Uploaded July 2015 | Updated September 2026, 1 hour ago
"Little Town Flirt", recorded by the late Del Shannon (stage name) in 1962, reached the #12 spot as a single on the U.S. chart in 1963. Initially, the song was being written for a female Detroit group called The Young Sisters, but was given to Shannon who helped co-rewrite some of the lyrics. The Young Sisters were then used as the backup in the song, and also sang backup in the next four songs recorded by Shannon. The self-taught singer, and later songwriter, Del grew up listening to the great country & western greats of his day, and taught himself how to play the uke, and a five dollar guitar using cardboard picks. He later bought himself a Sears electric guitar that he played constantly and experimented in different sound techniques. After a tour in the Army and then working at some labor jobs, he began writing and recording songs and kept reinventing himself which allowed him to maintain chart success even in the wake of the British Invasion. Del was mostly known for his #1 hit "Runaway" and his high-energy falsetto vocal style. Shannon enjoyed even more popularity in the UK during his career. In 1963, he became the first American to record a cover version of "From Me to You" which charted in the US before the Beatles' version. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award posthumously in 2002.
"Little Town Flirt", recorded by the late Del Shannon (stage name) in 1962, reached the #12 spot as a single on the U.S. chart in 1963. Initially, the song was being written for a female Detroit group called The Young Sisters, but was given to Shannon who helped co-rewrite some of the lyrics. The Young Sisters were then used as the backup in the song, and also sang backup in the next four songs recorded by Shannon. The self-taught singer, and later songwriter, Del grew up listening to the great country & western greats of his day, and taught himself how to play the uke, and a five dollar guitar using cardboard picks. He later bought himself a Sears electric guitar that he played constantly and experimented in different sound techniques. After a tour in the Army and then working at some labor jobs, he began writing and recording songs and kept reinventing himself which allowed him to maintain chart success even in the wake of the British Invasion. Del was mostly known for his #1 hit "Runaway" and his high-energy falsetto vocal style. Shannon enjoyed even more popularity in the UK during his career. In 1963, he became the first American to record a cover version of "From Me to You" which charted in the US before the Beatles' version. He was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1999 and was given a Grammy Hall of Fame Award posthumously in 2002.
