The Beginning of Del Shannon Rock On..... DEL SHANNON ROCK ON is the story of one of the early 60`s rockers who had his roots in Country Music and 50`s rock. His first and biggest hit was Runaway, a world wide smash in 1961 featuring co-writer Max Crook`s haunting Musitron solo, often classified as the first use of a synthesizer on a rock record. Other million sellers besides Runaway were Keep Searchin' (We`ll Follow the Sun) and Hats Off To Larry. His last top 40 hit was a remake of Phil Phillips Sea Of Love in 1982, produced by Tom Petty and backed by The Heartbreakers. Del died of a gunshot wound Feb. 8, 1990 ruled as suicide. He had apparently been suffering from depression. There had been an investigation as to whether he had been murdered. There was no note and the cause of his death would only be speculation. CHARLES WESTOVER was born Dec. 30, 1934 and raised in Coopersville, Michigan. He learned to play a guitar that cost $5.00 and had to be held together with wire. His father, a truckdriver, didn`t think much of guitar players. "`You get that goddamn guitar outta here`, that`s the exact words my father used." Del recalled in later years. "However, my Ma said, `It`s OK son. You can sing for me.` I was very shy. Maybe if he hadn`t said get that guitar outta here, I wouldn`t have been interested in playing. Maybe instead I`d be driving a truck." |
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| RUNAWAY 1961 As I walk along, I wonder what went wrong, With our love, a love that was so strong. And as I still walk on, I think of the things we've done Together, a-while our hearts were young. I'm a-walkin' in the rain, Tears are fallin' and I feel the pain, Wishin' you were here by me, To end this misery And I wonder-- I wah-wah-wah-wah-wonder, Why, Why, why, why, why, why she ran away, Yes, and I wonder, A-where she will stay-ay, My little runaway, Run, run, run, run, runaway I'm a-walkin' in the rain, Tears are fallin' and I feel the pain, Wishin' you were here by me, To end this misery And I wonder-- I wah-wah-wah-wah-wonder, Why, Why, why, why, why, why she ran away, Yes, and I wonder, A-where she will stay-ay, My little runaway, Run, run, run, run, runaway. Run, run, run, run, runaway. Run, run, run, run, runaway. |