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EDDIE RAY COCHRAN
USA
(Everlasting)
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Eddie Ray Cochran
USA
Eddie Ray Cochran was born in Albert Lea, Minnesota on October
3, 1938 to Frank and Alice Cochran who were originally from Oklahoma City. He
had four older brothers and sisters: Gloria, Bill, Bob and Patty. The Great
Depression forced the Cochrans to move north to Minnesota. Eddie was the only
one in the family really interested in music. At the age of 12, he wanted to
join the school band as a drummer but opted for the trombone when he discovered
he would have to take piano lessons in order to play the drums!
His musical career had another twist when the director of the
school orchestra informed the family that Eddie didn't have the lip for the
trombone and suggested the clarinet instead. When he saw what the clarinet looked
like, he refused to consider it stating that he would quit the orchestra if
he could not play what he wanted. So, as his mother recalls, he asked his brother
Bob to show him some chords on Bills old Kay guitar that was not played very
often at the time. Then he got a chord book and seemed to just naturally take
it from there.
In 1951, the Cochrans decided to follow the golden trail to
California to join Bill that had already moved there after a hitch in the service.
Two cars totally packed up, Eddie would not part with his guitar. For pitys
sake Eddie, with all the other odds and ends we have to carry, that guitar isn't
the prized possession in this household, you know. Possession, Mom? This guitar
is my best friend!
In Bell Gardens, California, the new kid on the block focused
his attentions on the guitar to compensate for the lack of companionship. In
September 1951, he met Conrad Connie Smith. Connie shared the same musical interests
as Eddie and played the upright bass in the school orchestra. He was also competent
on the steel guitar and the mandolin. In late 1953, they formed a trio with
another student on lead guitar. They often practiced in a rehearsal room in
the back of a local music store (The Bell Garden Music Center) which owner Bert
Keither was very interested in Eddies music and would later sell him his legendary
sunburst Gretsch guitar. The trio started playing at parties, amateur gigs,
supermarket openings and other local affairs that would help them gain experience,
not to mention a few extra bucks!
After graduating from junior high school in 1954, Eddie actually
enrolled in high school but spent all of his time hanging out with local musicians
and jamming wherever he could, trying to realize his dream of quitting school
and earning his living as a musician.
The great country picker Chet Atkins was one of Eddies favorites
and mastering his complex bass-melody picking style with lightning speed helped
build Eddies incredible dexterity and versatility. Eddie was also very bright
and his natural curiosity drove him to research and experiment new sounds and
techniques. His mother claims that everything came easily to him, that he was
an honor student, and that there wasn't anything he couldnt play after hearing
it once or twice. All of his associates confirm this last point; Chuck Foreman
jammed with him in the early days: "When I met Eddie he couldnt have been
more than 15-16 years old, and we were listening to a lot of jazz in those days.
I remember we had old Johnny Smith Royal Roost 78 rpm records; Smith was playing
a lot of triads and this really fascinated Eddie. Hed say I wonder how in the
hell is he doing that and in no time at all, he was playing it. Eddie was very
aware, very astute, he retained things. He was playing a lot of Chet Atkins,
Joe Maphis he could duplicate all those Maphis high speed licks note-for-note
very easily".
In October 1954, Cochran walked into the American Legion Club
to watch a semi-pro band called Richard Kay and The Shamrock Valley Boys run
through their repertoire of Hillbilly standards. He coyly approached the members
of the band between sets and asked to join them on stage for a few numbers.
In such informal surroundings this was easily arranged and Eddie struck up a
lasting friendship with Bob Bull, the band's rhythm guitarist. Bull Asked Eddie
if he was related to a local singer named Hank Cochran who had recently gigged
with the band. Eddie had never heard of the other Cochran and Bull suggested
that the two should meet as Hank was trying to form a group.
Hank Cochran had come up the hard way which could explain why
he had chosen to live his life out of the limelight. By the time he and Eddie
met, he had turned professional and was working in clubs. Hank offered Eddie
a job as his accompanying guitarist, and in January 1955, Eddie left school
for good. He was only four months past his 16th birthday.
