- Jackie Lee Cochran
Jackie Lee Cochran (
February 5 ,1934 ,Dalton, Georgia -March 15 ,1998 ,Burbank, California ) was an Americanrockabilly musician, known as Jack the Cat.Biography
Cochran had a twin brother who died at the age of two. He began playing guitar at age six. His father was sentenced to 30 years in prison for
murder , and as a result Cochran spent much of his youth living with relatives inLouisiana ,Meridian, Mississippi , and with hisgrandmother inGadsden, Alabama .Cochran first began performing on the local music scene in Gadsden, which displeased his grandmother, who wanted him to join the military. She convinced him to enlist in the Air Force, where he was stationed in
San Antonio . He traveled each weekend toAbilene to play onSlim Willet 's radio show. This brought him to the attention of the managers of the "Big D Jamboree ", who had him perform on this program as well. He was then transferred toSelma, Alabama , where he founded the country group "The Flying C Ranch Boys". This group performed in local bars and restaurants, as well as on radio stationWBAM . He was dismissed from the Air Force in 1955, and following this he became a member ofJimmy Swan 's band inHattiesburg . In the mid-1950s he appeared onCliffie Stone 's "Hometown Jamboree " inLos Angeles . He began playingrockabilly shortly after hearingElvis Presley .Cochran hired manager Pat O'Donnell, who came up with Cochran's "Jack the Cat" name and image. Through O'Donnell, Cochran was offered a
recording contract withSims Records . His first singles for the label appeared in 1956. After further appearances on the "Big D Jamboree" he was asked to play on theSpade Cooley show inCalifornia . Despite O'Donnell's disapproval, Cochran moved to the West Coast and performed on the show. He then signed withDecca Records , and his single "Ruby Pearl" sold well and nearly hit the Billboard charts, but his manager let the Decca contract lapse, and the single fizzled before charting.After a short time with
Viv Records , Cochran took up work at theDouglas Aircraft Company and quit music for a time. He restarted his career during the rockabilly revival inEurope , releasing an album on Rollin' Rock Records in 1973 and touringNorway in 1981. He took up the nickname "Waukeen" in the 1970s as well. Further appearances in Europe followed, particularly in England, as did regular releases in the 1980s. He died in 1998 in his apartment in California at age 64.Discography
ingles
Albums
* 1973: "Swamp Fox"
* 1980: "Rockabilly Legend"
* 1981: "The Lonesome Drifter" (UK)
* 1985: "Fiddle Fit Man" (UK)
* 1993: "Jack The Cat" (GER, UK)
* 1997: "Rockabilly Music"
* 2005: "The 1985 Session" (UK)References
* [http://www.allmusic.com/cg/amg.dll?p=amg&sql=11:w9ftxqt5ldae~T2 Jackie Lee Cochran] at
Allmusic
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