TOUR NOTES BIOGRAPHIES
J.P "The Big Bopper" Richardson
The Big Bopper was born Jiles Perry Richardson on October 24, 1930 in Sabine Pass, Texas. In 1957, while working as a deejay for KTRM radio in Beaumont, he coined the name "The Big Bopper", which became his stage name for the rest of his life.
The Big Bopper established a world record for continuous broadcasting in 1957, spinning over 1800 records for six days straight. In late 1957, J.P. recorded his most famous hit, "Chantilly Lace". The song became the third most played song of 1958.
On the night of February 2nd, 1959, while on the Winter Dance Party tour, J.P was stuck with the flu and instead of braving the cold and traveling on the broken down tour bus to the next show, he asked Waylon Jennings, who was planning to fly to the next show with Buddy Holly, if they could trade travel arrangements – allowing The Big Bopper to take the small plane to the next show. The plane took of from Mason City Airport around one in the morning on February 3rd. The plane crashed eight miles later, killing The Big Bopper, Ritchie Valens, Buddy Holly and pilot Roger Peterson. J.P. Richardson left behind his wife, Adrian who was pregnant with their second child who would be born 84 days after his father’s death.
Jiles Perry Richardson, a.k.a. The Big Bopper was interred in the Beaumont Cemetery in Beaumont, Texas.
Visit the Official Big Bopper website at: www.officialbigbopper.com
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