Born in
Port Arthur,
Texas, The "Indian" sounds on the record were performed by Richardson and
George Jones. The record was released after the Big Bopper's
death in the same plane crash that killed
Buddy Holly and
Ritchie Valens on February 3, 1959. It entered the U.S.
Billboard Hot 100 in October 1959, reaching number one in January 1960 and remaining there for three weeks. Preston had
coronary artery bypass surgery in 2010. Preston was buried at Oak Bluff Memorial Park in
Port Neches, Texas. A tribute concert was performed on November 5, 2011, featuring guest artists Gene Bourgeois,
Johnny Tillotson,
Dickey Lee, and
Chris Montez, along with Lamar State College - Port Arthur's touring band, under the direction of Aaron Horne. ==Discography==