Fraternal duos were very popular in the country music field
at this time and as they shared the same surname and vaguely looked alike, the
two Cochrans decided to pool their talents and go on the road as the Cochran
Brothers, with Hank singing and playing rhythm guitar and Eddie on lead guitar
and vocal harmony. The group was augmented by an unknown bass player and Billy
Watson on guitar and vocals.
In the initial stages, the Cochrans lacked stagecraft. Eddie
had not previously given much thought to singing and their harmonies were ragged
while the difference in height between the two detracted from the visual appeal.
Nevertheless, with practice their act came together and they began to make their
presence felt on the West Coast country music circuit, which was much more receptive
to newcomers that its cliquey Nashville counterpart. In practice, this meant
making the rounds of country music dance halls and Western Jamborees which provided
regular entertainment for the local blue collar workers.
The most prestigious event on the coast was Cliffe Stones Hometown
Jamboree which was televised on KLAC every Sunday from the Legion Stadium in
El Monte followed closely by Town Hall Party in Compton, 25 miles south of Los
Angeles. Both shows featured visiting headliners supported by local acts and
promising newcomers.
Cliffe Stone was a shareholder in the Americana Music Corporation,
a booking agency run by Steve Stebbins, the leading country promoter on the
West Coast and a powerhouse on the local scene. Other well-known country singers
such as Eddie Kirk, Tennessee Ernie Ford and Merle Travis also held shares in
the agency which monopolized Californias country music circuit and snapped any
promising newcomers. The Cochran Brothers were added to its books in April 1955
at which point there was a dramatic improvement in their fortunes. They put
in appearances in both Town Hall Party and Hometown Jamboree and also appeared
on Country Barn Dance a more down market affair held in the 1000 capacity Jubilee
Ballroom, just west of El Monte.
Steve Stebbins arranged an immediate audition with EKKO Records,
one of the dozens of tiny independents scattered across Los Angeles. It was
owned by Ed Bloodworth and two partners, and its ambitions outweighed its budget.
Unable to sign up big names, it settled for small-time local acts such as the
Cochrans, Jess Willard, and Western Swing veterans from the previous decade.
EKKOs A&R man, Charles Red Mathews was based in Memphis where the company
had its main office, and would make periodic recording trips to California.
Assuming a managerial role as best he could, given that he was not locally based,
Mathews based his faith in the Cochrans and rehearsed them thoroughly prior
to recording.
In May 1955, at Sunset Records in Hollywood, he produced 4
tracks by the duo in the plaintive hillbilly style popularized by Hank Williams
and issued two of the titles, Mr. Fiddle and Two Blue Singing Stars as their
debut single. Vocally, Hank is stronger on these recordings and is ably supported
by Eddie who also plays some nice country-style guitar.
In the Autumn, Hank and Eddie were booked to appear on the
Big D Jamboree in Dallas. Broadcast locally on KRLD, the Big D ranked alongside
Nashvilles Opry as a prestigious country music showcase and was held every weekend
in the Dallas Sportatorium, a huge corrugated iron building that played host
to wrestling contests on weekdays...
Eddie Cochran
SUMMERTIME BLUES
I'm gonna raise a fuss, I'm gonna raise a holler
About a workin' all summer just to try to earn a dollar
Every time I call my baby, and try to get a date
My boss says, "No dice son, you gotta work late"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
Well my mom and pop told me, "Son you gotta make some money,
If you want to use the car to go ridin' next Sunday"
Well I didn't go to work, told the boss I was sick
"Well you can't use the car 'cause you didn't work a lick"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
I'm gonna take two weeks, gonna have a fine vacation
I'm gonna take my problem to the United Nations
Well I called my congressman and he said Quote:
"I'd like to help you son but you're too young to vote"
Sometimes I wonder what I'm a gonna do
But there ain't no cure for the summertime blues
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