Running Bear Article Index for
Running
Website Links For
Running
 

Information About

Running Bear




  Cover Running Bear Johnny Preston single coverJPG
  Caption ''Running Bear'' by Johnny Preston
  Artist Johnny Preston
  Length 2:39
  Label Mercury Records
  Producer Bill Hall
  Upper Caption Audio sample
  Audio File Running Bear by Johnny Prestonogg




Running Bear is a song written by J.P. Richardson (aka The Big Bopper ) sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959 . Preston first sang the song in 1959 with background vocals by Richardson and George Jones , and it was #1 on January 23 , January 30 and February 6 1960 .

Richardson was a friend of Preston's, and offered ''Running Bear'' to him after hearing him perform in a club. Preston recorded the song at the Gold Star Studios in Houston , Texas in 1958. The session's producer was Bill Hall with Preston on vocals, Link Davis on saxophone. Richardson, Hall, and Jones performed the song's Indian Chant s.

Preston was signed to Mercury Records , and ''Running Bear'' was released in August, 1959. It the reached number one in the UK and the US in 1960.


PLOT


''Running Bear'' tells the story of Running Bear, a "young Indian brave," and Little White Dove, an "indian maid."

Running Bear and Little White Dove are separated by their tribes hatred of each other and according to the lyrics, "their tribes fought with each other. So their love could never be."

Running Bear and Little White Dove are also separated by a raging river. In the end, they dive into the raging river for one last kiss. Then "the raging river pulled them down. Now they'll always be together. In their Happy Hunting Ground ."


ARTISTS

  • Johnny Preston had success with Running Bear in the 1960s .

  • Sonny James also had a country hit with his recording of the song in 1969, reaching No. 1.

  • The Guess Who included a cover of the song on their 1972 album Rockin' .

  • A live version by punk band Stiff Little Fingers appeared as a b-side on their 1980 single "At The Edge". The track was recorded in Aberdeen in October 1979.



REFERENCES



  Before " El Paso " by Marty Robbins
  Title Billboard Hot 100 Number One Single
  Years January 18 , 1960
  After " Teen Angel " by Mark Dinning


  Before " Poor Me " by Adam Faith
  Title UK Number One Single
  Years 17 March 1960 for (2 weeks)
  After " My Old Man's A Dustman " by Lonnie Donegan