Eddie Cochran - emma chalmers
Edward Raymond Cochran was born on October the 3rd in 1938 in Alberta Lea, Minnesota, USA. Eddie taught himself how to play the guitar, bass, piano and the drums.
Eddie started performing with Hank Cochran as the Cochran brothers, despite not being related. Cochran worked as a session musician and a songwriter and made a duet with Jerry Capehart who later became Cochrans manager. His first single was released in 1956 featuring Skinny Jim which is regarded as a rockabilly classic. Eddie also appeared in a few films ''The Girl Can't Help It'' and ''Untamed Youth''. Two of Eddies friends lost their lives while being on tour in a plane crash which then made Eddie very nervous to go on tour as he then began to believe he too would die young. Due to financial problems, Eddie was forced to go on tour in the UK and died in a traffic accident age 21. My personnel favourite song is Summertime Blues.
Eddie started performing with Hank Cochran as the Cochran brothers, despite not being related. Cochran worked as a session musician and a songwriter and made a duet with Jerry Capehart who later became Cochrans manager. His first single was released in 1956 featuring Skinny Jim which is regarded as a rockabilly classic. Eddie also appeared in a few films ''The Girl Can't Help It'' and ''Untamed Youth''. Two of Eddies friends lost their lives while being on tour in a plane crash which then made Eddie very nervous to go on tour as he then began to believe he too would die young. Due to financial problems, Eddie was forced to go on tour in the UK and died in a traffic accident age 21. My personnel favourite song is Summertime Blues.
Larry Williams - cailean spence
Larry Williams was born on the 10th of May in 1935 in New Orleans. He began playing piano at a young age and formed his first band called the ''Lemon Drops'' after moving to Oakland, California.
In 1954 he worked as Lloyd Prices' chauffeur. He began building a reputation for himself from playing piano in local bands. In 1955, Larry met Little Richards and they became good friends. From his connections with Little Richards and Lloyd Price, who were recording with specialty records, Larry met the producer Robert Blackwell and began recording. From 1957-1959, Larry had several hit singles including ''Bonie Moronie'', ''Bad Boy'' and ''Dizzy Miss Lizzy''. Williams lead a crazy lifestyle of partying and drug consumption which lead to Larry being sentenced to three years in jail from drug dealing and was dropped from the label. In 1963, he began recording again. He worked as a producer for Little Richard and the musical director of his live performances. He then created a band with Johnny ''Guitar'' Watson, experimenting with funk and soul but it failed to make any success. In the 1970's, Larry stopped playing music as his violent nature and drug habits began to take their toll.
Larry also began acting in films in the 1960's including ''Just For The Hell Of It'', ''The Klansman'' and ''Drum''. Larry Williams died aged 44 with a gunshot wound to the head, thought to be suicide.
In 1954 he worked as Lloyd Prices' chauffeur. He began building a reputation for himself from playing piano in local bands. In 1955, Larry met Little Richards and they became good friends. From his connections with Little Richards and Lloyd Price, who were recording with specialty records, Larry met the producer Robert Blackwell and began recording. From 1957-1959, Larry had several hit singles including ''Bonie Moronie'', ''Bad Boy'' and ''Dizzy Miss Lizzy''. Williams lead a crazy lifestyle of partying and drug consumption which lead to Larry being sentenced to three years in jail from drug dealing and was dropped from the label. In 1963, he began recording again. He worked as a producer for Little Richard and the musical director of his live performances. He then created a band with Johnny ''Guitar'' Watson, experimenting with funk and soul but it failed to make any success. In the 1970's, Larry stopped playing music as his violent nature and drug habits began to take their toll.
Larry also began acting in films in the 1960's including ''Just For The Hell Of It'', ''The Klansman'' and ''Drum''. Larry Williams died aged 44 with a gunshot wound to the head, thought to be suicide.
