Tag Archives: Jiles Perry “J. P.” Richardson Jr.

Music Monday: February 10, 2025

Posted in Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to this week’s edition of Music Monday.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This month marks 66 years since Buddy Holly (age 22) and two other musicians-Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., better known by his stage name, The Big Bopper (age 28) and Ritchie Valens (age 17)-along with their pilot, Roger Peterson (age 21)-died in a plane crash on February 3, 1959 in Clear Lake, Iowa. The actual cause of the crash remains unknown with only speculations as to probable causes.

Remembering the four men who died 66 years ago in Clear Lake, Iowa (pictured L-R): Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., better known by his stage name, The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the pilot, Roger Peterson. (Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

That tragedy was believed to mark the end of the early rock & roll era, so it was referred to as “The Day The Music Died”. That phrase was immortalized by Don McLean in his now legendary ode from 1971, “American Pie”. Its popularity continues to resonate as evidenced by the fact that the official YouTube video for the song has amassed over 40 million views.

Don McLean circa 1971. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The music of the three artists who died in the crash continues to be a part of pop culture more than six decades after their deaths. Some significant examples include a Holly song featured in a 2008 episode of one of my favorite TV shows, “Lost” (S4 E11, “Cabin Fever”) 51 years after the track’s initial release. The Big Bopper’s biggest hit appeared in the S4 finale of “Murphy Brown” (“Birth 101”) which aired May 18, 1992. When Eldin sang it to Murphy while she was overwhelmed by the pain of her labor in an episode which was broadcast 33 years after Richardson’s death, it allowed him to became a part of pop culture in a whole new way. Valens’ story was the feature of the 1987 movie, “La Bamba” and his songs have been heard in at least two iconic movies, “Grease” & “The Right Stuff”.

After over six decades I did not expect to have anything new to add to this monumentally tragic event. But last week I stumbled upon the 2022 documentary, “The Day The Music Died: The Story Of Don McLean’s American Pie“. It is a deep dive into his song verse by verse, the musicians involved in its recording, its impact in music while also taking an inside look at the arena where the three men played for the last time-The Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa-during the Winter Dance Party tour. Valens’ sister, Connie, is featured in the film and is shown meeting McLean the day he performs at that venue.

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

One part of the documentary I found particularly moving came from the producer of McLean’s epic song, Ed Freeman, who expressed such a poignant sentiment about it:

“(The song) was really encapsulating the experience of a whole generation. We were witness to the death of the American dream…..Hippies thought we were gonna take over the world with love and peace. It didn’t happen. For me, “American Pie” is the eulogy for the dream that didn’t take place. It was real important that way. I think we all needed it. It was an acknowledgement of what we had been through and in a way, because it was an acknowledgement, we could move on”.

Buddy Holly: September 7, 1936 – February 3, 1959.

Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., a/k/a The Big Bopper: October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959.

Ritchie Valens: – May 13, 1941 – February 3, 1959.

Roger Peterson: May 24, 1937 – February 3, 1959.

A Winter Dance Party poster image found on the NYC Met Museum website. (Image found online. Original source unknown.)

Buddy Holly: “Everyday” (1957, written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty).

J.P. Richardson a/k/a The Big Bopper: “Chantilly Lace” (1958, written by J.P. Richardson). 

Ritchie Valens: “La Bamba” (1958, written by Ritchie Valens based on a traditional Mexican folk song).

Don McLean: “American Pie” (1971, written by Don McLean). 

Stay safe & well.

Music Monday: January 29, 2024

Posted in Music Monday by

Hi, everyone. Welcome to another edition of Music Monday.

Blog image for 2024

(Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

This Saturday will mark 65 years since Buddy Holly (aged 22) died with two other musicians-Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., better known by his stage name The Big Bopper (aged 28) and Ritchie Valens (aged 17)-along with their pilot, Roger Peterson-in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa on February 3, 1959. The cause of the tragedy remains unknown to this day.

Holly

Charles Hardin Holley, better known as Buddy Holly, circa 1957. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

Referred to at the time as “The Day The Music Died” because the crash was believed to mark the end of the early rock & roll era, the phrase  was immortalized by Don McClean in his now legendary ode from 1971. Released more than a decade after the crash, the loss of three musical pioneers-a teenager, a newlywed and a married father of one with another on the way-and the only one of the three to serve in the U.S. Army-still resonated with those who never recovered from the “bad news on the doorstep” on that cold February morning. 

