Richardson was just 28 when the fatal crash occurred on February 3rd 1959 and his career was just beginning. Although he had achieved success as a songwriter composing "White Lightening" for George Jones and the Johnny Preston hit "Running Bear" he had only achieved one chart-topper himself.
It was the song he will always be remembered for, "Chantilly Lace", that instigated a fateful decision to take time off from his job as KTRM Radio Station's Programme Director and join Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Dion and the Belmonts on the "Winter Dance Party Tour" in 1959. (See also "The Iconic Buddy Holly" and "Ritchie Valens, a Shooting Star Cut Off In His Prime from Suite101.com)
Jules Perry Richardson Jnr was born in Sabine Pass, Texas and was the eldest son of Jules Perry Richardson Snr and his wife Elise. The family moved to Beaumont, Texas and he graduated from Beaumont High School in 1947. He played American Football for the Royal Purple Team as defensive linesman and studied pre-law at Lamar College.
Radio Career
He worked part time at the Beaumont Radio Station KTRM (now called K2ZB) as a disc jockey and when the station gave him a full-time job in 1949 he quit college to make radio his career. In 1953 he was promoted to Supervisor in charge of the announcers.
He married Adrianne Joy Fry on April 18th 1952 and their daughter Debra Joy was born in December 1953 and their son Jay Perry Richardson was born in late April 1959. His career was put on hold in March 1955 when he was drafted into the army for two years and when he was discharged Corporal Richardson hosted the "Dishwasher Serenade" from 11am-12.30pm.
When he was asked to host a new afternoon show he adopted the name which made him famous, The Big Bopper, after the dance the students did at colleges throughout the USA, The Bop. Shortly after that he was promoted to Programme Director.
Songwriting Career
Richardson played guitar and started his musical career as a song writer. His son "White Lightening" became a country number one hit for George Jones but the song that established his career was "Running Bear" which he wrote for his friend Johnny Preston. The inspiration for the song came from his childhood memories of the Sabine River when he was told stories about the Indian Tribes.
Harold "Pappy" Daily was the man who saw Richardson's potential as a rock and roll star. He had a big voice and an exuberant personality and Daily, who was Promotions Director for Mercury and Starday Records, signed him for Mercury.
The first record he cut failed to make an impact but when he recorded "Chantilly Lace" as The Big Bopper it was an instant success reaching number 6 in the pop charts and remaining in the Top 40 for six weeks.
The Ill Fated-Decision
Following the success of "Chantilly Lace" Richardson made a decision that was to end his singing career before it had really begun. He took leave from the radio station to join Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and Dion and the Belmonts on the "Winter Dance Party" tour.
It was on the eleventh night of the tour Holly, fed up with the long bus trips in a clapped-out bus, decided to hire a plane to fly them to the next venue in Fargo, North Dakota. Holly's bass player Waylon Jennings was scheduled to go on the flight but gave up his seat to Richardson who was suffering from influenza.
The 21 year-old pilot had already worked for 17 hours but agreed to fly the plane and they took off in a snowstorm. The plane was only in the sky for a few minutes before it ploughed into a nearby cornfield at 170mph, flipping over and tossing the passengers into the air. They landed yards away from the wreckage but were not found for 10 hours due to the weather.
The Autopsy
In January 2007 Richardson's son Jay requested that his father's body should be exhumed and an autopsy performed. Rumours had been circulating for years that a gun was fired on the plane or The Big Bopper had not died straight away but was alive when he was thrown out of the plane.
Dr Bill Bass, Forensic Anthropologist at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville performed the autopsy in the presence of Jay. Both men were surprised to find Richardson's remains were so well preserved it was easy to recognise the star.
There were massive fractures head to toe and no signs of foul play. It was also confirmed that Richardson had died instantly and did not crawl away from the crash. After the autopsy the body was placed in a new casket and reburied next to his wife in Beaumont's Forest Lawn Cemetery.
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