Cochran, Eddie (1938–1960)

US rock-and-roll singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He created classic rock songs like ‘Summertime Blues’ (1958) and ‘C'mon Everybody’ (1959) as well as slower romantic numbers such as ‘Dark, Lonely Street’ (1958) and ‘Three Steps to Heaven’ (1960).

Cochran was born in Oklahoma but began his career in Los Angeles as a session musician. His first record was ‘Skinny Jim’ (1956), and he appeared in the 1956 film The Girl Can't Help It singing ‘Twenty Flight Rock’. He was killed in a car crash while touring the UK with fellow rocker Gene Vincent (1935–1971).