Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011

Subject: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: Cool Beans
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 03:36 PM

Umbah Ookah, Umbah Ookah.....

http://www.guardian.co.uk/music/2011/mar/06/johnny-preston-obituary

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: fat B****rd
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 03:56 PM

My daughter and I used to sing this (When she was little) It still brings back lovely memories. A vivid memory of the early 60s when it came out n'all.
RIP Mr. Preston. I hope you feel so fine.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: goatfell
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 04:08 PM

so sad Iliked that song & the singer

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: Bonzo3legs
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 04:13 PM

Very sad, Running bear was one of those singles that I set my autochanger to play over and over again.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 05:38 PM

It was a regular popular item at the high school dances - as indeed was 'Golden Wedding'.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: GUEST,999
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 05:57 PM

"Very sad, Running bear was one of those singles that I set my autochanger to play over and over again."


Same here, B3l.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: Girl Friday
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 07:32 PM

The song was a great favourite of mine, and in those days most of the pop hits came from America. We were lucky enough to meet Johnny when he came over with Bobby Vee a few years ago. We got an autographed C D, and permission from the man himself to sing one of his songs....2Running Bear" he asked... No we said.... "Charming Billy"

We must red=surrect it - and sing it out tomorrow night !

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: Girl Friday
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 07:34 PM

Apologies for the typos. I leant on the keyboard!

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: Janie
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:16 PM

Oh, what memories one song by one performer can evoke.

Running Bear
(Written by J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson)

On the bank of the river
Stood Running Bear
Young Indian brave
On the other side of the river
Stood his lovely Indian maid
Little White Dove was her name
Such a lovely sight to see
But their tribes fought with each other
So their love could never be
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love big as the sky
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love that couldn't die
He couldn't swim the raging river
'Cause the river was too wide
He couldn't reach the Little White Dove
Waiting on the other side
In the moonlight he could see her
Throwing kisses 'cross the waves
Her little heart was beating faster
Waiting for her Indian brave
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love big as the sky
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love that couldn't die
Running Bear dove in the water
Little White Dove did the same
And they swam out to each other
Through the swirling stream they came
As their hands touched and their lips met
The raging river pulled them down
Now they'll always be together
In their happy hunting ground
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love big as the sky
Running Bear loved Little White Dove
With a love that couldn't die.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: Janie
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 09:23 PM

Running Bear

Cradle of Love

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 11:32 PM

What's so sad is that this news didn't even make a ripple in his homeland. He deserved better.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear')
From: Beer
Date: 06 Mar 11 - 11:42 PM

I didn't know that he did Cradle of love. One of my favorites way back then.
RIP buddy, were not that far behind you.
Adrien

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: GUEST,banjoman
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 06:16 AM

Sad news - I went to see him on the Liverpool Empire great show

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 09:40 AM

RIP Johnny Preston!
I'm not wanting to start any argument on this thread but in my feeble memory Running Bear was a smash hit for Sonny James. Did they both have hits with the same song at about the same time?
                                  Sandy

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: buddhuu
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 10:41 AM

We used to do 'Running Bear' occasionally when I was with The Ploughmen, and when I was a teenager it was one of my favourite tracks from the soundtrack album to the Davis Essex movie "That'll Be the Day".

I'm hoping to sit in when The Ploughmen play The Plough in Ley Green tomorrow evening. I'll try to get them to dust it off as a tribute to Johnny.

RIP.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 11:03 AM

I just now found out that J P Richardson (Big Bopper) was the author of this song. Wow. And it was also done by Johnny Horton. Mind blower.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: GUEST,Larry Saidman
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 11:20 AM

Johnny Preston was also a vocalist with Bob Wills and The Texas Playboys in his later 1960's band.

And another great single he had was a song called "Free Me". Soaring vocals!

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: open mike
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 02:20 PM

http://www.rockabillyhall.com/JohnnyPreston1.html

http://www.beaumontenterprise.com/news/article/UPDATE-Funeral-services-set-for-Johnny-Preston-1042595.php

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Johnny_Preston

his funeral will be tomorrow in port arthur, tx

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: open mike
Date: 07 Mar 11 - 04:59 PM

The song running bear reminds me of the legend of Winona from
Maiden Rock , Wisconsin http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Winona

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: JJ
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 08:47 AM

I don't know about his death not even making a ripple in his homeland. The New York Times printed an obit.

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/03/06/arts/music/06preston.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: Girl Friday
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 12:29 PM

We began last night's session with "Charming Billy ", and "Running Bear". They went down well.

Subject: RE: Obit: Johnny Preston ('Running Bear') 1939-2011
From: Sandy Mc Lean
Date: 08 Mar 11 - 01:51 PM

In answer to my own earlier question Wikipedia says that Sonny James had a #1 Hit covering Running Bear in 1969. That would have been about a decade after Preston's hit and after the death of the Big Bopper as well. I certainly remember the song from the late 50's but I did not remember the singer other than James. I'm not too old yet to re-rember what I had long forgotten. :-}
      RIP Johnny Preston!