today’s is one of those that’s going to send you to Google to look it up. You just might not believe this one. Without question, this is the oddest story on the monthlong look at aviation disasters that involved musicians. Strap in and hold on tight. Buddy Clark Let’s start with Linda McCartney. Why? Two reasons. First, Linda was one of two musicians that I know of who lost a parent in a plane crash. Her mother, Louise, was killed on March 1, 1962 in the crash of American Airlines flight 1. (The other is Joe Walsh: his father died in a military plane crash.) Her father, entertainment attorney Lee Eastman, was waiting at the airport to catch another plane when his wife perished. They both figure into the song “Linda.” Jack Lawrence, the song’s writer, wrote it in 1942. He named it after his attorney’s daughter. His lawyer, of course, was Lee Eastman, and the baby was the future Lady Linda McCartney. And that brings us to Buddy Clark. “Linda” was one of his biggest hits, and the biggest hit recording of the song. He was born Samuel Goldberg in 1912 and began his career singing in big bands, most notably with Benny Goodman in the mid-30s. From there he had hits and hosted radio’s Your Hit Parade. After the war (he was in the Army for three years) he returned to performing. He had duet hits with Doris Day and Dinah Shore; and, of course, “Linda.” So…here we go. On October 1, 1949, Clark chartered a plane to take him and some friends to Palo Alto from Los Angeles so they could attend the Michigan-Stanford football game. (Michigan won, 27-7, if you’re interested…or even if you’re not. ) After the game they were flying back to Los Angeles when the plane ran out of fuel. The pilot, James Hayter, was able to crash-land the plane on Beverly Boulevard without hitting any buildings or other cars. However, the plane did hit power lines and trees, shearing off the wings. Buddy Clark was the only fatality. And it gets even stranger. James Hayter later joined the Air Force, where, on April 7, 1956, he was involved in another plane crash. He also survived that one (but three crew members died). Buddy Clark was one of the countless pop crooners of the 30s and 40s. Unlike the “big names” (Sinatra and Crosby), he’s mostly forgotten today. That’s a shame, because he had a good voice. Buddy Clark Born Samuel Goldberg July 26, 1912 - October 1, 1949 (age 37) Place of crash: Beverly Boulevard and Benton Way, Los Angeles, California Here’s Buddy Clark singing “Linda”: