October 24

Here's an interesting one. J P Richardson, The Big Bopper, is a one-hit wonder, but don't blame him. Let me explain...
Richardson gained the Big Bopper name while working as a Texas DJ, spinning those new 'rock n' roll' records. He apparently coined the phrase "music video," but that's not what he's famous for. He parlayed his radio career into a songwriting career, then his own recording career. "Chantilly Lace" became a top 10 hit in 1958, big enough for him to open for Buddy Holly and Richie Valens... Yup, he's the third rider on the plane The Day the Music Died. Because Richardson had the flu, Waylon Jennings offered his seat on the plane... Other singers took two more Richardson compositions to the top of the charts. But history will always remember him as the Big Bopper.



I like rummaging through video stores' retired VHS collections. Last week, I found an American Bandstand greatest hits collection (including the above performance) for 75 cents. Can't believe these aren't on DVD; maybe Dick Clark's waiting for Blu-Ray?...