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Eddie Cochran
1938-1960
Recording
Artist
Though he died at
a very young age, twenty-one, Eddie Cochran left a lasting
 mark
on early rock and roll as apioneer who helped map out the
territory with such defining songs such as "C'mon Everybody,
"Something Else," "Twenty Flight Rock,"
and "Summertime Blues." Cochran epitomized the sound
and the stance of the Fifties-bred rebel rocker. His twangy
guitar riffs and the defiant attitude of his songs made him
an icon for several generations of rock and rollers, from
the Beatles, the Rolling Stones and the Who, to punk-rockers
like the Sex Pistols.
It was a song of Cochran's that initially
brought John Lennon and Paul McCartney together in June 1957,
when the McCartney taught Lennon the chords to "Twenty
Flight Rock" at a church picnic where Lennon's Quarrymen
were playing. In the late Sixties, both the Who and Blue Cheer
cut memorable versions of "Summertime Blues," an
anthem of teen dischantment.
Edward Ray Cochrane was born on October
3, 1938 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. The family soon moved
to Albert Lea, Minnesota where they lived until moving to
California in 1951. In high school Eddie played in a Country
trio and his main influence at that time was Chet Atkins.
In 1954 he met and teamed up with Hank Cochran and they called
themselves the "Cochran Brothers," with Eddie dropping
the e from his name. By the time he was 16, Eddie was recognized
as having lightning-fast hands and phenomenal dexterity. Despite
their success it was clear that the two individuals had different
tastes. Hank's heart was always in country music but Eddie
was fast becoming engaged in the new rock and roll sounds
that were emerging at the time. They broke up in 1956.
A quick learner Eddie seemed to be the perfect
musician for a session guitarist. He soon was recording demos
for songwriters. He hooked up with Jerry Capehart and their
partnership was one of the most professional in early rock
and roll. They soon had a significant amount of songs and
Eddie was contracted to appear in the rock and roll movie
The Girl Can't Help It. An Elvis type role, this movie put
Eddie in the national limelight. Ironically, although his
wild, seemingly untamed image and unique sense of style are
evident in the film, as he performs "Twenty Flight Rock,"
Eddie was a different kind of performer from Elvis. He was
a thorough professional. Eddie could play drums & bass
and was proficient on piano as well as his obvious guitar
skills.
His first hit reached the charts in March
1957. Through the next two years he would have seven hits
with "Summertime Blues" reaching #8 in August 1958.
One reason for the continued popularity of Cochran's music,
apart from the songs themselves, was the sheer vibrancy of
the recordings. They were exceptionally clean. Recorded with
few overdubs in well-miked sessions that captured the action
of the instruments with beautiful clarity. When he toured
he named the backup band the "Kelly Four" in honor
of his Irish ancestry.
Eddie dated Sharon Sheeley who was also
Irish-American. She co-wrote Eddie's hit "Something Else"
with Eddie's brother Bob Cochrane. She also dated Don Everly
and is known for writing "Poor Little Fool" one
of Ricky Nelson's smash hits. She eventually co-wrote many
early rock hits with Jackie De Shannon.
Like so many stars during this time Eddie
was more popular in Britain and Europe than in America. By
1960 it seemed that in America the early rock and roll craze
had softened and now was being smothered by over-produced
schmaltz. England was still treating Eddie and all the other
rock and rockabilly stars as almost Gods. Eddie found his
playing respected and appreciated. After a long extended tour
in England Eddie was scheduled to return to the States. On
April 16, Eddie, Sharon and Gene Vincent, another early rocker,
set out for Heathrow Airport at 11:00 p.m. A tire blew out
and they smashed into a lamp-post. Eddie died a few hours
later. Sharon Sheeley & Gene Vincent were seriously injured
but recovered.
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