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.
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