“Chantilly Lace” is the name of a rock and roll song written by Jerry Foster, Bill Rice, and Jiles Perry “The Big Bopper” Richardson, the last of whom released the song in 1958. The single was produced by Jerry Kennedy. (More from Wikipedia)
Born J. P. Richardson, Jr. in 1930, the Big Bopper was the other rocker that passed on the day the music died. Starting with a brash “Hello, Ba-a-a-by!”, his big hit “Chantilly Lace” is simply a delight to the ears – a compelling chorus ending with “Oh, baby, that’s what I like!” that is interspersed with an improvised telephone conversation with his girlfriend. One listen, and there is no doubt that the Big Bopper was a born entertainer. I remember a reminiscence years ago where someone said he could have been a successful actor or comedian had he lived.
Remarkably, the Big Bopper wrote “Chantilly Lace” while on the way to the Gold Star Studio in Houston; he had originally intended it to be the “B” side for “Purple People Eater Meets Witch Doctor”, but “Chantilly Lace” was on the charts for 22 weeks and topped out at #6. For shows like American Bandstand – where the performers lip-synch to their records – the Big Bopper had a hard time matching his improvised speaking parts and inflections.
Near the end of 1958, the Big Bopper decided to film three of his hit songs at a local nightclub: “Chantilly Lace”, “Big Bopper’s Wedding” and “Little Red Riding Hood” (not the same song as the Sam the Sham and the Pharaohs hit, “Li’l Red Riding Hood”).
(June 2013/1)
