Born 96 Years Ago Today on the Texas Gulf Coast, the 50s Rock Legend Behind Novelty Hits and George Jones’ First No. 1
Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., known as The Big Bopper, was born in Texas on 24 October 1930. A rock and roll pioneer, he became famous for novelty songs including “Chantilly Lace”, and also wrote “White Lightnin’”, George Jones’ first number-one hit. His songwriting helped shape the early careers of Jones and Johnny Preston.
Richardson began in radio, adopted his stage name after seeing students dance the Bop, and set a record by broadcasting continuously for more than five days in 1957. “Chantilly Lace” reached number six on the Billboard pop chart and spent 22 weeks in the top 40; he also wrote “Running Bear”, a number-one hit for Preston. Richardson died aged 28 in the 1959 plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
In short
- The Big Bopper was born 96 years ago in Texas.
- “Chantilly Lace” reached number six on the pop chart.
- His songs also brought early chart success to George Jones and Johnny Preston.
Explained simply
The Big Bopper was the stage name of Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., a Texas radio presenter and songwriter who became a prominent voice in early rock and roll. His lively novelty songs, including “Chantilly Lace”, reached a wide audience in the late 1950s.
Richardson also wrote songs recorded by other performers, including “White Lightnin’”, which became George Jones’ first number-one hit, and “Running Bear”, a chart-topper for Johnny Preston. His work links the emerging rock and roll scene with the careers of country singer Jones and pop singer Preston.
He died aged 28 in a 1959 plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. The three deaths brought an early end to several young performers’ careers during a period when rock and roll was gaining a national audience.