Difference between revisions of "Eddie Cochran" - New World Encyclopedia
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| − | '''Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran''' (October 3, 1938 | + | '''Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran''' (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an [[United States of America|American]] [[rock-and-roll]] musician and an important influence on popular music during the late 1950s, early 60s. Although his promising [[career]] was cut short at age 21, Cochran made left a memorable impression on rock [[history]] with compelling songs like "Summertime Blues." |
| − | The [[duet]] split split up the next [[year]], and Cochran began a song-writing career with [[Jerry Capeheart]]. Later, while they were recording [[music]] for a low-budget [[film]], | + | [[Oklahoma]] born, he lived in [[Minnesota]] until 1949, then moved with his family to Bell Gardens, [[California]]. There, he taught himself to play [[blues]] [[guitar]], later teaming up with guitarist [[Hank Cochran]] (no relation), with whom he began recording in 1955 as the Cochran [[Brothers]]. The [[duet]] split split up the next [[year]], and Cochran began a song-writing career with [[Jerry Capeheart]]. Later, while they were recording [[music]] for a low-budget [[film]], producer [[Boris Petroff]] asked him to perform his [[song]] “Twenty Flight Rock” in another [[movie]] he was making: ''The Girl Can’t Help It'', with [[Jayne Mansfield]]. Soon after, [[Liberty Records]] signed Cochran to a [[contract]]. |
| − | + | Cochran's first hit was “Sittin’ in the Balcony," reaching number 18 on the pop charts in 1957. The following year, his good-natured [[anthem]] celebrating teenage [[boredom]], “Summertime Blues,” made the Top 10 and became a [[rock and roll]] classic. Since them, it has also made the record charts in cover versions by the [[Who]] and [[Blue Cheer]]. Two additional hits, “C’mon Everybody” (number 35, 1958) and “Somethin’ Else” (number 58, 1959), established Cochran as a [[star]], particularly in [[England]]. | |
| − | Cochran was 21 when he died on April 17, 1960, in an [[auto]] [[accident]] en route to the [[London]] [[airport]]. In 1987, | + | Cochran was 21 when he died on April 17, 1960, in an [[auto]] [[accident]] en route to the [[London]] [[airport]]. In 1987, he was inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]]. |
== Early life and career == | == Early life and career == | ||
| − | Cochran was born in [[Albert Lea, Minnesota]] | + | Cochran was born in [[Albert Lea, Minnesota]] as Ray Edward Cochran. He took music lessons in school but quit the school band to play [[drum]]s. He also eschewed taking piano lessons and took up the guitar, playing the country music he heard on the radio. In 1955, Cochran's family moved to [[Bell Gardens, California]]. As his guitar playing improved, he formed a band with two friends from his [[junior high school]]. |
| − | + | During a show featuring many performers at an [[American Legion]] hall, Eddie met [[Hank Cochran]] (later a noted [[country-music]] songwriter). Although they were not related, they began performing together and recorded as The Cochran Brothers. Eddie also worked as a session musician and began writing songs, making a "demo" with [[Jerry Capehart]], his future [[music manager|manager]]. | |
| − | |||
| − | Later, Cochran moved to a 1956 [[Gretsch 6120]] [[Chet Atkins]] Western model, which Eddie had modified | + | When playing with Hank Cochran, Eddie Cochran played a [[Gibson Guitar Corporation|Gibson]] electric-acoustic guitar with a single florentine cutaway. This guitar featured a pair of Gibson [[P-90|P90 pickups]], sometimes called 'dog ear' pickups due to their shape. Later, Cochran moved to a 1956 [[Gretsch 6120]] [[Chet Atkins]] Western model, which Eddie had modified, replacing the neck position De Armond Dynasonic pickup with a black covered Gibson P-90 pickup. He also used acoustic guitars. |
==Solo success== | ==Solo success== | ||
| − | In 1956 | + | In 1956 Cochran was invited to appear in the musical-comedy film ''[[The Girl Can't Help It]]'' starring Jane Mansfield and featuring performances of early [[rock and roll]] stars Gene Vincent and Little Richard, who sang the title sang. Cochran performed a song called "[[Twenty Flight Rock]]" in the movie. In 1957, Cochran had a role in another film in his second film, ''[[Untamed Youth]]'' and also had his first hit, "[[Sittin' in the Balcony]]," written by [[John D. Loudermilk]]. |
