Del Shannon (December 30, 1934 February 8, 1990) was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a No. 1 hit, “Runaway”, in 1961. Del Shannon was born Charles Weedon Westover in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He grew up in Coopersville, a small town near Grand Rapids. There he learned ukulele and guitar and listened to country and western music, including Hank Williams, Hank Snow, and Lefty Frizzell. In 1954, he was drafted into the Army, and while in Germany played guitar in a band called the Cool Flames. When his service ended, he returned to Battle Creek, Michigan, and worked in a furniture factory as a truck driver and selling carpets. He also found part-time work as a rhythm guitarist in singer Doug DeMott’s group, working at the Hi-Lo Club. When DeMott was fired in 1958, Westover took over as leader and singer, giving himself the name Charlie Johnson, and renaming his band the Big Little Show Band. Shannon’s career slowed greatly in the 1970s, in part due to alcoholism. Welsh rock singer Dave Edmunds produced the Shannon single “And the Music Plays On” in 1974. In 1978 he stopped drinking and began work on “Sea of Love”, released in the early 1980s. This song came from Shannon’s album Drop Down and Get Me, produced by Tom Petty. The album took two years to record and featured Petty’s Heartbreakers backing Shannon. RSO Records, which recorded Shannon, folded. The LP was recorded by Network Records and distributed by Elektra Records. Seven songs are Shannon originals …
Video Rating: 5 / 5
This track was from Del’s 1966 Liberty Records album, “Total Commitment”.
I remember this song!!!
New one for me, too. Thanks for the post!
Never Heard Del Shannon Sing This Song!!!…But He Sounds Great!!! Great Vid As Always!!!!..5*s Thankyou Joe….Anita..
Very good work and nice pictures. Thanx!!
Hi thanks again for sharing all the info with the music respect from joe enjoy all the videos keep up all the hard work my friend
very nice version from Del .. never heard this before .. love this guy but I gotta say I prefer the Crispian St Peter version best .a big hit in . 66′ .. but thanx for sharing my freind … regards Lyndloo.
lots of memories….fantastic joe!!
Joe,
Liked Del and his music. And of course, always love your videos!