The Big Bopper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
The Big Bopper
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Richardson in 1958
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | Jiles Perry Richardson Jr. |
| Also known as | J.P. Richardson |
| Born | October 24, 1930 Sabine Pass, Texas, U.S. |
| Died | February 3, 1959 (aged 28) Clear Lake, Iowa, U.S. |
| Genres | Rock and roll, rockabilly, country |
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| Years active | 1949–1959 |
| Labels | Mercury Records |
Jiles Perry "J.P." Richardson Jr. (born October 24, 1930 – died February 3, 1959) was an American singer, musician, and radio host. He was famous as The Big Bopper.
He wrote and sang popular songs like "Chantilly Lace" and "Running Bear". He also wrote "White Lightning", which became a big hit for George Jones. The Big Bopper died in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa, in 1959. Two other famous musicians, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, also died in the crash, along with the pilot, Roger Peterson.
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Early Life of The Big Bopper
J.P. Richardson was born in Sabine Pass, Texas. He was the oldest of three sons. His father worked in oil fields. His family later moved to Beaumont, Texas.
J.P. finished Beaumont High School in 1947. He played on the school's American football team as a defensive lineman. Later, he went to Lamar College to study law. While there, he was part of the band and chorus. He also worked as a radio disc jockey.
The Big Bopper's Career
Radio Days
Richardson started working part-time at a radio station called KTRM in Beaumont, Texas. In 1949, he got a full-time job there and left college. He married Adrianne Joy Fryou in 1952. Their daughter, Debra Joy, was born in 1953. Soon after, Richardson became the supervisor of announcers at KTRM.
In 1955, he joined the United States Army. He spent two years serving his country, mostly as a radar instructor. After leaving the Army in 1957, he returned to KTRM radio.
One day, a sponsor suggested a new radio show idea. Richardson had seen college students doing a dance called The Bop. He decided to call himself "The Big Bopper" for his new show. His show quickly became popular, and he became the station's program director. In May 1957, he set a record for staying on air for five days, two hours, and eight minutes! He played 1,821 songs during this time. He is also known for creating one of the first music videos in 1958.
Becoming a Singer and Songwriter
Richardson played the guitar and started his music career by writing songs. He wrote "White Lightning", which became a number one country hit for George Jones. He also wrote "Running Bear" for his friend Johnny Preston. This song was inspired by stories Richardson heard about Indian tribes near the Sabine River where he grew up. "Running Bear" became a number one hit in 1960, after Richardson's death.
Pappy Daily, a music promoter, helped Richardson start recording. He signed Richardson to Mercury Records. Richardson's first song, "Beggar to a King", did not become a hit.
Then, he recorded "Chantilly Lace" as "The Big Bopper". This song became a huge hit in 1958, reaching number 6 on the pop charts. In the song, The Big Bopper pretends to have a funny phone call with his girlfriend. It was a comical song where he acted like a charming ladies' man. In November 1958, he had another hit song called "The Big Bopper's Wedding". In this song, he pretends to get nervous before his wedding. Both "Chantilly Lace" and "Big Bopper's Wedding" were popular on the radio in early 1959.
The Big Bopper's Personal Life
Richardson was married to Adrienne Joy "Teetsie" Wenner. They had a daughter named Debra. His son, Jay Perry Richardson, was born two months after his father's death in April 1959.
The Big Bopper was building a recording studio at his home in Beaumont, Texas. He also planned to invest in a radio station. He had written 20 new songs that he wanted to record himself or with other artists.
His son, Jay Perry Richardson, also became a musician. He was known as "The Big Bopper, Jr." and performed around the world. He even toured on the "Winter Dance Party" tour, just like his father had.
In 2007, Jay Richardson asked for his father's body to be examined. This was because of a rumor on the internet that guns were fired on the plane and that his father might have survived the crash. The examination showed no signs of foul play. It confirmed that Richardson died instantly in the crash. His body was then reburied next to his wife.
The Day the Music Died
After the success of "Chantilly Lace", The Big Bopper took a break from radio. He joined Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and Dion and the Belmonts for a "Winter Dance Party" tour. The tour started on January 23, 1959.
On February 2, 1959, after a show at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa, Buddy Holly decided to charter a small plane. The musicians had been traveling by bus for over a week, and the bus had broken down twice. They were tired and wanted to get to their next show in Moorhead, Minnesota, quickly to rest and do laundry.
The local pilot, Roger Peterson, agreed to fly them. The weather was cold with light snow. J.P. Richardson was sick with the flu and found the bus too cold. So, Buddy Holly's bandmate, Waylon Jennings, gave his seat on the plane to Richardson. Ritchie Valens won a coin toss against another bandmate, Tommy Allsup, for the last seat.
Around 12:55 a.m. on February 3, 1959, Holly, Valens, Richardson, and pilot Peterson took off in the red and white single-engine Beechcraft Bonanza. The plane was only in the air for a few minutes. It crashed at full speed about 5 miles outside Mason City in a cornfield. It is believed the pilot may have lost his way in the dark and thought he was going up when he was actually going down.
The plane hit the frozen ground and spun across the field. Holly, Valens, and Richardson were thrown from the plane. All three died instantly from severe injuries. Richardson was 28 years old.
The Big Bopper's Songs
Here are some of the songs The Big Bopper sang:
- "Chantilly Lace" (a big hit for him)
- "The Purple People Eater Meets the Witch Doctor"
- "Little Red Riding Hood"
- "Bopper's Boogie Woogie"
- "The Big Bopper's Wedding"
Here are some famous songs he wrote for other artists:
- "White Lightnin'" (a number one country hit for George Jones)
- "Running Bear" (a number one hit for Johnny Preston)
Tributes to The Big Bopper
In 1988, a fan named Ken Paquette built a monument at the crash site. It shows a guitar and three records with the names of The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, and Ritchie Valens. It is located on private farmland near Clear Lake, Iowa.
The Big Bopper is remembered for his unique singing, songwriting, and humor. He mixed country, R&B, and rock 'n' roll music. In 2010, he was added to the Iowa Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame.
Many artists have paid tribute to The Big Bopper. The 1971 song "American Pie" by Don McLean refers to the plane crash as "The Day the Music Died". The band Van Halen's song "Good Enough" starts with a line that sounds like The Big Bopper's famous "Hello Baby!" from "Chantilly Lace".
The TV show The Simpsons has shown a gravestone for The Big Bopper in one episode. His estate, which handles his music rights, is managed by C3 Entertainment. They even have a tribute band with a Big Bopper impersonator who tours with the Winter Dance Party. In 2019, a film called Bopper and Me was released.
Book, Film, and Stage
- The Big Bopper has been played by actors in movies like The Buddy Holly Story, La Bamba, and Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.
- His song "Chantilly Lace" has been used in movies such as True Romance and American Graffiti.
- In the animated series The Venture Bros., it is hinted that two villains are actually The Big Bopper and Buddy Holly.
- In 2016, a company created a slot game named "The Big Bopper" to honor him.
Images for kids
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Richardson in 1958
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Monument in front of Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa
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Monument at crash site, September 16, 2003
See also
In Spanish: The Big Bopper para niños