The Big Bopper

Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., a/k/a The Big Bopper, circa 1958. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

My post from 5 years ago explored the families left behind by these three men. And their roots in music still run deep more than six decades after that awful day. Two are already members of The Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame-Holly and Valens-while a 2017 documentary I have yet to find on a streaming service, “Bopper & Me“, explores one man’s quest to have Richardson inducted as well. As a songwriter, one of his most famous compositions aside from the one he sang is “White Lightning” by George Jones. It became his first #1 country hit for five weeks in April/May 1959, about two months after Richardson’s death. The song is featured prominently in the first episode of Showtime’s 2022-2023 miniseries, “George & Tammy“.  

Valens

Richard Steven Valenzuela, better known as Ritchie Valens, circa 1958. (Image found online.  Original source unknown.)

The crash linked these men forever in history by death, by comparison to their unbelievably short lives and by their musical legacies. But it connected a lot of other people, too. And every year when this somber anniversary comes around, I cannot help but think of the fans in the audience at the Surf Ballroom who watched these three men perform on February 2, 1959. As a music lover myself, I know how long my high lasts after a show by one artist, so to see so many in one night must have been a phenomenal feeling. But then to wake up the next morning to that tragic news, how could those people even comprehend that their presence at one show at one moment in their lives tied them forever to these three artists, to history and to fate? What a staggering reality. 

Feb 1 1959
Bopper Valens Holly 2

These two pictures appeared in a February 2023 online story about the 1959 Winter Dance Party Tour and tragedy. It suggested that both photos were taken on February 1, 1959 at the show at the Green Bay, WI Riverside Ballroom. However, I believe the bottom photo is the same as the top one except it has been photoshopped with Valens image to show the three men together. But that is just my theory. Images found online.  Original sources unknown.)

The Big Bopper: ”Chantilly Lace” (1958, written by J.P. Richardson). 

Buddy Holly: “Everyday” (1957, written by Buddy Holly and Norman Petty). 

Ritchie Valens: ”La Bamba” (1958, written by Ritchie Valens based on a traditional Mexican folk song).

Don McLean: ”American Pie” (1971, written by Don McLean). 

Stay safe & well.

Remembering The Day The Music Died 60 Years Later

Posted in Music by

buddy-holly-jp-richardson-big-bopper-ritchie-valens

Holly, Richardson & Valens (original source unknown).

On February 3, 1959 the world lost three rising stars in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa: Charles Hardin Holley, known as Buddy Holly, who was 22, Jiles Perry “J. P.” Richardson Jr., known as The Big Bopper, who was 28 & Richard Steven Valenzuela, known as Ritchie Valens, who was 17. Don McLean referred to this tremendous loss as “the day the music died” in his 1971 iconic anthem, “American Pie”, because in many ways, music and the world were never quite the same after this tragedy. The date signifies a loss of innocence and in its place a cruel lesson about good people dying young and without warning, despite how bright their future looked.

In addition to their musical legacies, the singers left behind family.  For Holly it was his parents, three older siblings, a niece named Cindy Lou (whom he started to write a song for which eventually became “Peggy Sue”) and his wife, Maria Elena Santiago Holly.  She is still alive and owns the rights to all of Holly’s music and intellectual property.  She was pregnant when he died but suffered a miscarriage following news of the crash.  She co-founded the Buddy Holly Educational Foundation in 2010 with Peter Bradley.

Buddy Holly

Buddy Holly circa 1950’s (original source unknown).

For Richardson it was his wife, five year old daughter and son who was born two months after the crash.  All three have passed away.

The_Big_Bopper

The Big Bopper circa 1950’s (original source unknown).

Valens was survived by his mother, four siblings, a sister in law, nephew and high school girlfriend Donna Ludwig, whom he paid tribute to in his song of the same name.  It became a Billboard Top 100 number two hit after Valens’ death.

Ritchie Valens
 Ritchie Valens circa 1957  (original source unknown).

Today I am sharing some songs to honor these men and today’s somber anniversary.

For Buddy Holly “It Doesn’t Matter Anymore” (1958) & a clip of him and the Crickets performing “Rave On” (1958).

For the Big Bopper:  “Chantilly Lace” (1958) as performed on “American Bandstand”.

For Ritchie Valens:  His most well known song & my favorite “La Bamba” (1958) and a great clip of him performing “Ooh My Head” (1958) from the movie, “Go, Johnny, Go”, which was released four months after the crash.

And, of course, Don McLean’s “American Pie” (1971).

I do not own the rights to anything.  I am just sharing some things that I love with you  🙂

Until next time, happy listening!!!