Running Bear

J.P. Richardson, Jr. (The Big Bopper, 1930–1959)

The Big Bopper also wrote “White Lightning”, George Jones’ first hit. George Jones, incidentally, also sang backup on “Running Bear”. The Big Bopper had also broken the record for consecutive broadcasting by 8 minutes. He was up for 5 days, 2 hours, and 8 minutes. Speaking of ripped on speed. He would shower, etc., during the news. And speaking further of ripped on speed, Dave Hickey made the obvious point, which I hadn’t considered, that a number of charted country songs coming out of Nashville were written on speed. Very hard to figure how many, but I’m guessing low double digits. I highly suggest you read his collection of essays, Air Guitar. The chapter consisting of a monologue delivered by Hank Williams from heaven is by itself worth the price of admission.

On the fatal tour with Buddy Holly and Richie Valens, The Big Bopper had the flu. The tour bus, which had broken down several times, was unheated and uncomfortable, and Waylon Jennings, who backed up Buddy Holly, gave him his seat on the plane. Holly told Jennings, “I hope your ol’ bus freezes up again”. Jennings joked back, “Well, I hope your ol’ plane crashes.” These words haunted him for the rest of his life.

Fanboy footnote: In 1956, I discovered Billboard magazine at the main branch of the Milwaukee Public Library. I especially loved the ads for new singles. My all-time favorite was a full’page spread for the Big Bopper’s breakout hit, “Chantilly Lace”. It featured the Bopper himself in contemporary bop drag––an updated zoot suit, very loose, drape trousers and a wide-brim fedora. His legs were spread, and in one of his outstretched arms he held a telephone. Despite the fact that he was talking on it (the balloon over his head clearly said, “Hello, Bay-bee!”), the phone was almost two feet away from his mouth. The phone cord went all the way down the side of the page, where it was attached to another telephone, which was held by––yes! His Bay-bee! In similar fashion, rather than hold the phone to her ear, it was barely grasped by her palms, which were held outstretched by the side of her head, in a pose of exaggerated surprise, featuring bee-stung puckered lips, as if she had just been goosed. This exact pose had been held by hundreds, perhaps thousands, of pin-up girls, from the ‘30s to the ‘50s. I wish someone would talk to Billboard about compiling a collection of these priceless and remarkable ads. I asked them once and they turned me down.