The Life and Music of Del Shannon Quiz

Answer: Charles Westover

Shannon was born Charles Westover on December 30, 1934. He grew up in nearby Coopersville listening to country artists such as Hank Williams, Hank Snow and Lefty Frizzell. During a stint in the Army he played guitar in a band called The Cool Flames. Upon his discharge he worked during the day in a furniture store and worked nights at the Hi-Lo club as a rhythm guitarist for Doug DeMott. Doug left and Westover fronted the band under the name Charlie Johnson and The Big Little Show Band.

When he reformed the band he hired a keyboard player named Max Crook. Crook had already done some recording and had connections in the music business.

When he began shopping demos he assumed the name Del Shannon from combining a friend's last name with "Del", derived from his favorite make of car, the Cadillac Coupe de Ville.

Answer: Runaway

"Runaway" was originally titled "Little Runaway". The original demo had a different arrangement. The producer for Del's Big Top label suggested he rearrange the song and feature Max Crooks' Musitron keyboard as the solo instrument. When "Runaway" was released as a single in February, 1961, it tore up the charts and reached the top spot by April. Del's first record was his first and only Number One hit.

It also made it to number one in the UK. Del followed "Runaway" with "Hats Off to Larry", which peaked at number five. "Little Town Flirt" was released the following year and reached number 12. "So Long, Baby" didn't make the Top Forty. "Two Kinds of Teardrops" was released and reached number 50. "The Swiss Maid" made it to 64.

Answer: From Me to You

Del was very popular in England and during the early sixties he performed there regularly. In 1963 he met the Beatles backstage at The Royal Albert Hall and watched them rehearse "From Me to You". He promptly recorded "From Me to You" upon returning home before the Fab Four broke in the US; he became the first American recording artist to record a cover version of a Beatles song.

In 1964 Del changed record labels and hooked up with a band called the Royaltones. In addition to touring with Dick Clark's Caravan of Stars, Del began recording cover songs and writing more material.

He also appeared on television shows such as "Shindig" and "Hollywood A Go Go".

Answer: Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)

"Keep Searchin' (We'll Follow the Sun)" was a Shannon composition that put him back in the mainstream. In 1965 he opened for Ike and Tina Turner at Dave Hull's Hullabaloo, in Los Angeles. "Sue's Gotta Be Mine" and "Break Up" barely dented the charts. Del relocated to California and signed with Liberty Records. Under the supervision of producer Snuff Garrett, Del recorded a remake of "The Big Hurt".

Although the production was excellent, the record only made it to number 94. In 1966 Del released a cover of the Rolling Stones' hit, "Under My Thumb". "Under my Thumb" and subsequent Liberty releases failed to make an impression on the charts.

He recorded the Boyce/Hart song, "She", but as soon as the Monkees released the song it eclipsed Del's version. With his recording ventures not faring well, Del turned his attention to producing.

Answer: I Go to Pieces

"I Go to Pieces" peaked at number seven for Peter and Gordon in 1965. Del and the duo toured together in Australia and Del offered the composition to them. During the summer of 1990 the country band Southern Pacific released a version of "I Go To Pieces".
"World Without Love", "I Don't Want to See You Again" and "Nobody I Know" were all written by Paul McCartney and attributed to Lennon/McCartney.

Answer: Brian Hyland

The Summer of Love and the British Invasion influence on music impacted most American singers. Del was having difficulty charting songs and worked behind the scenes at Dunhill Records. He produced sessions for Brian Hyland, taking a remake of Curtis Mayfield's "Gypsy Woman" into the Top Ten in 1970. Brian Hyland had previously had success with "Itsy, Bitsy, Teenie, Weenie, Yellow Polka-Dot Bikini" and "Sealed with a Kiss". Del also released two unsuccessful records for Dunhill during this period. Tommy Roe burst onto the scene with "Sheila", Gene Pitney had a number of hit starting with "I Wanna Love My Life Away" and Bobby Vee had a string of hits including "Rubber Ball".

Answer: Baby It's You

Del produced "Baby It's You", for Dunhill Records. The Shirelles version topped out at number eight in the US. Smith took the song to number five. The Smith version is from their debut album, "A Group Called Smith". Their version was in Quentin Tarantino's "Death Proof".

The Beatles, The Carpenters, Bruce Chanel and Elvis Costello are among the many artists who have recorded versions of "Baby It's You". "Baby It's You" was written by Burt Bacharach, Barney Williams and Mack David. Barney Williams is a pen name for Luthor Dixon.

Answer: Drop Down and Get Me

"Drop Down and Get Me" was Del's first album in eight years and took two years to record. Seven of the songs are Shannon originals and the rest are covers of Everly Brothers, Rolling Stones and Frankie Ford songs. "Sea of Love", originally done by Phil Phillips, was released as a single and charted at number 31 in 1981. "1,662 Seconds with Del Shannon" was an album project Del did for Amy Records in 1965. "Del Shannon Sings Hank Williams" was originally issued in 1964 and reissued again in the eighties. "This is My Bag" was originally issued in 1966.

Answer: Crime Story

Del Shannon revised and re-recorded the lyrics of "Runaway" for the theme song to "Crime Story". Because the show was about crime and mob hit men, Shannon replaced the line "wishin' you were here by me... to end this misery" with "watchin' all the things go by... some live, while others die". Michael Mann produced the show for NBC and believed "Runaway" would best reflect the early sixties period piece. During the run of the show Del returned to his home town to accept the honor of being the Grand Marshal for the Christmas Parade.

He also did a free benefit concert while he was in town. "Booker" was a spin-off of "21 Jump Street". "Reflections" by Diana Ross & the Supremes and "We Gotta Get Out Of This Place" by Eric Burdon and The Animals instead were used in "China Beach".

The theme song for "The Equalizer" was done by Stewart Copeland of The Police.

Answer: Daytona Beach Weekend

Del performed "Runaway" and "Stranger in Town" in the film, "Daytona Beach Weekend". Also appearing in the film were the Offbeats and Rayna. Bob Welborn directed the flick, which starred Steve Harkins, Don Jackson and Linda Poland. The movie was an attempt to cash in on other Spring-break movies such as "Where the Boys Are" and "Palm Springs Weekend".

The Kingsmen appeared in "How To Stuff A Wild Bikini". Del also appeared in the British film "It's Trad, Dad" starring Craig Douglas and Helen Shapiro. Also performing in the film were Chubby Checker, Gary US Bonds, Gene Vincent and Gene McDaniels.

It is one of Richard Lester's films before he directed the Beatles movies. Del's final album, "Rock On!" was released after his 1990 death. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.