Richardson offered Preston the chance to record a teenage tragedy song he had written, "Running Bear", which they did in Houston, Texas, in 1958.

[7] The record was released after the Big Bopper's death in the same plane crash that killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens on 3 February 1959.

[5] Preston quickly followed up with another hit called "Cradle of Love," (Billboard #7, UK # 2) and made several other records during the early 1960s that met with modest success.

[9] Preston's "I'm Starting to Go Steady", a song on the flip side of "Feel So Fine", (Billboard #14, UK#18) was released in June 1960.

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.