Eddie Cochran

A Promising Career Cut Short

by Erika Cox

Eddie Cochran was poised to be the next big superstar in Rock and Roll music perhaps the next Elvis Presley of Rockabilly. However, that never happened. Unfortunately, like Buddy Holly who never saw his potential when he was killed in a plane accident at the young age of 22, Cochran’s career and life was cut short when he was killed in a car accident at the age of 22.

Eddie Cochran was born Edward Raymond Cochran on October 3, 1938 in Albert Lea, Minnesota his parents soon moved to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. His brother, Bill, taught Eddie the first couple of chords of the guitar when Eddie was a young boy. As a teenager, Eddie started rehearsing songs with friends and recording a few songs with local musicians.

In 1954, Eddie eventually met Hank Cochran, a local country singer and although the two singers are not related they started playing together and became known as the Cochran Brothers. Eddie played the guitar for the duo. In May 1955 at Sunset Records in Hollywood, the duo recorded a couple of songs that were released on Sunset’s affiliate, Ekko Records.

The songs Mr. Fiddle” and “Two Blue Singin’ Stars” received local success. The duo enjoyed being local stars and released two more songs, however, they had not yet hit it big nationally. Later that year, Eddie and Hank meet up with songwriter, Jerry Capehart, who was looking for a couple of artists to write songs for and from there things started to pick up. They made a demo tape and Jerry started promoting the group. The duo made many appearances at various shows including the Big D Jamboree. In 1956, a change in the duo’s musical style took place when the duo recorded a number of Rock and Roll songs on Cash Records.

The last song recorded by the duo was “Fool’s Paradise” afterward Hank left the group. Eddie continued to perform as a solo act. His style was energetic and rebellious giving him that Rock and Roll edge. He also had the looks and attitude to go along with the image of a true rock and roller.

In 1958, Eddie’s solo career started taking off he was asked by producer Boris Petroff to sing one of his popular songs in the movie “The Girl Can’t Help It”, and after his successful performance of “Twenty-Flight Rock” in the movie, Eddie signed a contract with Liberty Records. He went on to perform songs in two more films. Eddie’s career started somewhat differently then most Rock and Roll artists; he was able to perform his songs in a number of films that helped launch his music career. However, Eddie recorded only one album in his short career and that debut album “Singin’ to my Baby” released five songs.

Shortly after recording his album, Eddie went on tour with Gene Vincent and Little Richard, a tour that had Little Richard throwing his jewelry into the river and declaring that his sinful rock career was over. Interestingly, his popularity was much larger in the United Kingdom, Eddie’s only song to hit it big in the United States was “Summertime Blues” landing in the Top Ten on the charts.

Yet, he still performed in concerts with big names such as Chuck Berry, Bo Diddley, and Jackie Wilson, and he still performed songs in various movies. In 1960, he recorded his last session of songs before he left for England to appear in various television shows and also tour with his friend and tour mate, Gene Vincent.

While in England on their way to the airport, Eddie, Gene Vincent and Eddie’s girlfriend were in a terrible car accident. The taxi that they were traveling somehow lost control and crashed into a lamp post killing Eddie Cochran, Vincent and Eddie’s girlfriend were seriously injured. Shortly after his death, his last song went to number one in England.

Though he was not as popular in the United States (his death received little attention), he was a huge star in England and his success was enormous there. In England, he was often compared to Elvis and was seen as Britain’s version of Elvis. His huge impact eventually made it to the United States and he is considered to have had a major influence in the rock world. Eddie Cochran was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1987 and was recognized in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

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