Del Shannon - "Keep Searchin" (1964)

These are the actual photos of Bonnie and Clyde's car riddled with bullets by the FBI.

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.

In early 1959 he added keyboardist Max Crook, who played the Musitron (his own invention of an early synthesizer). Crook had made recordings and persuaded Ann Arbor disc jockey Ollie McLaughlin to hear the band. In turn, McLaughlin took the group's demos to Harry Balk and Irving Micahnik of Talent Artists in Detroit. In July 1960, Westover and Crook signed to become recording artists and composers, recording for Big Top. Balk suggested Westover use a new name, and they came up with Del Shannon, combining a friend's assumed surname with Del from his favorite car, the Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

He flew to New York City, but his first sessions did not produce results. McLaughlin persuaded Shannon and Crook to rewrite and re-record one of their earlier songs, originally called "Little Runaway", using the Musitron as lead instrument. On January 21, 1961, they recorded "Runaway", released as a single in February 1961. It reached #1 in the Billboard chart in April.

Shannon followed with "Hats Off to Larry", which peaked at #5 (Billboard) and #2 on Cashbox in 1961, and the less popular "So Long, Baby," another song of breakup bitterness. "Runaway" and "Hats Off to Larry" were recorded in a day. "Little Town Flirt", in 1962 (with Bob Babbitt), reached #12 in 1963, as did the album of the same name. After these hits, Shannon was unable to keep his momentum in the U.S., but continued his success in England, where he had always been more popular. In 1963, he became the first American to record a cover version of a Beatles song. "From Me to You" charted in the US before the Beatles.

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[mickigoe]

One of the first singers I loved. Thanks also for sharing "The Pawnbroker" - you've great taste.

[tiborvivi]

Long Live BONNIE & CLYDE! (well, you know what I mean...)

[eztobfree]

I've always considered this his best after "Runaway". I love "Stranger In Town", too. It's very sad that he died early and in such a way.

[Pmr1957]

Another Made In Michigan artist...great song and great video. Thanks for bringing back some great memories of great tunes!

[joesphx19]

Wow, great work with this video.  Glad I found your channel. Thanks.

[Larry Novak]

This era had so many great acts besides the Beatles who are truly great but people like Del Shannon, Jay and the Americans and many more

[anjoerasa]

Dell shannon. was erg bekent in de 60stige jaren.

willel jullie de bitriter wat aanpassen ipv. 360 naar 240 bits psc.

in het aanbod staat wel 240 psc. maar in de HTML code staat deze tot 360 psc.

[anjoerasa]

Dell shannon. was erg bekent in de 60stige jaren.

willel jullie de bitriter wat aanpassen ipv. 360 naar 240 bits psc.

[Spacebeagle]

This is wired and weird, intense and very well done!!!

[050656]

I just can't help but love this guy's videos ABSOLUTELY INTERESTING & ALWAY AMAZING!! It doesn't hurt to learn things I never knew before such as what was shown in this clip. Perfect choice of song also for the duo on the run. Great footage and sound quailty. Thanks!!!