Michigan Music Blog

An early rock/pop artist, Del Shannon’s birth name was Charles Weedon Westover. He was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up in Coopersville, and lived from December 30, 1934 to February 8, 1990. He was found dead by his wife by way of a self-inflicted gunshot wound at the age of 55 – many blame the anti-depressant drug Prozac for his suicide.

Del Shannon was best known for 1961 number 1 hit “Runaway”, though he would have several songs following this that also reached the charts at one position or another – “Hats Off To Larry” made it to #5 on the Billboard charts and “Little Town Flirt” made it to #12 on the list.