Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr., born 24 October 1930 in Sabine Pass, Texas, was an American musician and disc jockey who emerged from a background in local radio and military service. After serving as a radar instructor in the United States Army, Richardson returned to Beaumont, Texas, where he adopted the stage name the Big Bopper and began writing songs for other artists, including "White Lightning" for George Jones and "Running Bear" for Johnny Preston. His breakthrough came with the 1958 single "Chantilly Lace", which reached number 6 on the Billboard pop chart, sold over one million copies, and earned a gold disc; a follow‑up novelty hit, "The Big Bopper's Wedding", entered the top 40 in November 1958. In 1959, he released the album Chantilly Lace, and in 1959 he joined the Winter Dance Party tour with Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. On 3 February 1959, The Big Bopper died in a plane crash in Iowa, along with his touring companions. Posthumously, he has been honored with inductions into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Iowa Rock ’n’ Roll Hall of Fame.
