Del Shannon / "Runaway"
Posted by: 
S5280ft
N 42° 19.083 W 085° 11.059
16T E 649621 N 4686686
Quick Description: Located on the east corner of Hamblin and Capital Avenues. Parking nearby.
Location: Michigan, United States
Date Posted: 3/11/2007 10:47:28 AM
Waymark Code: WM1A2W
Views: 48
Long Description:DEL SHANNON
In late 1960 the Hi-Lo Club, located on this site, "rocked" when
the Charlie Johnson Band played Runaway for the first time.
Johnson, whose real name was Charles Westover, was born in Grand
Rapids and raised in Coopersville. In 1960, Westover (1934-1990)
signed with Detroit's Big Top Records and adopted the stage name
Del Shannon. According to the New York Times, Shannon's 1963
recording of "From Me To You" was the first American release of a
Lennon and McCartney song. His last hit was "Sea of Love" in 1982.
"RUNAWAY"
Del Shannon wrote the lyrics for "Runaway" and recorded the song in
New York on January 21, 1961. "Runaway" was released on the Big Top
label and debuted on March 6, 1961. One month later Shannon sang
Runaway on the American Bandstand television show. The song hit the
top of the pop charts on April 24, 1961, and remained there for
four weeks. "Runaway" sold over six million copies. In 1986,
Shannon rerecorded the song as the theme for the Crime Story
television series, which aired from 1986 to 1988.
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