RIP Johnny Preston, 71, #1 hit in 1960

[Wayback]

Johnny Preston, who had a #1 pop single in 1960 with "Running Bear," died Friday at a hospital in Beaumont, Texas. He was 71. He had bypass surgery last year.
"Running Bear," a love song about an "Indian brave" named Running Bear and his "Indian maid," Little White Dove, reached #1 in 1960:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=E3meEmDpaDU
The song was written by disc jockey and singer J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who died in the 1959 plane crash in which Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly also were killed.
John Preston Courville was born Aug. 18, 1939, in Port Arthur, Texas. He first performed in a Lamar University group called the Shades in 1957 and was brought to the attention of Mercury Records by Richardson. Preston also had a hit with "Cradle of Love" in 1960 (not the Billy Idol hit): http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=bCjcxff7Aiw

[ggould]

Johnny Preston, who had a #1 pop single in 1960 with "Running Bear," died Friday at a hospital in Beaumont, Texas. He was 71. He had bypass surgery last year.
"Running Bear," a love song about an "Indian brave" named Running Bear and his "Indian maid," Little White Dove, reached #1 in 1960:
 http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=E3meEmDpaDU
The song was written by disc jockey and singer J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who died in the 1959 plane crash in which Ritchie Valens and Buddy Holly also were killed.
John Preston Courville was born Aug. 18, 1939, in Port Arthur, Texas. He first performed in a Lamar University group called the Shades in 1957 and was brought to the attention of Mercury Records by Richardson. Preston also had a hit with "Cradle of Love" in 1960 (not the Billy Idol hit): http://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv=bCjcxff7Aiw

I certainly loved "Running Bear!" I always liked novelty songs back then.