Del Shannon was born this day in 1934. Del Shannon was born Charles Weedon Westover in Grand Rapids, Michigan. His first hit single “Runaway” in 1961 was his biggest hit. He would have nine Top 40 hits in the first part of the 1960’s. He grew up listening to country and western music, his heroes being Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Lefty Frizzell. Del Shannon kept recording once the hits dried up. There were rumours that he was going to join the Traveling Wilbury’s after the death of the great Roy Orbison. Del Shannon had struggled with alcohol and depression over the years. He committed suicide in February 1990 at the age of 55. Del Shannon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
below is a link to Del Shannon singing his greatest hit- “Runaway”
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