Buddy holly - brad young
Charles Hardin Holley was born on the 7th of September 1936 in Lubbock Texas. He was taught guitar by his brothers as well as other instruments. Buddy Holly was known as one of the biggest discoverers of the rock n roll movement. Buddy recorded three songs with Decca records including ''That'll Be The Day'' before he was dropped from the label due to the quality of the sessions. ''That'll Be The Day'' then topped the Billboards US best Sellers in store and was no.1 in the UK charts for 3 weeks. Buddy Holly died in a plane crash with three other rock n roll stars on February the 3rd in 1959.
Little Richard - Julia green
Born Richard Wayne Penniman on December the 5th in 1932 in Macon, Georgia. He had 12 siblings, Richard being the 3rd oldest. He was nicknamed 'Little Richard' due to being small and skinny. At the age of 13, his father threw Richard out of the house because he disapproved Richard's homosexuality. Richard then moved in with a white family and became involved with the church. This is where he found his talent when he started to play the piano. After failing to break into the industry with RCA he teamed up with Speciality Records. This then lead to him becoming the frontman playing piano for a group of musicians in New Orleans and in September of the same year, his career took off. Richard had a Billboard hit called 'Tutti Frutti' reaching No. 17. Later on, he gained more success with his song releases such as 'Long Tall Sally' and 'Good Golly Miss Molly'. Richard then gave up on rock n roll and turned to gospel music but then after The Beatles released 'Long Tall Sally' he returned.
In 1977, Richard turned away from rock n rock once again to embrace Christianity and became a bibles salesman and a preacher, after being involved with drugs and alcohol abuse.
In 1993, Richard was awarded with a 'Lifetime Achievement' award during the 35th Annual Grammy awards and then in 1994 received another 'Lifetime Achievement' award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
In 1977, Richard turned away from rock n rock once again to embrace Christianity and became a bibles salesman and a preacher, after being involved with drugs and alcohol abuse.
In 1993, Richard was awarded with a 'Lifetime Achievement' award during the 35th Annual Grammy awards and then in 1994 received another 'Lifetime Achievement' award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
Elvis Presley - Amy calvert
Elvis Aaron Presley was born on January the 8th in 1935 in Tupelo Mississippi. Known as the 'King of Rock N Roll' and was one of the most significant icons of the 20th centuries.
Elvis moved to Memphis, age 13, with his family and there is where his career in music started in 1954 when he started working with the owner of Sun Records, Sam Phillips.
'Heartbreak Hotel' which was Elvis's first debut single released in 1956, became number one in the US charts and he soon became a leading figure in the rock n roll scene after making a number of television appearances. Elvis's combination with music styles made him very popular with young black and white audiences and even more controversial with the older generations.
In the year of 1956, Elvis made his first film debut in 'Love Me tender' and in 1958 was put into the military service for two years which put his music career on hold which he resumed two years later.
At the age of 36, Elvis received the 'Grammy Life Time Achievement Award' and nominated for 14 Grammy awards, 3 of which he won. He has also been inducted into many Halls of Fame.
Elvis moved to Memphis, age 13, with his family and there is where his career in music started in 1954 when he started working with the owner of Sun Records, Sam Phillips.
'Heartbreak Hotel' which was Elvis's first debut single released in 1956, became number one in the US charts and he soon became a leading figure in the rock n roll scene after making a number of television appearances. Elvis's combination with music styles made him very popular with young black and white audiences and even more controversial with the older generations.
In the year of 1956, Elvis made his first film debut in 'Love Me tender' and in 1958 was put into the military service for two years which put his music career on hold which he resumed two years later.
At the age of 36, Elvis received the 'Grammy Life Time Achievement Award' and nominated for 14 Grammy awards, 3 of which he won. He has also been inducted into many Halls of Fame.
Roy orbison
Roy Kelton Orbison, also known as The Big O, was born on the 23rd of April in 1936, Vernon, Texas.
He received his first guitar from his father at the age of 6 and went on to make his first rockabilly band in school called 'The Wink Westerners' at the age of 13.
He was signed by Sun Records but didn't receive royalties for his songs apart from one, which frustrated him. He then quit music in 1958 for 7 months and toured around trying to make a living being financially supported by his family and friends. He then signed with Monument Records in the 1960s and here he had 22 of his songs in the Billboard top 40 including the song ''Oh, Pretty Woman''. He toured with artists such as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles and in 1988 made a super group which involved himself, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne calling it the 'Travelling Willbury's.
