Jiles
Perry (J.P.) Richardson, Jr. (October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959), called JP
or Jape by friends but commonly known as The Big Bopper, was a disc jockey and
rock-and-roll novelty act who parlayed a big voice and exuberant personality
into a career as an 
early rock and roll star.
early rock and roll star.
He
was born Jiles Perry Richardson in 1930 in Sabine Pass, Texas. He grew up in
East Texas, not far from the Louisiana border. He was known as J.P. or Jape to
his friends. Richardson worked as a disc jockey before entering the military.
On his discharge in 1955 he set his sights on being the preeminent disc jockey
in East Texas. He worked at KTRM in Beaumont, 
Texas and at one time set a
record for continuous broadcasting, lasting for over 122 hours.
Texas and at one time set a
record for continuous broadcasting, lasting for over 122 hours.
He
became interested in song writing and wrote songs for friends, in addition to
doing some recording on his own as the Big Bopper. His hits included Chantilly
Lace and Big Bopper's Wedding, both novelty songs released on the Mercury label
in 1958. Chantilly Lace went as high as number six on the pop chart.
In
early 1959 J.P. Richardson joined some other notable rock-and-roll acts on a
tour of the Upper Midwest. One of the other performers, Buddy Holly, was tired
of travelling on the group's bus and wanted to have some time to do his laundry
after a 
performance in Clear Lake, Iowa on the night of February 2, 1959. Holly
made arrangements for a private pilot, Roger Petersen, to fly Holly, Richardson
and another performer on the tour, Ritchie Valens, to the group's next tour
stop. They never made it. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff just outside
of Clear Lake early on the morning of February 3, killing all four.
performance in Clear Lake, Iowa on the night of February 2, 1959. Holly
made arrangements for a private pilot, Roger Petersen, to fly Holly, Richardson
and another performer on the tour, Ritchie Valens, to the group's next tour
stop. They never made it. The plane crashed shortly after takeoff just outside
of Clear Lake early on the morning of February 3, killing all four.
That
plane crash became part of the subject matter when another singer/songwriter,
Don McLean, wrote and recorded American Pie - Parts I & II in the early
70's. J.P. Richardson was 28 years old at the time of his death.
Before
he died the Big Bopper had seen a young singer, Johnny 
Preston, perform at the
Twilight Club in Port Neches, Texas. He formed an alliance with Preston and the
latter recorded a song that Richardson had written for him titled Running Bear.
Richardson and country singer George Jones provided backup vocals on the song,
which entered the charts some ten months after the Big Bopper's death, making
it to the number one chart position in early 1960.
Preston, perform at the
Twilight Club in Port Neches, Texas. He formed an alliance with Preston and the
latter recorded a song that Richardson had written for him titled Running Bear.
Richardson and country singer George Jones provided backup vocals on the song,
which entered the charts some ten months after the Big Bopper's death, making
it to the number one chart position in early 1960.
Richardson
was survived by his wife and four-year-old daughter. His son, Jay Perry, was
born two months later in April 1959. At the time of his death, Richardson had
been building a recording studio in his home in Beaumont, Texas, and was also
planning to invest in a radio station. He had written 20 new songs he planned
to record 
himself or with other artists.
himself or with other artists.
Jay
Perry Richardson took up a musical career and was known professionally as
"The Big Bopper, Jr.," and performed around the world. He toured on
the "Winter Dance Party" tour with Buddy Holly impersonator John
Mueller on some of the stages where his father performed.
In
January 2007, Jay requested that his father's body be exhumed to investigate
incessant rumours that a gun might have been fired on board the plane and that
he might have actually survived the crash 
and died trying to seek help. Those rumours
were finally put to rest after an autopsy by noted forensic anthropologist Dr.
Bill Bass determined he suffered massive fractures and likely died immediately
in the 1959 plane crash.
and died trying to seek help. Those rumours
were finally put to rest after an autopsy by noted forensic anthropologist Dr.
Bill Bass determined he suffered massive fractures and likely died immediately
in the 1959 plane crash.
After
the autopsy, Richardson's body was placed in a new casket made by the same
company as the original, then was reburied next to his wife in Beaumont's
Forest Lawn Cemetery. Jay then allowed the old casket to be put on display at
the Texas Musicians Museum. In December 2008, Jay Richardson announced that he
would be placing the old casket up for auction on eBay, giving a share of the
proceeds to the Texas Musicians Museum, but downplayed the suggestion in later
interviews.
Jay
Perry Richardson died on August 21, 2013 at the age of 54.
(info
edited from mainly tsimon.com & Wikipedia)
