Date of Birth: October 24, 1930
Date of Death: February 3, 1959
Cause of Death: Died in a plane crash along with Ritchie Valens and Buddy
Holly. They were doing a tour of the U.S. midwest called the 'Winter Dance
party Tour'. Holly had hired the four seater plane to fly ahead of the
rest of the touring party so as he could get his laundry done and avoid
the cramped, cold tour bus. They were flying from Clear lake, Iowa to Fargo,
North Dakota. The Big Bopper, tired of squeezing into the small tour bus
swapped his seat with bass player, Waylon Jennings. Valens wins a coin
toss for his seat. The plane crashed eight miles from takeoff. According
to Don McLean it was "the day the music died".
Final Resting Place: Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Beaumont, Texas
Claim to Fame: Had a hit in 1958 with 'Chantilly Lace'
The Big Bopper in action. The oldest of the three to die.
He left behind a young daughter and his wife was six months pregnant at
the time - with J.P. junior.
A memorial at the Crash Site. (Picture thanks to Marc Frank)