| − | + | Cochran followed this with what would become his most famous hit, "[[Summertime Blues]]" co-written with [[Jerry Capehart]]. The song, released on [[Liberty Records]], charted number eight on August 25, 1958, after receiving massive air play throughout the summer. It would play an important influence on the rock music of the late 50s, both lyrically and musically, and has since been widely covered and used in numerous movie soundtracks. A light-hearted expression of teenage boredom, the concluding line of the song's final verse was a classic expression of naive political alienation: "I called my congressman and he said 'Woah: I'd like to help you son, but you're too young to vote.'" | |
| − | Continually touring, Cochran was backed by the [[Kelly Four]] | + | Continually touring, Cochran was backed by the [[Kelly Four]], including bassist [[Connie Smith]], who was later replaced by [[Dave Schrieber]]; drummer [[Gene Ridgio]]; and a series of pianists and saxophonists). A highly talented guitarist, Cochran was energetic [[stage]] [[performer]] as well as an early expert at [[studio]] [[overdubbing]], whereby was able to play and sing all the parts on several of his songs. |
| + | |||
| + | Cochran's brief career included only a few more hits, such as "[[C'mon Everybody]]," "[[Somethin' Else (Eddie Cochran song)|Somethin' Else]]," "My Way," "Weekend," "Nervous Breakdown," and his posthumous [[United Kingdom|UK]] number-one hit "[[Three Steps to Heaven (song)|Three Steps to Heaven]]." | ||
==Death== | ==Death== | ||
| − | On Saturday, April 16, 1960, at about 11:50 p.m., while on tour in the [[United Kingdom]], 21-year-old Cochran died in a traffic accident in a taxi | + | On Saturday, April 16, 1960, at about 11:50 p.m., while on tour in the [[United Kingdom]], 21-year-old Cochran died in a traffic accident in a taxi, a [[Ford Consul]]—not, as widely reported, a London [[Hackney carriage]]—traveling through [[Chippenham, Wiltshire]], [[England]] on the [[A4 road|A4]]. The taxi crashed into a lamppost on Rowden Hill, where a plaque now commemorates the event. No other car was involved. |
| − | + | He was taken to St. Martin's Hospital, [[Bath, Somerset|Bath]], but died at 4:10 p.m. the following day. Also injured in the crash were fellow rock performer [[Gene Vincent]] and Cochran’s fiancée, [[Sharon Sheeley]], cowriter of “Somethin’ Else” and composer of [[Rick Nelson]]’s 1958 number-one hit, “Poor Little Fool.” | |
| − | The car and other items from the crash were impounded at the local police station until a coroners' inquest could be held. | + | The car and other items from the crash were impounded at the local police station until a coroners' inquest could be held. The taxi driver, George Martin, was convicted of dangerous driving, fined £50, disqualified from driving for 15 years, and sent to [[prison]] for six months. |
| − | + | ==Legacy== | |
| − | + | Eddie Cochran is interred in the [[Forest Lawn Memorial-Parks & Mortuaries|Forest Lawn Memorial Park]] in [[Cypress, California]]. A posthumous album, ''[[My Way (Eddie Cochran album)|My Way]]'', was released in 1964. | |
| − | |||
| − | Cochran | + | One of the first rock androll artists to write his own songs and overdub tracks, Cochran had an innovative technique of aligning the bass and guitar to the same [[harmonic frequency]]. Artists such as [[The Who]], [[The Beach Boys]], [[Blue Cheer]], [[Led Zeppelin]], [[The White Stripes]], [[The Sex Pistols]], [[Rush (band)|Rush]], [[Tiger Army]], [[Paul McCartney]], and [[Alan Jackson]] have covered his songs. Glam-rock artist [[Marc Bolan]] had his main [[Gibson Les Paul|Les Paul]] model refinished in an transparent orange to resemble the Gretsch 6120 guitar played by Cochran, who was his music hero. Cochran was also a heavy influence on the nascent rockabilly guitar legend Brian Setzer from [[Stray Cats]]. |
| − | One of his posthumous releases was "[[Three Stars (song)|Three Stars]]," a tribute to J.P. Richardson, better known as [[The Big Bopper]], and Eddie's friends [[Buddy Holly]] and [[Ritchie Valens]], who had all died together in a plane crash just one year earlier. Cochran's voice breaks during the lyrics about Valens and Holly. | + | Cochran was a prolific performer in his short career, and the British Label [[Rockstar Records]] has released more of his music posthumously than had been released during his life. The company is still looking for unpublished songs. One of his posthumous releases was "[[Three Stars (song)|Three Stars]]," a tribute to J.P. Richardson, better known as [[The Big Bopper]], and Eddie's friends [[Buddy Holly]] and [[Ritchie Valens]], who had all died together in a plane crash just one year earlier. Cochran's voice breaks during the lyrics about Valens and Holly. |
| − | Cochran's pioneering contribution to the genre of [[rockabilly]] has also been | + | Cochran's pioneering contribution to the genre of [[rockabilly]] has also been recognized by the [[Rockabilly Hall of Fame]]. Several of his songs have been re-released since his death, such as "C'Mon Everybody," which was a number-14 hit in 1988 in the [[United Kingdom|UK]]. |
