Richardson wrote “Running Bear” and gave it to Johnny Preston, a 20-year-old Texan rockabilly singer who’d never scored a hit before. As a rockabilly song, “Running Bear” checks all the ...

Johnny Preston, who had a No. 1 hit with the song “Running Bear” in 1960, died in Beaumont, Tex., on Friday (Mar. 4). He was 71. His death was confirmed by his son, Scott, who said Mr. Preston ...