By James Perry

We will resume with the serial series of “The Late Great America” in April with part 3. This months and March articles will be of tragic loss of talent and also life caused by events put in place by decisions made from inexperience, haste, and by a personal vendetta. This month’s article started in the fall of 1958 as Buddy Holley disbanded with the Crickets, stopped recording with Norman Petty at his recording studio in Clovis New Mexico, moved to New York City, met and married Maria Elena Santiago, enrolled in acting classes and planned his next recording session at Decca’s Pythian Temple Studio. His session was on October 21, 1958 and was backed by band leader, Dick Jacobs conducting an eighteen-piece ensemble composed of musicians from the NBC Symphony Orchestra. This was the best performance and recording of Buddy Holley’s career and his last. At his last recording session on October 21, 1958 Buddy Holley recorded these four songs:
Released Charted Writer
1. It Doesn’t Matter Anymore January 1958 #1 UK, CA Paul Anka
2. Raining in My Heart January 1958 88 Felice & Boudleaux Bryant
3. True Love Ways 1960 25 UK Buddy Holley
4. Moon Dreams June 1960 Uncharted Norman Petty

Although these songs didn’t chart well after his death over the years the first three sold millions and have been recorded by many recording artists and have become some of the most performed songs at live performances.

“The Big Bopper” like Buddy Holley was another Texas entertainer, but six years older at the age of 28. His name was Jiles Perry Richardson from Beaumont, Texas. He worked as a disc jockey at a local Beaumont radio station during college and served in the army from 1955-1957. After his military service Jiles P. Richardson went back to radio as a disc jockey and started writing songs. Three of his songs started careers for himself, Johnny Preston and George Jones. Jiles Richardson has never been given credit for his creativity which has smiled favorably and financially for the entire Country, Bluegrass, Rock-N-Roll, Country Pop, Doo-Wop, and Hip-Hop music industry. But getting back to his short career as a performer, Jiles P. Richardson wrote “Chantilly Lace” which he recorded and was released June 1958 on the Mercury label. It became a #6 billboard hot 100 hit and was the 3rd most played song of 1958 even though it was recorded late in the year.

J.P. Richardson wrote “Treasure of Love,” which George Jones recorded October of 1958 and hit #6 on the country charts in 1958. Richardson’s next written song recorded by George Jones was also Jones’ first #1 hit. It was recorded September 1958 and released February 1959 and became George Jones first #1 hit on April 13, 1959 and secured George Jones’ future as one of the top country recording artists. This song was “White Lightning.” George Jones also recorded the gospel song,” Someone is Watching Over You,” which is the first song on the album, “Homecoming in Heaven.” This song was also written by J.P. Richardson whose stage name was “The Big Bopper.” J. P. Richardson’s next song, which became a monster hit, was first recorded by Johnny Preston and later by Sonny James. Johnny Preston recorded “Running Bear,” on Mercury Records in December 1958 in Houston, Texas. The recording was released in August of 1959 and hit #1 on Billboard Hot 100 chart January 18, 1960. Also hit #1 on UK Charts March of 1960 and topped charts in New Zealand and Australia that year. By the way the Indian background sounds were performed by George Jones and The Big Bopper. This song by Johhny Preston became an international hit in 1960. The next major recording of this song was recorded by Sonny James on March 20, 1969 at the Columbia Recording Studio in Nashville, Tennessee. The recording was released on Capitol Records in April of 1969 and charted to #1 on Billboard Hot 100 Chart in June of 1969. This was little more than 10 years after Johnny Preston’s recording hit #1 in the USA and went international. On February 8, 1961 Hank Snow with his band recorded a session at the RCA Victor Studio in Nashville, Tennessee and the second song was written by J. P. Richardson. That song was “Beggar to a King.” This song was released immediately and climbed to #5 on the Country Charts in 1961.

In 1958 Jiles P. Richardson (The Big Bopper) pioneered the first music videos. He named them “Music Video,” and had plans to build proto-type portable video machines to be offered to the public. He was a man twenty-five years ahead of his time.

Richard Steven Valenzuela known as Ritchie Valens had a very short professional career of only eight months at the time of his young death. He was born May 13, 1941 in the San Fernando Valley, California and lived there until his death. Ritchie Valens had recorded a session at Gold Star Recording Studios in Hollywood, California. His two biggest hits were recorded during this session. His biggest hit was “Donna” which was written about his high school girlfriend Donna Ludwig. “Donna” was the “A’ side and the “B” side was “Come on Let’s Go.” “Donna” charted #2 on Billboard and “Come on Let’s Go” charted #42 on Billboard. On September 23, 1958 Ritchie Valens had another session at Gold Star Recording Studios and the song was in Spanish. The song was the first one from that session. It was La Bamba which charted at #22 on US Billboard. La Bamba has been pushed as the signature song by Ritchie Valens, but outside of California “Donna” was Ritchie Valen’s real signature song. “Donna’ went to #2 during a time when there was a tremendous number of pop songs released.

There are so many things that played into the aircraft accident , but the largest contribution was that evidently Norman Petty held back royalties owed to Buddy Holley which put Buddy into needing money and taking the offer to join the Winter Dance Party Tour through the worst sections of the USA during the worst weather possible. If Norman Petty had paid Buddy his royalty money four young men would possibly have lived long productive lives.

All the songs in this article can be listened to on YouTube.

On Sunday February 15, 2026 at 2:00 pm Art Bohanan will be at the Roy Acuff Union County Museum and Genealogical Library to tell the audience about his adventures across the country working in forensics and identifying bodies after tragedies such as 9-1-1, the Columbia Shuttle disasters, and hurricane disasters where body identification by his crews is needed. You’re all welcome to attend.