Don McLean’s song “American Pie” was about the day the music died, February 3, 1959; the day Buddy Holly, The Big Bopper, and Ritchie Valens perished in a horrific late night plane crash outside Mason City, a few miles from their departure Clear Lake, IA.
The Big Bopper was not a spring chicken when he hit it big with “Chantilly Lace,” as he just turned 28. J.P was already married and a father, and his real full time job was that of being a Beaumont deejay.
The Big Bopper’s parents wanted him to go to law school, so he studied prelaw at Lamar College. He sang in the school chorus.
Earlier in his life the Big Bopper got drafted, and did his basic training at Fort Ord, California.
J.P. Richardson was suffering from the flu at the time of his death, so taking a quick plane ride to the tour’s next stop was all he could think about.