The Big Bopper - Beggar to a King (His FIRST Recording!!!)

[jmen4ever]

My jaw dropped the first time I heard this! What a great singer he was,no mere one hit novelty song singer.

[fjook]

Ritchie won his seat in a coin flip, where the bopper was given his seat by Waylon due to being sick. And since Buddy paid for the plane he got a seat no matter what. Its kinda of sad that the one of the two that lived all he wanted was to be a background guy, Yes I am refering to the less known Tommy Alsup.

[coyclown]

He really did have a rather nice sounding quality to his singing voice. Rest in Peace, my Friend.

[decoycarver17]

who ever is pickin that steel can sure bend a good string.

[rockabillycat1954]

great song, never heard it before. he could have been a great country singer if he had lived. long live the music of the pioneers.

[tawananal]

What a classic

[dwilli48]

I have known for years that J.P. Richardson wrote country standards like Beggar To a King; White Lightnin'; and Running Bear, but this is the first time that I have actually heard J.P. Richardson singing Beggar To a King. It is really great. 

[mrcountry215]

I still think this was his best song out of all that he did,love all of them but like this one the most.

[teendude16]

tHIS BIG TALENTED ARTIST, 'THE BIG BOPPER', IS AWESOME. THX.

[hugh750]

I was born 7 years after he died (1966) and i enjoy the big bopper's music (a lot of his songs are fun you can tell he enjoyed them you'll hear him laugh in a lot of his records) his songs are just that enjoyable.

[wcrooster1]

It was Tommy Alsup who tossed the coin and Ritchie won the toss getting a seat on that ill-fated plane ride. Waylon did indeed give Bopper his seat because Bopper was sick.

[armsja]

I don't care for Big Bore, he's a hack.

[JRussoBuffaloNY]

made more money than you will ever make you are the talentless "hack" w/e the f--- that means

[basslinewobbla08]

luv u jp 4 eva god bless claire xxx

[24surfgirl]

He and Waylon Jennings were actually really good friends and he was from Texas. So country wasn't a big stretch for him I'm sure. Actually, it was Waylon who was supppose to be on the infamous plane with Buddy and Ritchie. But The Bopper got really sick and asked Waylon to take his seat, and, well, you all know the rest. RIP.

[bigblondman1]

youre partly correct. bopper and waylon did know each other but it was waylon who wanted ritchie valens to take the plane because ritchie had a bad cold and waylon thought ritchie would get worse on a long cold bus ride. so they flipped a coin and waylon lost the toss or perhaps he won. its how you look at it.

[MrFunFactsMulalley]

@24surfgirl no, the story is he ritchie and buddy and dion were on tour. there were only three seats on the plane. dion and ritchie flipped a coin to see who got the seat and who had to ride a bus with no heat. ritchie won the flip.

[decoycarver17]

@24surfgirl He was also good friends with George Jones, who is also form Texas.

[bellgardens53]

Oohps...forget about "Strange Kisses"....you have already posted it! I'm a bit tired...but the other maybe as I can't find "That's what I'm Talking About"...Thank you very much.

[grannyrocks2]

Did you know J.P Richardson was the innovator of the music video? and that his name is still not in the Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame? Let's change that, shall we? please write, no emails, to The Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame Foundation 1290 Avenues of America, New York, NY 10404, and please request his induction for the innovation of the music video... you wouldn't be watching this, if not for him.

Thank You

[bellgardens53]

grannyrocks2...I do that as in pronto. Incredible he's not in the RRHOF! Would be enough because the songs he wrote/sang and persona/original Rockn'Roll guy he was but what do you mean or think by he invented the music video. Is it his performance talking on the phone in "Chantilly Lace" or what? Btw, he also once had the DJ world record for the longest time chatting/playing records non stop sometime in the '50s.

[grannyrocks2]

I'm going to get back to you on that very soon, you can count on that. And by the way, thanks!!

[bellgardens53]

Ok....I'm waitin' lol

[bellgardens53]

Cont..ok now I found it, In 1957 he had the world record by playing 1821 records non stop for over five days. It's reported that he hallucinated (even about his own death, but...that might be pt. of the mythology like Holly's "It Doesnt Matter Anymoore" or Eddie Cochran's last single "Three Steps To Heaven"). I read that he had a 5 min break every hour and his co-workers at the radio atation filled him up with coffee and put him in the cold water shower but at last he had to give in. hehe

[bellgardens53]

cont...there is also a 'ansver song' by Jayne Mansfield entitled "That Makes It" to his "Chantilly Lace". Now can anyone tell me what 'Chantilly' means? I know a place/town in France named that...but. 2 songs I haven't heard before (just short clips at Amazon) are "The Strange Kisses" and "That's What I'm Talking About". Can you, JohnnyElvis1935 or someone else post them?

[nomiclas]

@grannyrocks2 yes/tks

[stubbyguy]

wow he sounds great singing country....I bet he could have been one of the best country singers had he pursued a country music career instead....what is your take on this?

[loveorconfusion]

R.I.P. ROCK ON!!!

[houdini1972]

Im 36 and I think this music is a lot better than the crap thats out today. J.P. your music still matters. God bless you Bopper

[whitefalcon64]

50 years, today

[Bopalena]

For a guy who was around as a singer for such a short time he sure made a lot of records! Johnny Winter told me that he used to listen to the Big Bopper's radio show when he was growing up in Beaumont. Waaaay cool!

[basslinewobbla08]

VERRY MOVING SONG LV JP XX

[gangerollo]

Very good and touching song. Very different compared to the later BBs song like "Chantilly Lace" etc. But this was not his first recorded song which was "Boogie Woogie" recorded by Jay Miller. Jay is in my eyes as great as Sam C Philips. Quotation, "The tape-box...was of course, The Big Bopper!"Boogie Woogie is his first recorded track. Miller intended to record him properly but a combination of Richardson's army-call up and Miller moving studio sides meant the chance was lost" End of Quotation

[gangerollo]

cont...This was from a backside text of one of the best buys I have done ( Flyright vol 11 ) in this world. I bought it in the late '80s. I bought 29 LPs called "The Legendary Jay Miller Sessions". Not a single turkey here, no boring exercises in nostalgia or nit-picking academicism, just beautifully evocative music in the widest imaginable range of American muscical styles. If you by chance find one above and still have a record player, buy it. I don't know if you can find it as an CD.

[guitarista12]

He had a very beautiful voice. Thanks for posting this. :)

[AlexGronstad]

so awesome!

[jmen4ever]

I believe that one boogie song from 53 is actually his first,but,this is a great song,that proved he could do far more then just chantilly lace.Blew me away the first time I ever heard it!

[EPBOULEVARD]

fantastic first time i have heard this song i never even knew he recorded this song