Born J. P. Richardson, Jr. in 1930, the Big Bopper was the other rocker that passed on the day the music died.  Starting with a brash “Hello, Ba-a-a-by!”, his big hit “Chantilly Lace” is simply a delight to the ears – a compelling chorus ending with “Oh, baby, that’s what I like!” that is interspersed with an improvised telephone conversation with his girlfriend.  One listen, and there is no doubt that the Big Bopper was a born entertainer.  I remember a reminiscence years ago where someone said he could have been a successful actor or comedian had he lived. 

Remarkably, the Big Bopper wrote “Chantilly Lace” while on the way to the Gold Star Studio in Houston; he had originally intended it to be the “B” side for “Purple People Eater Meets Witch Doctor”, but “Chantilly Lace” was on the charts for 22 weeks and topped out at #6.  For shows like American Bandstand – where the performers lip-synch to their records – the Big Bopper had a hard time matching his improvised speaking parts and inflections. 

Near the end of 1958, the Big Bopper decided to film three of his hit songs at a local nightclub:  “Chantilly Lace”, “Big Bopper’s Wedding” and “Little Red Riding Hood” (not the same song as the Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs hit, “Li’l Red Riding Hood”).  

(June 2013/1)