Ray Edward "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an Americ… Read Full Bio ↴Ray Edward "Eddie" Cochran (October 3, 1938 - April 17, 1960) was an American singer, songwriter, and musician. With a charismatic voice that could switch effortlessly between smooth ballads and raucous rockabilly, Cochran epitomized the rebellious '50s rocker. Although killed in a tragic accident at the age of 21, the influence of his brief career, and life, was immeasurable, having inspired many of the greatest artists of the '60s. Cochran's distinctively rough, bass-driven singles (such as "C'mon Everybody", "Somethin' Else", and "Summertime Blues") have granted him the title of "grandfather of punk" by luminaries of the genre.
Ray Edward Cochran was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota; however, as his parents were from Oklahoma, he considered himself an Oklahoman, and introduced himself as such in interviews. He took music lessons in school, but eventually quit the band to play drums. Rather than take piano lessons, Cochran began learning guitar, playing the country music he heard on the radio. As time went on, Cochran moved to Los Angeles, California in 1953. Together with Hank Cochran, Eddie formed The Cochran Brothers, though the two shared no relation.
Around the same time, Cochran worked as a session musician, but aspired to be a songwriter and artist in his own right, and recorded a demo with songwriting partner and future manager, Jerry Capeheart. Cochran's first notable foray into the public eye was as one of the many performing artists featured in the musical comedy film The Girl Can't Help It starring Jayne Mansfield, eventually resulting in a recording contract with Liberty. He would follow up on this appearance by appearing in several films of the same genre. He also performed as a support act for such stars as Gene Vincent and Little Richard, who were among Cochran's co-stars in the aforementioned film.
For his recordings, Cochran often used experimental techniques that would later become part and parcel for other recording artists, notably recording numerous overdubs in order to create the rich, distinctive guitar sound for "Summertime Blues" and "C'mon Everybody". "Twenty Flight Rock", the song Cochran performed in The Girl Can't Help It, was the very first song a young Paul McCartney played for John Lennon as his audition for Lennon's group, The Quarrymen, which would later metamorphose into The Beatles.
Cochran was killed in an automobile accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England during a tour of Britain with Gene Vincent. Vincent and Cochran's fiancee, who were both in the car, survived the crash. Scholars have noted that, somewhat eerily, Cochran's last single release in his lifetime was "Three Steps to Heaven", although the song's lyrical context has nothing to do with death. Cochran's death occurred little over a year after the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, to whom he paid tribute in his recording of the song "Three Stars", which remained unreleased until 1966.
A majority of Cochran's recorded legacy would be released posthumously; in his lifetime, only one album, Singin' to My Baby (1957), was ever released. Perhaps owing to the brevity of his career, Cochran never attained the same star status as other rockers of the era; however, his lyrical themes of teenage desires and rebellion, being somewhat more morose and raucous than his contemporaries, had a profound influence on many of the greatest artists of the '60s and '70s, such as The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones.
Ray Edward Cochran was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota; however, as his parents were from Oklahoma, he considered himself an Oklahoman, and introduced himself as such in interviews. He took music lessons in school, but eventually quit the band to play drums. Rather than take piano lessons, Cochran began learning guitar, playing the country music he heard on the radio. As time went on, Cochran moved to Los Angeles, California in 1953. Together with Hank Cochran, Eddie formed The Cochran Brothers, though the two shared no relation.
Around the same time, Cochran worked as a session musician, but aspired to be a songwriter and artist in his own right, and recorded a demo with songwriting partner and future manager, Jerry Capeheart. Cochran's first notable foray into the public eye was as one of the many performing artists featured in the musical comedy film The Girl Can't Help It starring Jayne Mansfield, eventually resulting in a recording contract with Liberty. He would follow up on this appearance by appearing in several films of the same genre. He also performed as a support act for such stars as Gene Vincent and Little Richard, who were among Cochran's co-stars in the aforementioned film.
For his recordings, Cochran often used experimental techniques that would later become part and parcel for other recording artists, notably recording numerous overdubs in order to create the rich, distinctive guitar sound for "Summertime Blues" and "C'mon Everybody". "Twenty Flight Rock", the song Cochran performed in The Girl Can't Help It, was the very first song a young Paul McCartney played for John Lennon as his audition for Lennon's group, The Quarrymen, which would later metamorphose into The Beatles.
