Zoneboy
03-04-2011, 05:40 PM
Link (http://www.kfdm.com/news/johnny-41760-southeast-pop.html)
SOUTHEAST TEXAS - A pop ballad and rock singer from Port Arthur who became known for performing the song "Running Bear" has died.
Johnny Preston Courville, 71, died at Baptist Beaumont Hospital Friday afternoon, according to his son, Scott Preston.
Scott told KFDM News his father had bypass surgery late last year and had lingering medical problems.
Johnny Preston was born in Port Arthur in 1939 and lived there his entire life, with the exception of a brief period of time when the family moved to Nashville, according to Scott Preston.
Johnny first performed in the Lamar University group 'The Shades' in 1957. He was brought to the attention of Mercury Records by disc jockey and singer J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.
Among the tracks Richardson wrote and produced for him was the novelty 'Running Bear.' The song took four months to reach the charts in the U.S. and went on to top the music charts in the U.S. and U.K. in 1959/60 (after Richardson died in a plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens).
It became a million seller.
The followup to "Running Bear" was a song called "Cradle of Love" that went on to become a hit.
Scott Preston told KFDM News funeral arrangements for his father are pending with Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.
Visitation will be at Levingston. Funeral services will be held at Park Central Church of Christ on Jimmy Johnson Boulevard in Port Arthur. Dates and times are pending.
Preston is survived by his wife, Sharon; his sons, Scott and Michael; daughters Leslie and Lisa; and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
E3meEmDpaDU
SOUTHEAST TEXAS - A pop ballad and rock singer from Port Arthur who became known for performing the song "Running Bear" has died.
Johnny Preston Courville, 71, died at Baptist Beaumont Hospital Friday afternoon, according to his son, Scott Preston.
Scott told KFDM News his father had bypass surgery late last year and had lingering medical problems.
Johnny Preston was born in Port Arthur in 1939 and lived there his entire life, with the exception of a brief period of time when the family moved to Nashville, according to Scott Preston.
Johnny first performed in the Lamar University group 'The Shades' in 1957. He was brought to the attention of Mercury Records by disc jockey and singer J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson.
Among the tracks Richardson wrote and produced for him was the novelty 'Running Bear.' The song took four months to reach the charts in the U.S. and went on to top the music charts in the U.S. and U.K. in 1959/60 (after Richardson died in a plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens).
It became a million seller.
The followup to "Running Bear" was a song called "Cradle of Love" that went on to become a hit.
Scott Preston told KFDM News funeral arrangements for his father are pending with Levingston Funeral Home in Groves.
Visitation will be at Levingston. Funeral services will be held at Park Central Church of Christ on Jimmy Johnson Boulevard in Port Arthur. Dates and times are pending.
Preston is survived by his wife, Sharon; his sons, Scott and Michael; daughters Leslie and Lisa; and a number of grandchildren and great grandchildren.
E3meEmDpaDU