Born on October 24, 1930, in Sabine Pass, Texas, Jiles Perry Richardson Jr.—better known as the Big Bopper—brought a radio showman’s personality to early rock and roll. As a disc jockey in Beaumont, his booming voice, lively delivery, and flair for publicity helped establish his reputation. In May 1957, he set a continuous-broadcasting record with a marathon lasting 122 hours and eight minutes.
Richardson found national success in 1958 with his self-penned hit “Chantilly Lace,” which reached No. 6 on the U.S. pop chart. Built around a playful, one-sided telephone conversation, the recording captured the humor and personality that made his performances distinctive. His songwriting also reached audiences through George Jones’s “White Lightning” and Johnny Preston’s “Running Bear.” Beyond records and radio, Richardson explored the possibilities of filmed musical performance, making a pioneering promotional video for “Chantilly Lace” in 1958.b
His career ended tragically on February 3, 1959, when he died at age 28 in a plane crash near Clear Lake, Iowa. The crash also killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson. The tragedy became known as “the Day the Music Died.”
On the anniversary of his birth, Richardson deserves to be remembered not only for the tragedy that took his life, but also for the personality and imagination he brought to his work. His recordings, songwriting, and early experiments with music videos reveal an entertainer whose ambitions extended well beyond his signature hit.
