How Much Net Worth Did Big Bopper Hold? Know the Tragic Story of the Plane Crash and Death of This Legendary Singer.

Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr., popular as Big Bopper, an American musician and disc jockey, got a tragic end in a plane crash in February 1959. Before his death, he was a renowned personality estimated to hold a net worth of millions.

Bopper, born in 1930, died at the age of 28. Along with him, two other musicians, Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, and the pilot Roger Peterson were killed in that Iowa plane crash in 1959.

In the following sections of this article, we will discuss the career, net worth, age, plane crash, children, family, and tribute to this late musician. Keep reading to discover.

Big Bopper | Quick facts

Real name	Jiles Perry “J.P.” Richardson Jr.
Popular as	Big Bopper
Date of birth	October 24, 1930
Death	February 3, 1959
Age	28 years
Profession	American musician and disc jockey
Reason of death	Killed in a plane crash
Plane crash	Clear Lake, Iowa, 1959
Others killed	Musician- Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens Pilot- Roger Peterson
Father	Jiles Perry, Sr
Mother	Elise (Stalsby) Richardson
Birthplace	Sabine Pass, Texas
Siblings	Cecil Allen Richardson, and James Gilbert Richardson.
Nationality	American
Ethnicity	N/A
Height	5 feet 10 inches (155 cm)
Weight	210 lbs
Wife	Adrienne Joy “Teetsie” Wenne
Children	A son- Jay Perry Richardson A daughter- Debra

How old was Big Bopper when he died?

As mentioned earlier, born on October 24, 1930, Bopper was 28 when he and his fellow musicians were killed. The incident was heavily mourned as not just one but three other great artists bid goodbye to the world. It was considered one of the black days in American history.

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Big Bopper | Parents, Family

Bopper was born to his parents, Jiles Perry, Sr. and Elise (Stalsby) Richardson, as their eldest child. He was born in Sabine Pass, Texas. His father was an oil field worker and driller.

Bopper was not the only child of his parents, as he had two younger brothers, Cecil Allen Richardson and James Gilbert Richardson.

Big Bopper | Nationality, Ethnicity

Born in Sabine Pass, Texas, United States, Bopper had American nationality. His ethnicity is not widely known; most believed it was English, while some say English with small amounts of Welsh and French.

How tall was Big Bopper? Height, Weight?

Bopper was believed to have a height of 5 feet 10 inches (155 cm). In a context, he mentioned, “I am 5’ 10” and weigh 210 pounds, I could become “The Big Bopper”, after which he was assumed to weigh 210 pounds, and so the name “Big Bopper” came to practice.

Big Bopper | Wife, Children

Bopper married Adrienne Joy “Teetsie” Wenne in 1952. With her, he has a daughter, Debra, and a son, Jay Perry Richardson. Jay was yet to be born two months after his father, Bopper, was killed.

Late musician Big Bopper ( Source: last.fm)

When Bopper was killed, he was building a recording studio in his home in Beaumont, Texas, and was planning to invest in a radio station. It was mentioned that he had already written 20 songs to sing and to collaborate with different artists.

Big Bopper | Son

Now, Bopper’s son, the junior Bopper, is fulfilling his father’s dream as he follows a musical career. Professionally, he is known as “The Big Bopper, Jr.”. He performed the ‘Winter Dance Party” tour with the  Buddy Holly imitator John Mueller on some of the identical stages where his father had performed earlier.

Big Bopper | Career

Bopper started as a part-time worker at KTRM radio in Beaumont, Texas, which he made full-time later in 1949. After marrying Adrianne Joy Fryou in April of 1952 and welcoming a daughter, he ascended to the placement of announcer supervisor.

While he was on the path to career success, Military service halted his career from March 1955 to March 1957. Upon his return from the service, motivated by The Bop dance, he became “The Big Bopper” and hosted a popular radio show, establishing a record for continuous broadcasting.

As a successful songwriter, his hits comprised “White Lightning” by George Jones and “Running Bear” by Johnny Preston. Subsequently, he attained chart success with his recordings, particularly “Chantilly Lace” and “The Big Bopper’s Wedding,” favoured for their humorous and catchy tunes.

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Big Bopper | Networth

Though the exact net worth of Bopper is not revealed, it was estimated that his net worth may have ranged around $5 million; some even state it as $25 million, which is yet to be confirmed.

His musical career was the source of his immense income. Family-wise, he was from a middle-class family.

Big Bopper | Plane Crash, The day the music died

The tragic incident near Clear Lake, Iowa, on February 3, 1959, took the lives of three renowned American artists, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and The Big Bopper. The event was known as “The Day the Music Died” in American history.

It was named such, after the singer-songwriter Don McLean referred to the event as a contribution to the deceased artists in his 1971 song “American Pie“.

Big Booper | Funeral, Death, and Autopsy

After the demise of his father in the crash, believing in the internet rumour, Bopper’s son Bopper Jr. requested his father’s body be disinterred and an autopsy be conducted in January 2007.

The rumour has the guns fired aboard the aircraft and Bopper initially surviving the crash.

As requested, William M. Bass conducted an autopsy with no sign of foul play. Bopper Jr. was convinced that it was just a rumour, and then the new casket of Bopper was reburied side to his wife in Beaumont’s Forest Lawn Cemetery.

Who died with the Big Bopper, a Mexican singer?

The Big Bopper, Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and the pilot Roger Peterson were killed in that crash.

The flight was initially planned for Holly, his bandmates Waylon Jennings, and Tommy Allsup, but Bopper and his team became the victim of the cruel fate.

Big Bopper | Videos

Big Bopper | Social media, Youtube

There are several videos on the internet, on YouTube, where one can find a glimpse of the music of Big Bopper. As Big Bopper is no more, there is nothing to talk about his social presence.

Conclusion

In a short period, Big Bopper made a fame to remember in the American Music industry. He is no more, but his music is still living in the hearts of many. He is always remembered for exceptional talents, skills, and phenomenal music. May the departed soul rest in peace.