Johnny Preston (born John Preston Courville on August 18, 1939, Port Arthur… Read Full Bio ↴Johnny Preston (born John Preston Courville on August 18, 1939, Port Arthur, Texas, USA - died March 4, 2011, Beaumont, Texas) was an American singer. He's best known for his international number one hit in 1960, "Running Bear".
Of Cajun ancestry, Preston sang in high school choral contests throughout the state of Texas. He formed a rock and roll band called 'The Shades', before recording his No. 1 hit single "Running Bear." The song was written in 1958 by J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who had died the previous year in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
Preston quickly followed up with a minor hit called "Cradle of Love," and made several other records during the early 1960s that met with modest success.
"Cradle of Love" however, was a big hit in Athens, Greece in the early 60s.
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. In 2009 and 2010, Preston performed with the Lamar State College (LSCPA)Touring Band at Lamar State College- Port Arthur, in his hometown.
Johnny Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Preston died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on March 4, 2011.
Of Cajun ancestry, Preston sang in high school choral contests throughout the state of Texas. He formed a rock and roll band called 'The Shades', before recording his No. 1 hit single "Running Bear." The song was written in 1958 by J. P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, who had died the previous year in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens.
Preston quickly followed up with a minor hit called "Cradle of Love," and made several other records during the early 1960s that met with modest success.
"Cradle of Love" however, was a big hit in Athens, Greece in the early 60s.
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. In 2009 and 2010, Preston performed with the Lamar State College (LSCPA)Touring Band at Lamar State College- Port Arthur, in his hometown.
Johnny Preston's pioneering contribution to the genre has been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Preston died of heart failure in Beaumont, Texas on March 4, 2011.
Let's Leave It That Way
Johnny Preston Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Johnny Preston:
(I Want a) Rock And Roll Guitar Spoken: A ho ho ho It was the night before Christmas and…
A New Baby For Christmas I want a new baby for Christmas One with long pretty…
Charming Billy Can you really rock and roll Billy Boy, Billy Boy Can…
City of Tears The streets are empty The lights are dim I'm alone You're wi…
Cradle Of Love Well, rock-a-bye baby, in the treetop When the wind blows th…
Danny Boy Oh, Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen…
Earth Angel Earth Angel, Earth Angel Will You Be Mine? My Darling Dear,…
Feel Feel so fine, a little girl now you're mine Come a…
Hearts of Stone Hearts made of stone will never brake 'Cause your love is…
I Want a Rock & Roll Guitar SPOKEN:A ho ho ho......It was the night before Christmas and…
I Want A Rock 'n Roll Guitar Spoken: A ho ho ho It was the night before Christmas and…
I Want A Rock and Roll Guitar Spoken: A ho ho ho It was the night before Christmas and…
I Want A Rock N Roll Guitar Spoken: A ho ho ho It was the night before Christmas and…
I Want A Rock' N' Roll Guitar A ho, ho, ho It was the night before Christmas and…
I Want a Rock'N'Roll Guitar Spoken: A ho ho ho It was the night before Christmas and…
Leave My Kitten Alone You better leave my kitten all alone, You better leave my…
New Baby for Christmas I want a new baby for Christmas One with long pretty…
Rock and Roll Guitar Spoken: A ho ho ho It was the night before Christmas and…
Runnin On the banks of the river stood runnin' bear, young…
You When you walk through a storm hold your head up…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
More Genres
No Artists Found
More Artists
Load All
No Albums Found
More Albums
Load All
No Tracks Found
Genre not found
Artist not found
Album not found
Search results not found
Song not found
@barrygioportmorien1
Love this, and so many of Johnny's other songs.
@wareidav
Awesome arrangement... Love the choir.. Love the vocal and the atmosphere... Just wonderful
@loupi52
Many thanks for your visit and your comment.
@wareidav
@@loupi52 If you keep posting gems like this I'll be back... You can guarantee it.
@muhammedlepsi5428
I like it very mutch! Good singing and great song!!!
@kiloelo
i love the organ in this song.
@brennix2854
Love this song 😍
@Mackingcole
Thank you so much for posting all these 'lesser-known' gems! Many of them i've never heard, even though i'm 65, but there are some great tracks among these which really take me back to my teenage years!! Bless you! for your trouble.
@viccharm
He sounds like one of the UK's Pop idols from the 60's Graig Douglas , Great song..
@murrysmith9394
he has a clean voice, remind me of graig Douglas a beautiful voice