J. P. Richardson - Beaumont, Texas - Grave of a Famous Person on Waymarking.com

Jiles Perry Richardson was born October 24, 1930 in Sabine Pass, Texas. Early in his life his family moved to Beaumont Texas where he graduated high school in 1947. In Beaumont he became a disc jockey for radio station KTRM and became known as “The Big Bopper.” After serving in the Army, Richardson returned to Beaumont and gained local fame by spinning record continuously for 122 hours. During this time, he began writing songs which became hits for other singers. His most popular song was “Chantilly Lace,” which spent 22-week on the Top 40 Charts. Due to the success of “Chantilly Lace,” Richardson began a tour of the Midwest with Buddy Holly, Richie Valen and Dion and the Belmonts. After performing at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa on February 2, 1959 the three entertainers boarded a small aircraft and took off from the Mason City Airport. Just a few minutes after takeoff the plane crashed in a cornfield a few miles west of the airport. Everyone on board were killed. The deaths of these three entertainers is often referred to as “The Day Music Died.” J. P. Richardson, “The Big Bopper” is resting in Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Beaumont, Texas.
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Description: Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., better known as J.P. Richardson, was born on October 24, 1930, in Sabine Pass, Texas. The son of an oil field worker, Richardson moved to Beaumont, Texas, as a child. He graduated from the local high school in 1947, and headed to Lamar State College of Technology, where he started working as a DJ for a radio station. Richardson left college to spin records full time. At the station, he later developed the persona of "The Big Bopper." Supposedly a shy guy, Richardson had an exuberant personality once he got in front of the microphone. During his time with the station, Richardson even set a record for the longest time on air, broadcasting for 122 hours and 8 minutes. ING! Outside of work, Richardson was a singer-songwriter. He recorded a few songs that went nowhere before the single "Chantilly Lace." Now considered a rockabilly classic, the song became a hit for Richardson in 1958, and stayed on the charts for 25 weeks. Music fans found "Chantilly Lace," performed in a half-spoken half-sung style, fun and theatrical. That December, Richardson took a break from his radio job to join the Winter Dance Party tour. The group Dion and the Belmonts, along with singers Buddy Holly (who had just left the Crickets) and Ritchie Valens were also part of the tour. On stage, Richardson liked to dress in bold suits and use props. He often had a telephone receiver in his hand for "Chantilly Lace." On February 2, 1959, Richardson performed for the last time. He had been feeling unwell, but he reportedly had "a grand time" on stage that night at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa. The tour was set to perform the next day in Moorhead, Minnesota. Holly had chartered a plane to get there after experiencing trouble with his tour bus. According to some reports, Richardson was originally supposed to be on one of the tour buses that night. But Holly's guitarist, Waylon Jennings, switched places with him because Richardson was sick. The plane took off during a light snowstorm, but it only traveled about 5 miles before crashing into a cornfield. All four passengers—Richardson, Holly, Valens and the pilot—were killed. As the news of the accident spread, many were shocked by the loss of these three talents. The tragedy was later memorialized in the Don McLean song, "American Pie," as "The day that the music died." At the time of his death, Richardson left behind a pregnant wife and daughter. His son, Jay Perry, was born months later. Later in 1959, Richardson achieved some posthumous successes. Two songs he wrote became big hits. His friend Johnny Preston landed on the top of the country charts with "Running Bear" as did George Jones with "White Lightning." Date of birth: 10/24/1930 Date of death: 02/03/1959 Area of notoriety: Entertainment Marker Type: Horizontal Marker Setting: Outdoor Visiting Hours/Restrictions: Daily - Daylight Hours Fee required?: No Web site: [Web Link]

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Date Logged Log   07/20/2018 WalksfarTX visited it