Date of Birth: December 30, 1934
Zodiac Sign: Capricorn
Date of Death: February 8, 1990
Biography
Del Shannon, born Charles Weedon Westover, was an iconic American rock and roll singer-songwriter best known for his 1961 hit “Runaway.” Born in Grand Rapids, Michigan, Del Shannon showed an early interest in music, learning to play the ukulele and guitar in his youth. After serving in the Army, he returned to Michigan and began performing in local clubs. His big break came when he teamed up with keyboardist Max Crook, leading to the creation of “Runaway,” which topped the Billboard charts and became an international sensation. Shannon’s career spanned several decades, and he continued to produce music, albeit with varying degrees of commercial success. He was inducted posthumously into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
5 Interesting Facts about Del Shannon
1. Del Shannon’s real name was Charles Weedon Westover.
2. He was one of the first American rock and roll singers to write his own songs.
3. “Runaway” was inspired by a riff that keyboardist Max Crook played on his Musitron, an early synthesizer.
4. Shannon struggled with depression and alcoholism throughout his life.
5. He was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999.
5 Most Interesting Quotes from Del Shannon
1. “Runaway was my first big hit, and it was a game-changer for me.”
2. “Music has always been my escape, my way to deal with everything life throws at me.”
3. “Every song I write is a piece of my soul.”
4. “I always felt like an outsider in the music industry, but the fans made it all worth it.”
5. “The greatest gift you can give is your music to the world.”
Highest Net Worth Achieved
At the peak of his career, Del Shannon’s net worth was estimated to be around $5 million.
Children
Del Shannon had three children: Jody, Craig, and Kym.
Relevant Links
1. [Del Shannon – Rock and Roll Hall of Fame](https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/del-shannon
3. [Del Shannon – Runaway (YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0S13mP_pfEc
4. [Del Shannon on Wikipedia](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Del_Shannon
5. [Del Shannon Discography – Discogs](https://www.discogs.com/artist/268618-Del-Shannon
