Charles Weedon Westover was born December 30 th , 1934 in Grand Rapids, Michigan and grew up in the nearby farming town of Coopersville. At a young age, his mother taught him ukulele, but by age 14, he had gravitated to the guitar. The instrument became a part of him. He brought it everywhere, even school. After repeated episodes of getting kicked out of class for strumming, his principal sent him to the boy's locker room to play. This future rock legend changed his name to Del Shannon in 1958.