Running Bear. Johnny Preston...

This was such a sad song to me when I was a child!

Now - no cheating and looking it up - who knows who wrote the song?

I've no idea NBY, I had the original 45 until just recently when I threw it out along with all my 45s and 78s. They were scratched beyond saving.

I've just peeked... It's......    Now there's a surprise.

Here's a wee clue... listen very carefully to the backing singers.... cuz he's also doing backing vocals!   

More clues as I don't think that most people will remember him as a singer as he only had one hit in the U K.

His life ended tragically but his demise was inevitably over-shadowed because of the greater fame of two of the other people who died in the same accident.

I wish I hadn't peeked now...   

That'll teach you!

I didn't know about the person singing on the record though.

For those who want to know who we're talking about, this is the song that he's most remembered for.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jNrpAgTXiC4

Those who don't want to know, DON'T LOOK!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4XBXjH6QET4

I found this video by chance. It marks the 50th anniversary of the final show by Buddy Holly and the others.

Johnny Preston died two years after this appearance.

Thanks for this NBY, he still put on a good show nearly 50 years after what I considered to be his greatest song, bless him.
 

Just some general information about the Big Bopper.

His wife was pregnant at the time of the crash and had a son at the end of April 1959. Buddy Holly's wife was also pregnant but suffered a miscarriage.

The BB's son used to perform as a tribute act for his father along with a Buddy lookalike and the nephew of Ritchie Valens.

Seven years ago, to allay any lingering doubts about the cause of his father's death, he arranged for the body to be exhumed and autopsied. Suspicions that the BB had tried to crawl away from the wreckage and then been shot (yes, really) were quickly put to rest.

This isn't a tasteless April Fools' Day joke, it did happen.

Sadly the son died last year, aged only 54.

Not Born Yesterday wrote:Just some general information about the Big Bopper.

His wife was pregnant at the time of the crash and had a son at the end of April 1959. Buddy Holly's wife was also pregnant but suffered a miscarriage.

The BB's son used to perform as a tribute act for his father along with a Buddy lookalike and the nephew of Ricky Valens.

Seven years ago, to allay any lingering doubts about the cause of his father's death, he arranged for the body to be exhumed and autopsied. Suspicions that the BB had tried to crawl away from the wreckage and then been shot (yes, really) were quickly put to rest.

This isn't a tasteless April Fools' Day joke, it did happen.

Sadly the son died last year, aged only 54.

Hi NBY. Again, thanks for the memory, I remember just where I was when I read the news...

Here are some 'cuttings' of the tragic accident.




And one of the exhumation in 2007. I never realised that one had been carried out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2QhcQqLkhw

A 40th anniversary programme.

Not Born Yesterday wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D2QhcQqLkhw

A 40th anniversary programme.

Thanks for this NBY, brought a spot of dampness to my eyes... I'll certainly watch it again, I found myself singing along...sad old bugger.