Carl H. Bunch

Carl Bunch was born in Big Springs, Texas and began playing drums as a teenager in order to recover from extensive surgery on his right leg. By age seventeen, he was recording with best friends Richard Porter, Ronnie Smith and the Poor Boys, in Clovis, New Mexico. Buddy Holly was also recording in Clovis at the same time and was impressed with the young drummer. Bunch was invited to join Holly on the "Winter Dance Party" tour in 1959, along with Tommy Allsup and Waylon Jennings. The tour bus heater failed, and Bunch suffered from frostbite and was hospitalized. On February 3, 1959, Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson were killed in a plane crash. Bunch rejoined the tour on February 5, in Sioux City, Iowa. Ronnie Smith, Jimmy Clanton and Fabian were also recruited to help fill out the playbill. The tour ended on February 15, 1959, in Springfield, Illinois. Bunch then enlisted in the United States Army, but eventually he was drawn back to music. After his discharge from the Army, he spent some time playing for the Bob Osburn band, before moving to Nashville to play for Hank Williams, Jr. and Roy Orbison. Carl Bunch eventually left the music industry and became a minister. He dedicated the rest of his life to ministering to others through music. He is survived by his wife, Dorothy; children Susan, Corrina, and James; grandsons Colton, Ashton, Daniel and Kyle.