Friday's Song Pic #3

Del Shannon

Del Shannon (December 30, 1934 – February 8, 1990) was an American rock and roll singer-songwriter who had a massive world wide No.1 hit, "Runaway", in 1961. Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, he grew up in Coopersville, a small town near Grand Rapids. He was drafted into the Army in 1954, and while in Germany played guitar in a band called The Cool Flames. In early 1959 he added keyboardist Max Crook, who played the Musitron which was heard for the first time on "Runaway" (It was Crook's own invention which was a forerunner of the synthesizer). On the 21 January 1961, in just one day, they recorded "Runaway" a Shannon/Crook composition, in New York City. The track was released on the Big Top label as a single in February 1961, reaching #1 in the Billboard chart in April. Shannon followed this with the self penned "Hats Off to Larry", which peaked at #5 (Billboard) and #2 on Cashbox in 1961. Other hit records would follow. Then in 1975 and again in 1990, he recorded with Jeff Lynne of Electric Light Orchestra, and it was rumored that he would join The Traveling Wilburys after Roy Orbison's death. But suffering from depression, Shannon took his own life on February 8, 1990. Following his death, The Traveling Wilburys honored him by recording their version of "Runaway". 

(Video: (C)TheMcCartneyChannel)

Tom Petty had earlier produced Shannon and Lynne would go on to co-produced Shannon's posthumous album, Rock On, released on Silvertone in 1991. Shannon was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999. His contributions have also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. In 2005, Shannon was inducted into the Michigan Rock and Roll Legends Hall of Fame. In 2007, Shannon's recording of "Runaway" was voted the #1 Legendary Michigan Song. Shannon has had two other recordings recognized as Legendary Michigan songs: "Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow The Sun)" in 2008 and "Hats Off to Larry" in 2009.

The Traveling Wilburys, 1988. L–R: Roy Orbison, Jeff Lynne,
Bob Dylan, George Harrison, and Tom Petty.
(Photos: Copyright Control)