381 Johnny Preston (1939-2011) “Running Bear” 1959

“Preston was born in Port Arthur, south-east Texas, of German and Cajun stock. While at high school he sang in the choir and, after graduation, entered Lamar state college, where he formed a rock'n'roll group, the Shades. The group was soon in demand at local dances and hops. Playing at the Twilight Club in the nearby town of Beaumont, they were seen by [JP] Richardson [aka the Big Bopper], who took the 19-year-old Preston to the Gold Star studios in Houston to record Running Bear.” Richardson “said he was inspired to compose the song by a Dove-soap television commercial” (Dave Laing, The Guardian, 3/7/2011). 

Johnny Preston “Running Bear”