Died On This Date (April 17, 1960) Eddie Cochran / Rock and Roll Pioneer
themusicsover Eddie Cochran
October 2, 1938 – April 17, 1960
Eddie Cochran was an American singer, songwriter and guitarist who was one of the early foundations on which rock and roll was built. He played a raved-up union of country and rock that was dubbed rockabilly. To many, he was the flash point of the genre. In 1956, Cochran performed “Twenty Flight Rock” in the film The Girl Can’t Help It. The song continues to be a staple for many of today’s rockabilly performers. Other classic recordings by Cochran include “C’mon Everybody,” and “Nervous Breakdown,” but it was his “Summertime Blues” that will always be remembered as his signature song. Rolling Stone ranked it #73 in their list of 500 Greatest Songs of All Time. Covered by countless acts, its most famous versions by Blue Cheer and the Who. Sadly, Eddie Cochran died when the taxi he was riding in crashed into a lamp-post while on tour in the UK. He was just 21 years old.
What You Should Own
Carlton Barrett was a reggae drummer and songwriter as well as brother of Aston “Family Man” Barrett. The Barrett brothers started out together, forming a session band first called Soul Mates, then Rhythm Force and finally the Hippy Boys that featured Max Romeo on vocals. By the early ’70s, the Hippy Boys were officially the house band for the great Lee “Scratch” Perry who renamed them the Upsetters. Barrett played behind Perry on some of reggae’s greatest instrumentals, such as “Clint Eastwood” and “Cold Sweat.” It was around this time that Barrett brothers met 
Chris Gaffney was a beloved member of the Americana music scene of Southern California and beyond. As a child he learned to play the accordion, which would later add a Norteño element to his music. But it was his guitar playing that would and song writing that would endeared him to such peers as Dave Alvin, with whom he played as part of the Guilty Men. Gaffney also released three solo albums and also co-formed the Hacienda Brothers with San Diego musician, Dave Gonzalez. Chris Gaffney died of liver cancer on April 17, 2008. He was 51.