Biography

Born Charles Westover in Coopersville, Michigan, on December 30, 1934, rocker Del Shannon claimed legendary country-western singer Hank Williams as an early influence, but his first record was unadulterated rock: the classic "Runaway" in 1961, highlighted by Shannon's falsetto and keyboardist Max Crook's wailing Musitron (an invention of his). It shot to #1 in both the US and the UK. He had several follow-up hits, including "Hats Off to Larry" and "Little Town Flirt", but his last big hit came in 1965, with "Keep Searchin' ". His career decline didn't keep him from working, however, and he had a few modest hits, notably a cover of Bobby Freeman's "Do You Wanna Dance?". Shannon spent much of the late 1960s and early 1970s touring Great Britain, where he found a more receptive and admiring audience than he did in the US. In 1985 he had a minor hit on the US country music charts with "In My Arms Again". Shortly afterwards he began touring in rock-n-roll revival shows. On February 8, 1990, after battling a combination of drugs, alcohol and depression for years, he shot himself to death.
- IMDb mini biography by: frankfob2@yahoo.com

Was picked to replace Roy Orbison in The Traveling Wilburys but committed suicide before they went into the recording studio.

His recording "Runaway" hit #1 on Billboard's Hot 100 chart.

Produced Brian Hyland's top 10 hit, "Gypsy Woman".

Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.

His 1963 version of "From Me To You" was the first American recording of a John Lennon-Paul McCartney song to hit the Billboard Hot 100 chart. It debuted 29 June 1963, stayed on the chart four weeks, and peaked at #77.