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Biography
Infobox musical artist|name = Johnny Preston|caption =|background = solo_singer|birth_name = John Preston Courville|birth_date = birth date|mf=yes|1939|08|18|birth_place = Port Arthur, Texas , U.S.|death_date = death date and age|mf=yes|2011|03|04|1939|08|18|death_place = Beaumont, Texas , U.S. http://www.kfdm.com/news/johnny-41760-southeast-pop.html KFDM.com, 'Running Bear' singer Johnny Preston dies , 4 March 2011 |instrument = Human voice|Vocals |genre = Traditional popular music |occupation = Singing|Singer |years_active = 1959–2009|label = Mercury Records|Mercury Imperial Records|Imperial Kapp Records|Kapp |associated_acts =|website = Johnny Preston (August 18, 1939 – March 4, 2011) http://thedeadrockstarsclub.com/2011.html Thedeadrockstarsclub.com - accessed March 2011 was an United States|American pop music singing|singer , who was best known for his international number one hit in 1960, " Running Bear ".cite web|author=6:39PM BST 06 Apr 2011 |url= http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/obituaries/culture-obituaries/music-obituaries/8433137/Johnny-Preston.html |title=Johnny Preston |publisher=Telegraph |date=2011-04-06 |accessdate=2012-03-26
Life and career
Born as John Preston Courville in Port Arthur, Texas|Port Arthur , Texas , of Cajun ancestry, Preston sang in high school choral contests throughout the state of Texas. He formed a rock and roll musical ensemble|band called "The Shades", who were seen performing at a local club by The Big Bopper|J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson . The song "Running Bear", was originally written about Paul F. and Jen, but then he realized they weren't Native Americans.
Richardson offered Preston the chance to sound recording and reproduction|record a teenage tragedy song he had songwriter|written , " Running Bear ", which they did in Houston, Texas , in 1958. http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JohnnyPreston1.html Rockabilly Hall of Fame: Johnny Preston The "Indian" sounds on the record were performed by Richardson and George Jones . The record was released after the Big Bopper's death in the same The Day the Music Died|plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens .cite book | first= Joseph | last= Murrells | year= 1978 | title= The Book of Golden Discs | edition= 2nd | publisher= Barrie and Jenkins Ltd | location= London | page= 127/128 | isbn= 0-214-20512-6 It entered the United States|U.S. Hot 100 in October 1959, reaching Hot 100 No. 1 Hits of 1960 (USA)|number one in January 1960 and remaining there for three weeks. It was a wikt:transatlantic|transatlantic chart-topper , reaching #1 in the United Kingdom in March 1960.cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 108 The sales of the gramophone record|record exceeded one million copies, earning Preston his first music recording sales certification|gold disc .
Preston quickly followed up with another hit called "Cradle of Love," (Billboard #7, United Kingdom|UK # 2) and made several other Gramophone record|records during the early 1960s that met with modest success. "Cradle of Love" was a hit in both the UK Singles Chart and in Athens , Greece .cite book | first= David | last= Roberts | year= 2006 | title= British Hit Singles & Albums | edition= 19th | publisher= Guinness World Records Limited | location= London | isbn= 1-904994-10-5 | page= 437 Preston's "I'm Starting to Go Steady", a song on the A-side and B-side|flip side of "Feel So Fine", (Billboard #14), was released in June 1960. Preston made appearances on American Bandstand ( American Broadcasting Company|ABC-TV ) and The Milt Grant Show and also The Buddy Deane Show ( East Coast of the United States|East Coast , United States ).
Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre was recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame . He also performed at Dick Clark 's American Bandstand Theater in Branson, Missouri|Branson , Missouri . http://www.dickclarksbranson.com Dickclarkbranson.com In 2009 and 2010, Preston performed with the http://www.txcommercialmusic.com Lamar State College (LSCPA)Touring Band at http://www.lamarpa.edu Lamar State College- Port Arthur, in his hometown. http://www.lscpacm.com/ Lscpacm.com - accessed March 2009
Preston had coronary artery bypass surgery in 2010. He died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on Friday 4 March 2011, at the age of 71, after years of heart-related illnesses. A tribute concert was performed on November 5, 2011, and featured guest artists Gene Bourgeois, Johnny Tillotson, Dickey Lee and Chris Montez along with LSCPS's Touring Band, under the direction of Aaron Horne.
Discography
Chart singles
first=Joel
| 1959
1960
"Feel So Fine"
"I'm Starting to Go Steady"
"Charming Billy"
1961
"Free Me"
See also
List of artists who reached number one in the United States
List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart
List of artists who reached number one on the Australian singles chart
List of stage names
List of Mercury Records artists
References
Reflist Persondata | NAME =Preston, Johnny | ALTERNATIVE NAMES = | SHORT DESCRIPTION = | DATE OF BIRTH =August 18, 1939 | PLACE OF BIRTH =Port Arthur, Texas | DATE OF DEATH =March 4, 2011 | PLACE OF DEATH =Beaumont, Texas DEFAULTSORT:Preston, Johnny Category:1939 births Category:2011 deaths Category:American pop singers Category:People from Port Arthur, Texas Category:American male singers Category:Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductees Category:Gold Star Records artists Category:Imperial Records artists Category:Mercury Records artists Category:Swamp pop music Category:Deaths from heart failure