===Discography=== | ===Discography=== | ||
Revision as of 04:46, 8 February 2009
| Eddie Cochran | |
|---|---|
| File:Eddiecochrane.jpg | |
| Background information | |
| Birth name | Raymond Edward Cochran |
| Born | October 3 1938 Albert Lea, Minnesota |
| Died | April 17 1960 (aged 21) Bath, Somerset, England |
| Genre(s) | rock and roll, rockabilly |
| Occupation(s) | Singer-songwriter, Guitarist |
| Instrument(s) | Guitar |
| Years active | 1953 - 1960 |
| Label(s) | Liberty |
| Notable instrument(s) | |
| Gretsch 6120 | |
Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an American rock-and-roll musician and an important influence on popular music during the late 1950s, early 60s. Although his promising career was cut short at age 21, Cochran made left a memorable impression on rock history with compelling songs like "Summertime Blues."
Oklahoma born, he lived in Minnesota until 1949, then moved with his family to Bell Gardens, California. There, he taught himself to play blues guitar, later teaming up with guitarist Hank Cochran (no relation), with whom he began recording in 1955 as the Cochran Brothers. The duet split split up the next year, and Cochran began a song-writing career with Jerry Capeheart. Later, while they were recording music for a low-budget film, producer Boris Petroff asked him to perform his song “Twenty Flight Rock” in another movie he was making: The Girl Can’t Help It, with Jayne Mansfield. Soon after, Liberty Records signed Cochran to a contract.
Cochran's first hit was “Sittin’ in the Balcony," reaching number 18 on the pop charts in 1957. The following year, his good-natured anthem celebrating teenage boredom, “Summertime Blues,” made the Top 10 and became a rock and roll classic. Since them, it has also made the record charts in cover versions by the Who and Blue Cheer. Two additional hits, “C’mon Everybody” (number 35, 1958) and “Somethin’ Else” (number 58, 1959), established Cochran as a star, particularly in England.
Cochran was 21 when he died on April 17, 1960, in an auto accident en route to the London airport. In 1987, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Early life and career
Cochran was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota as Ray Edward Cochran. He took music lessons in school but quit the school band to play drums. He also eschewed taking piano lessons and took up the guitar, playing the country music he heard on the radio. In 1955, Cochran's family moved to Bell Gardens, California. As his guitar playing improved, he formed a band with two friends from his junior high school.
During a show featuring many performers at an American Legion hall, Eddie met Hank Cochran (later a noted country-music songwriter). Although they were not related, they began performing together and recorded as The Cochran Brothers. Eddie also worked as a session musician and began writing songs, making a "demo" with Jerry Capehart, his future manager.
When playing with Hank Cochran, Eddie Cochran played a Gibson electric-acoustic guitar with a single florentine cutaway. This guitar featured a pair of Gibson P90 pickups, sometimes called 'dog ear' pickups due to their shape. Later, Cochran moved to a 1956 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins Western model, which Eddie had modified, replacing the neck position De Armond Dynasonic pickup with a black covered Gibson P-90 pickup. He also used acoustic guitars.
Solo success
In 1956 Cochran was invited to appear in the musical-comedy film The Girl Can't Help It starring Jane Mansfield and featuring performances of early rock and roll stars Gene Vincent and Little Richard, who sang the title sang. Cochran performed a song called "Twenty Flight Rock" in the movie. In 1957, Cochran had a role in another film in his second film, Untamed Youth and also had his first hit, "Sittin' in the Balcony," written by John D. Loudermilk.
Cochran followed this with what would become his most famous hit, "Summertime Blues" co-written with Jerry Capehart. The song, released on Liberty Records, charted number eight on August 25, 1958, after receiving massive air play throughout the summer. It would play an important influence on the rock music of the late 50s, both lyrically and musically, and has since been widely covered and used in numerous movie soundtracks. A light-hearted expression of teenage boredom, the concluding line of the song's final verse was a classic expression of naive political alienation: "I called my congressman and he said 'Woah: I'd like to help you son, but you're too young to vote.'"
