American Songwriter

The Meaning of “Runaway” by Del Shannon and Why It Sounded Unlike Anything Else on the Jukebox

A simple minor chord strummed on the guitar sets the mood for the 1961 smash hit “Runaway.” The tinkling piano, upright bass, drums, and baritone saxophone back the simple figure. Del Shannon would go ...
Battle Creek Enquirer

A Battle Creek carpet salesman wrote a 'runaway' hit and became a music legend

Charles Westover was a military veteran making ends meet as a carpet salesman in Battle Creek while moonlighting as a musician at the city's Hi-Lo Club at the Gilbert Hotel. It was 1960, and Westover ...
Battle Creek Enquirer

Del Shannon weekend to tell the story of Battle Creek's link to the rock legend

Charles Westover might have been from Grand Rapids. But Del Shannon, the rock and roll legend, was "born" in Battle Creek. Del Shannon, Westover's stage name, came to be when he wrote and performed ...
Moviefone

Del Shannon

Charles Weedon Westover, better known by his stage name Del Shannon, was an American musician, singer and songwriter, best known for his 1961 number-one Billboard hit "Runaway". In 1999, he was ...