October 24 1930 february 3 1959 known as the big bopper was an american musician singer songwriter and disc jockey. In 1959 a plane with the big bopper ritchie valens and buddy holly crashed while you all were on the winter dance party tour killing all three. Remembering Buddy Holly Ritchie Valens The Big Bopper On The His best known compositions include chantilly lace and white lightning the latter of which became george jones first number one hit in 1959richardson was killed in a plane crash in clear lake iowa in 1959 along with fellow.