The Big Bopper

The Big Bopper
Richardson in 1958
Background information
Birth name	Jiles Perry Richardson Jr.
Also known as	J.P. Richardson
Born	(1930-10-24)October 24, 1930 Sabine Pass, Texas, U.S.
Died	February 3, 1959(1959-02-03) (aged 28) Clear Lake, Iowa, U.S.
Genres	Rock and roll, rockabilly, country
Occupations	Musician singer songwriter disc jockey
Instruments	Vocals guitar
Years active	1949–1959
Labels	Mercury Records

Jiles Perry Richardson Jr. (October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959), better known by his stage name The Big Bopper, was an American musician and disc jockey. His best-known compositions include "Chantilly Lace," "Running Bear", and "White Lightning", the latter of which became George Jones's first number-one hit in 1959.

Richardson was killed in an airplane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa, in February 1959, along with fellow musicians Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, and the pilot, Roger Peterson.^[1]