From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Thu Oct 24, 2002  1:18 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : The Big Bopper
 
THE BIG BOPPER (By Shaun Mather)

Born Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr., 24 October, 1930, Sabine Pass, Texas
Died 3 February, 1959, near Clear Lake, Iowa

Cruel as it may be, the Big Bopper is best known as one of the artists
that perished in the Buddy Holly air crash on the day the music died.
He undoubtedly deserves better though, as he was a gifted songwriter
and could certainly deliver a catchy tune. Born in the East Texas town
of Sabine Pass, he moved with his family to Port Arthur, Texas when he
was a young buck. He graduated from Beaumont High School in 1949
and found work as a deejay on KTRM in town, where he hosted an easy
listening show under the name Jape Richardson and fronted a popular
rock 'n' roll/R&B show under the nom-de-plume of the Big Bopper. In May
1957 he set a world record by broadcasting non-stop for 122 hours, during
which he spun 1,821 records over the 6-day period.
Later that year he came to the attention of Harold "Pappy" Daily and
recorded what would be his signature song, Chantilly Lace. Released on
Mercury Records it was a major hit (# 6) in the autumn of 1958 and saw
him tour the country on package shows. He recorded a number of commercial
items like Big Bopper's Wedding (# 38) and Little Red Riding Hood (# 72)
and was booked for the Winter Dance Party of 1959 with Buddy Holly and
Ritchie Valens among others. He caught the flu and when Holly booked a
private plane, he persuaded Waylon Jennings to let him have his seat in
order to see a doctor. The rest is history.
His songwriting credits include Running Bear which hit for Johnny Preston
(the Bopper and a young George Jones provide the oo-wahs in the background).
His son who was born shortly afterwards is keeping the name alive and
recently made his UK debut at Chippenham.

Recommended listening:
Hellooo Baby! Best of the Big Bopper - Rhino
or The Best Of The Big Bopper (Spectrum 554 906-2)