"Running Bear", the lovely story about Running Bear, a 'young indian brave', and Little White Dove, an 'indian maid' was written by Jiles Perry 'The Big Bopper' Richardson in 1958. The version by Johnny Preston was released in August 1959, seven months after Richardson's death in the plane crash that also killed Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens. The song featured background vocals by Richardson, George Jones, and producer Bill Hall, who provided the indian chanting of 'uga uga' during the three verses, as well as the 'indian war cries' at the start and end of the record. "Running Bear" reached the no.1 positions in the United States and United Kingdom.