Who sang on the banks of the river?
"Running Bear" is a song written by Jiles Perry Richardson (a.k.a. The Big Bopper) and sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959. The 1959 recording featured background vocals by Richardson, George Jones, and the session's 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. It was No. 1 for three weeks in January 1960 on the ""Billboard" Hot 100" in the United States. The song also reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1960. Coincidentally, "Running Bear" was immediately preceded in the Hot 100 No. 1 position by Marty Robbins' "El Paso", another song in which the protagonist dies. "Billboard" ranked "Running Bear" as the No. 4 song of 1960.
Who sang background on the 1959 song with lyrics on the banks of the river?
Jiles Perry Richardson The Big Bopper Richardson, George Jones, and the session's producer Bill Hall
Running Bear
Bing Crosby included the song in a medley on his album 'Join Bing and Sing Along" (1959)
Who famously sang on the banks of the Wabash on his 1959 album?
Bing Crosby
On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
"Running Bear" is a song written by Jiles Perry Richardson (a.k.a. The Big Bopper) and sung most famously by Johnny Preston in 1959. The 1959 recording featured background vocals by Richardson, George Jones, and the session's 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. It was No. 1 for three weeks in January 1960 on the ""Billboard" Hot 100" in the United States. The song also reached No. 1 in the UK Singles Chart in 1960. Coincidentally, "Running Bear" was immediately preceded in the Hot 100 No. 1 position by Marty Robbins' "El Paso", another song in which the protagonist dies. "Billboard" ranked "Running Bear" as the No. 4 song of 1960.
Who famously sang lead on the 1959 song with lyrics on the banks of the river?
Johnny Preston
Running Bear
On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On%20the%20Banks%20of%20the%20Wabash%2C%20Far%20Away
On the Banks of the River of Heaven
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/On%20the%20Banks%20of%20the%20River%20of%20Heaven
Running Bear
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Running%20Bear
On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away" was among the best-selling songs of the 19th century, earning over $100,000 from sheet-music revenues. Written and composed by American songwriter Paul Dresser, it was published by the Tin Pan Alley firm of Howley, Haviland and Company in October 1897. 
On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away
There are several songs which contain the words "on the banks of the river." One of them is the 1959 song, "Running Bear," written by Jiles Perry Richardson, a.k.a. The Big Bopper, and sung by Johnny Preston.  The recording featured background vocals by Richardson, George Jones, and the session's producer, Bill Hall.  Another possible song containing those lyrics is "On the Banks of the Wabash, Far Away," which was one of the best-selling songs of the 19th Century, published in October 1897.  It was famously sung by Bing Crosby in 1959 on his album, "Join Bing and Sing Along."