WARNING: EXPLICIT MATERIAL

J. P. Richardson

AKA:
The Big Bopper
Birth Name:
Jiles Perry Richardson Jr.
Birth Date:
October 24, 1930
Birth Place:
Sabine Pass, Texas
Death Date:
February 3, 1959
Place of Death:
Albert Juhl’s corn field, 22728 Gull Avenue, Clear Lake, Iowa
Age:
28
Cause of Death:
Plane crash
Cemetery Name:
Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home
Claim to Fame:
Music
Associates:
J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper) was a Texas disk jockey, musician and singer known for his big hit singles "Chantilly Lace" and "White Lightning". Richardson was killed in a plane crash in Clear Lake, Iowa in 1959 along with fellow musicians Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and the pilot Roger Peterson. The accident was famously referred to as "The Day the Music Died" in Don McLean's 1971 song "American Pie".

Cemetery Information:

Final Resting Place:

Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home

4955 Pine Street

Beaumont, Texas, 77703

USA

North America

Map:

Grave Location:

Tranquility

Grave Location Description

Starting at the Forest Lawn Funeral Home head east on East Lucas Drive and take the first right to head south. Follow this road south until you reach the intersection between Oak Crest and Faith. Turn left. Head west for about 200 feet and you will see the historical commissions sign marking J.P. “The Big Bopper” Richardson’s grave.

Please disregard all locations that show The Big Bopper buried in the Lily Pool Garden as they are 15 years too late as his body was moved to a different part of the cemetery.

Grave Location GPS

30.12309852071, -94.1000715313

Photos:

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FAQ's

J. P. Richardson was born on October 24, 1930.

J. P. Richardson was born in Sabine Pass, Texas.

J. P. Richardson died on February 3, 1959.

J. P. Richardson died in Albert Juhl’s corn field, 22728 Gull Avenue, Clear Lake, Iowa.

J. P. Richardson was 28.

The cause of death was Plane crash.

J. P. Richardson's grave is in Forest Lawn Memorial Park and Funeral Home

Read More About J. P. Richardson:

Videos Featuring J. P. Richardson:
Big Bopper - Chantilly Lace
The Autopsy of the Big Bopper
What Really Happened the Day the Music Died
Big Bopper - White Lightnin'
The Day the Music Died: Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens and The Big Bopper
The Day the Music Died
Accident Review - The Day the Music Died
Big Bopper Video Little Red Riding Hood

See More:

Carl Lee Cunningham

popular name: Carl Lee Cunningham

date_of_death: December 10, 1967

age: 19

cause_of_death: Plane crash

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: As a member of the Bar-Kays, Carl played drums for Otis Redding and died in the plane crash that took the life of Otis Redding, Phalon Jones, Carl Cunningham, Ronnie Caldwell, guitarist Jimmy King and valet Matthew Kelly. Only Ben Cauley survived the crash.

Jimmie King

popular name: Jimmie King

date_of_death: December 10, 1967

age: 18

cause_of_death: Plane crash

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: As a member of the Bar-Kays, Jimmy King played guitar for Otis Redding and died in the plane crash that took the life of Otis Redding, Phalon Jones, Carl Cunningham, Ronnie Caldwell and valet Matthew Kelly. Only Ben Cauley survived the crash.

Ritchie Valens

popular name: Ritchie Valens

date_of_death: February 3, 1959

age: 17

cause_of_death: Gross trauma to brain due to crash of airplane, multiple fractures, left forearm and both legs

claim_to_fame: Music

best_know_for: Richie Valens was a singer, songwriter, and guitarist and a true rock and roll pioneer who died at the young age of 17 in the infamous Buddy Holly plane crash. Ritchie played is final concert at the Surf Ballroom in Clear Lake, Iowa with Buddy Holly and J.P. "the Big Bopper" Richardson. Holly, Valens and Richardson left The Surf immediately after the show, going to the nearby Mason City airport and chartering a small plane with pilot Roger Peterson to take them to Fargo, North Dakota to prepare for their next show at the Moorhead Armory in Moorhead, Minnesota. The plane took off at 12:55 AM Central Time on Tuesday February 3, 1959. Shortly after takeoff, the plane crashed, killing everyone aboard.

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