One of Rock and roll's first "legends" due to an early
accidental death, Eddie Cochran was an early performer of rockabilly music and one of its
most exciting and dynamic guitar players.
Born October 3, 1938 in Albert Lee, Minnesota, Eddie was the youngest of Alice and 
Frank
Cochran's five children. At age eleven his family moved to Bell Gardens, California to
join his brother Bill who had moved there when he got married after leaving the Military
Service.
At the age of 12 Cochran wanted to join the school orchestra as a drummer, opted for the trombone when he discovered that he would have to take piano lessons in order to play drums.
When the director of the school band informed the family that Eddie didn't have the
"lip" for trombone he suggested clarinet instead. Cochran refused to even
consider it and stated that 
he would quit the band
if he couldn't play what he wanted. He then asked his brother Bob to show him some chords
on Bill's old Kay guitar. Then he got a chord book and seemed to just naturally take it
from there".
In September 1951 he met Conrad Smith while attending junior high. Smith who shared the
same interest in music as Eddie played upright bass in the school band and
would later became his bass guitar player. In late 1953 they formed a trio together
with another student on lead guitar, Connie on steel guitar and Eddie playing rhythm. They
began playing country music as backup guitarists for singer Hank Cochran. Cochran
began recording in 1955 with Hank Cochran (no relation) and they toured as the Cochran
Brothers until 1956. After seeing Elvis Presley in Dallas in late 1955, Cochran switched
to rock and roll. Cochran demonstrated his skill as a rockabilly guitarists at number of
sessions in Los Angeles.
In the fall of 1956, while buying guitar strings in the Bell Gardens Music
Center Eddie was introduced to Jerry Capehart, would later become his mentor, manager and
co-writer.
Capehart who couldn't sing was looking to for someone to demo his songs. Eddie
said that he and Hank would for a small fee. Shortly thereafter, they recorded three or
four songs, but nothing came of these dubs. Capehart knowing he never make it as singer
attempted to form a relationship with the Cochrans by using them as a backing band and
offering to promote their careers. Eddie and Hank split up in 1956.
While recording background music for a low budget film Boris Petroff, the producer, asked
him to appear and sing his song "Twenty Flight Rock" in The Girl Can't Help,one
of the first color rock and roll movies. September 8th 1956 he was signed a one year
contract with Liberty Records. Cochran appeared in two other films: Untamed Youth in 1957
singing "Cotton Picker" and Go, Johnny, Go in 1959, singing Teenage
Heaven."
His first hit was a cover of "Sittin in the Balcony" by Johnny Dee, which had
strong regional sales. Cochran's more polished version won out charting at #18. Coming at
the same time as The Girl Can't Help It established Cochran on the rock and roll
scene.
June 11, 1958 "Summertime Blues" was released and then C'mon Everybody" both which were written by Cochran and Capehart. Cochran, an exceptionally talented guitarist, energetic stage performer, began touring extensively. A master of studio over dubbing Cochran sang all the parts on "C'mon Everybody" and "Summertime Blue".
In early 1960
he toured the United Kingdom with his girlfriend, songwriter Sharon Sheeley, and fellow
superstar performer Gene Vincent. The tour was a resounding
success. Outside of London on the way to the airport to return to the United States, their
cab was involved in a fatal accident in Chippenham, Wiltshire on April 17. Sheeley was not
seriously hurt, but Vincent sustained injuries that left him with a limp for the rest of
his life. Eddie Cochran was killed.
Eddie Cochran was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987
Eddie Cochran
We'll Always Remember
The Cochran Connection
Eddie Cochran Story
The Truth about Eddie Cochran