Continually touring, Cochran was backed by the Kelly Four, including bassist Connie Smith, who was later replaced by Dave Schrieber; drummer Gene Ridgio; and a series of pianists and saxophonists). A highly talented guitarist, Cochran was energetic stage performer as well as an early expert at studio overdubbing, whereby was able to play and sing all the parts on several of his songs.
Cochran's brief career included only a few more hits, such as "C'mon Everybody," "Somethin' Else," "My Way," "Weekend," "Nervous Breakdown," and his posthumous UK number-one hit "Three Steps to Heaven."
Death
On Saturday, April 16, 1960, at about 11:50 p.m., while on tour in the United Kingdom, 21-year-old Cochran died in a traffic accident in a taxi, a Ford Consul—not, as widely reported, a London Hackney carriage—traveling through Chippenham, Wiltshire, England on the A4. The taxi crashed into a lamppost on Rowden Hill, where a plaque now commemorates the event. No other car was involved.
He was taken to St. Martin's Hospital, Bath, but died at 4:10 p.m. the following day. Also injured in the crash were fellow rock performer Gene Vincent and Cochran’s fiancée, Sharon Sheeley, cowriter of “Somethin’ Else” and composer of Rick Nelson’s 1958 number-one hit, “Poor Little Fool.”
The car and other items from the crash were impounded at the local police station until a coroners' inquest could be held. The taxi driver, George Martin, was convicted of dangerous driving, fined £50, disqualified from driving for 15 years, and sent to prison for six months.
Legacy
Eddie Cochran is interred in the Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Cypress, California. A posthumous album, My Way, was released in 1964.
One of the first rock androll artists to write his own songs and overdub tracks, Cochran had an innovative technique of aligning the bass and guitar to the same harmonic frequency. Artists such as The Who, The Beach Boys, Blue Cheer, Led Zeppelin, The White Stripes, The Sex Pistols, Rush, Tiger Army, Paul McCartney, and Alan Jackson have covered his songs. Glam-rock artist Marc Bolan had his main Les Paul model refinished in an transparent orange to resemble the Gretsch 6120 guitar played by Cochran, who was his music hero. Cochran was also a heavy influence on the nascent rockabilly guitar legend Brian Setzer from Stray Cats.
Cochran was a prolific performer in his short career, and the British Label Rockstar Records has released more of his music posthumously than had been released during his life. The company is still looking for unpublished songs. One of his posthumous releases was "Three Stars," a tribute to J.P. Richardson, better known as The Big Bopper, and Eddie's friends Buddy Holly and Ritchie Valens, who had all died together in a plane crash just one year earlier. Cochran's voice breaks during the lyrics about Valens and Holly.
Cochran's pioneering contribution to the genre of rockabilly has also been recognized by the Rockabilly Hall of Fame. Several of his songs have been re-released since his death, such as "C'Mon Everybody," which was a number-14 hit in 1988 in the UK.
Discography
http://www.hotshotdigital.com/artist/eddie_cochran/discography/
Notes
ReferencesISBN links support NWE through referral fees
- Cochran, Bobby, and Van Hecke, Susan. Three Steps to Heaven: The Eddie Cochran Story. Milwaukee, Wisc.: Hal Leonard, 2003. ISBN 978-0634032523
- Collis, Joan. Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran: Rock 'n' Roll Revolutionaries. London: Virgin Books, 2004. ISBN 978-1852271930
- Muir, Eddie, and Scott, Tony. Somethin' Else: A Tribute to Eddie Cochran. Prescot, Merseyside, UK: V.R.R.A.S., 1979. OCLC 20730118
- Mundy, Julie, and Higham. Don't Forget Me: The Eddie Cochran Story. New York: Billboard Books, 2001. ISBN 978-0823079315
- Padua, José. The Eddie Cochran Story. Washington, D.C.: P.O.N. Press, 1990. OCLC 45892191
- Rolling Stone Magazine. The Rolling Stone Illustrated History of Rock and Roll: The Definitive History of the Most Important Artists and Their Music. New York: Random House, 1992. ISBN 978-0679737285
- Williams, Dave. Rock and Roll Memories: Eddie Cochran. London: D. Williams, 2000. OCLC 45307997
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