The Big Bopper

Jiles Perry Richardson, Jr. (October 24, 1930 – February 3, 1959) — known as J. P. Richardson and also commonly called The Big Bopper — was an American musician and songwriter, whose big voice and exuberant personality made him an early rock and roll star. He is best known for his 1958 recording of "Chantilly Lace". On February 3, 1959 — a day that has become known as "The Day the Music Died" (because so called in Don McLean's 1971 song "American Pie") — Richardson died in a plane crash in Iowa, along with Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and pilot Roger Peterson.