Bobby Vee, the '60s pop idol who sang "Take Good Care of my Baby" and rose to fame after filling in onstage following the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, has died, the Associated Press reports. He was 73.

Vee died Monday of advanced Alzheimer's disease at a Minnesota hospice center, his son, Jeff Velline, told the AP.

He was just 15 when the Feb. 3, 1959, crash in Iowa killed three of Rock 'n' Roll's biggest figures on their way to a concert in Moorhead, Minn. — the day Don McLean immortalized in his 1972 hit "American Pie."

Promoters put out a call to local acts, and Vee, who had just put his band together a couple of weeks before volunteered. Their performance led to a local record deal.

He scored 38 hits in the top 100 from 1959 to 1970, peaking at No. 1 with "Take Care Good of My Baby," and No. 2 with "Run to Him."

Vee, who was born Robert Velline in Fargo, North Dakota, shortened his name on the advice of none other than Bob Dylan, who briefly played piano in Vee's band.