Cochran was killed in an automobile accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England during a tour of Britain with Gene Vincent. Vincent and Cochran's fiancee, who were both in the car, survived the crash. Scholars have noted that, somewhat eerily, Cochran's last single release in his lifetime was "Three Steps to Heaven", although the song's lyrical context has nothing to do with death. Cochran's death occurred little over a year after the plane crash that killed Buddy Holly, Ritchie Valens, and J.P. "The Big Bopper" Richardson, to whom he paid tribute in his recording of the song "Three Stars", which remained unreleased until 1966.
A majority of Cochran's recorded legacy would be released posthumously; in his lifetime, only one album, Singin' to My Baby (1957), was ever released. Perhaps owing to the brevity of his career, Cochran never attained the same star status as other rockers of the era; however, his lyrical themes of teenage desires and rebellion, being somewhat more morose and raucous than his contemporaries, had a profound influence on many of the greatest artists of the '60s and '70s, such as The Beatles, The Who, and The Rolling Stones.
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Eddie Cochran: The Liberty Years
Eddie Cochran Lyrics
Am i Blue Well am I blue, am I blue Ain't these tears in…
Blue Suede Shoes Well, it's one for the money Two for the show Three to…
Boll Weevil Song wah-hoo) well the boll weevil and the little black bug come …
C'mon Everybody Well c'mon everybody and let's get together tonight I got so…
Cherished Memories You're going away - away from me But here in my…
Completely Sweet Well completely sweet that's my baby Completely sweet, I don…
Cotton Picker Oh, you ain't a-gonna make a cottonpicker out of me (Bom-bom…
Cradle Baby Well, they call you cradle baby They say you're too young …
Cut Across Shorty Now a country boy called Shorty And a city boy named…
Dark Lonely Street Mmm... mmm ... mmm, this dark lonely street Here am I,…
Don't Ever Let Me Go Love me true, don't ever let me go Go from you,…
Drive In Show Come on, baby, to a drive-in show I know just the…
Hallelujah, I Love Her So let me tell you about a girl i know, she's my…
Have I Told You Lately That I Love You Have I told you lately that I love you Could I…
I Almost Lost My Mind Well when I lost my baby I almost lost my mind Well…
I Remember I keep thinkin', hopin' and prayin' That you will remember a…
I'm Alone Because I Love You I'm alone because I love you Love you with all my…
I've Waited so Long You are my loved one, you are my all Come to…
Jeanie, Jeanie, Jeanie Well Jeannie, Jeannie, Jeannie come and dance with me Well I…
Let's Get Together Well c'mon everybody and let's get together tonight I got so…
Little Lou Well she gets up in the morning With the roosters and…
Long Tall Sally Gonna tell Aunt Mary 'bout Uncle John Claimed he gettin' mar…
Love Again I'll never love again, love again, love again, oh—oh—oh—oh I…
Lovin' Time The breeze will tease the trees And whistle by the brook,…
Mean When I'm Mad You petrify me, a-baby, ooh, satisfy me, a-baby But don't de…
Nervous Breakdown I'm a-havin' a nervous breakdown A mental shakedown See my h…
Never Never, I know I'll never, oh ever grow tired of…
One Kiss Give me one kiss, one kiss, that's what I want…
Pocketful of Hearts A pocketful of hearts, a-baby you collect 'em A pocketful o…
Proud of You I'm just as proud as I can be And everytime you're…
Rock and Roll Blues Rock'n Roll blues Oh, dancing all night, so I have my…
Sittin' In the Balcony I'm just a-sittin' in the balcony Just a-watchin' the movie …
Somethin' Else A-look-a-there Here she comes Here comes that girl again Wan…
Stockin's 'n' Shoes Oh, my baby goes rockin', ooh, rockin' all night No shoes…
Summertime Blues I'm gonna raise a fuss, I'm gonna raise a holler About…
Sweetie Pie Well she's my sweetie pie and I love her so Well…
Teenage Cutie Teenage cutie, don't say maybe, you just gotta kiss me…
Teenage Heaven I want a house with a pool Shorter hours in school And…
Tell Me Why Tell me why the ivy twines? Tell me why the stars…
Teresa Hey Teresa, I saw you in school today This is what…
That's My Desire To spend one night with you in our old rendezvous, And…
Three Stars Look up in the sky Up towards the north There are three…
Twenty Flight Rock Ooh, well I got a girl with a record machine When…
Undying Love You're the world to me, until eternity It will always be,…
Weekend (La-la-la, la-la-la-la) (La-la-la, la-la-la-la) Friday nigh…