In 1987, Orbison was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and in the same year, inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Orbison's final performance was at The Front Row Theatre, Ohio, on the 4th of December in 1988. He died two days later from a heart attack, which is said to be from his hectic schedules.
He received his first guitar from his father at the age of 6 and went on to make his first rockabilly band in school called 'The Wink Westerners' at the age of 13.
He was signed by Sun Records but didn't receive royalties for his songs apart from one, which frustrated him. He then quit music in 1958 for 7 months and toured around trying to make a living being financially supported by his family and friends. He then signed with Monument Records in the 1960s and here he had 22 of his songs in the Billboard top 40 including the song ''Oh, Pretty Woman''. He toured with artists such as The Rolling Stones and The Beatles and in 1988 made a super group which involved himself, George Harrison, Bob Dylan, Tom Petty and Jeff Lynne calling it the 'Travelling Willbury's.
In 1987, Orbison was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and in the same year, inducted into the Nashville Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Orbison's final performance was at The Front Row Theatre, Ohio, on the 4th of December in 1988. He died two days later from a heart attack, which is said to be from his hectic schedules.
jerry lee lewis
Jerry Lee Lewis was born on the 29th of September in 1935, in Ferriday, Louisiana. He was nicknamed ''The Killer'' and is said to be Rock 'n' Rolls first great wild man.
Lewis grew up in a poor family began playing piano at a young age with two cousins. His parent then mortgaged their farm in order to buy Lewis a piano.
He was enrolled in Southwest Bible Institute by his mother but was thrown out because he played a boogie woogie song called ''My God Is Real''.
Lewis the began playing in clubs in his town and became apart of the new rock 'n' roll sound making his first demo in 1954. In 1956, Lewis began recording with Sun Records as a solo artist and session musician and by 1957 had hit songs including ''Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On'' and ''Great Balls of Fire''. He became internationally famous. Lewis played with artists such as Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash at Sun.
However, when Lewis's personnel life was leaked and the public found out about his marriage to his 13 year old first cousin, 22 year old Lewis was almost vanished from the music scene as he was blacklisted from the radio and dropped from shows. He was however, still under contract with Sun records and kept recording despite the scandal.
His contract with Sun Records ended in 1963 and he began recording with Smash Records which didn't move his career any further. In the late 1960s, Lewis released country ballads which brought back his popularity. Lewis then began appearing in films and in May 2013 he decided to open up a club on Beale Street in Memphis. Lewis is still making music to this day and lives on a ranch with his family in Nesbit, Mississippi.
Lewis grew up in a poor family began playing piano at a young age with two cousins. His parent then mortgaged their farm in order to buy Lewis a piano.
He was enrolled in Southwest Bible Institute by his mother but was thrown out because he played a boogie woogie song called ''My God Is Real''.
Lewis the began playing in clubs in his town and became apart of the new rock 'n' roll sound making his first demo in 1954. In 1956, Lewis began recording with Sun Records as a solo artist and session musician and by 1957 had hit songs including ''Whole Lotta Shakin' Goin' On'' and ''Great Balls of Fire''. He became internationally famous. Lewis played with artists such as Carl Perkins, Elvis Presley and Johnny Cash at Sun.
However, when Lewis's personnel life was leaked and the public found out about his marriage to his 13 year old first cousin, 22 year old Lewis was almost vanished from the music scene as he was blacklisted from the radio and dropped from shows. He was however, still under contract with Sun records and kept recording despite the scandal.
His contract with Sun Records ended in 1963 and he began recording with Smash Records which didn't move his career any further. In the late 1960s, Lewis released country ballads which brought back his popularity. Lewis then began appearing in films and in May 2013 he decided to open up a club on Beale Street in Memphis. Lewis is still making music to this day and lives on a ranch with his family in Nesbit, Mississippi.
bo diddley - scott morrow
Born Ellas Otha Bates on the 30th of December in 1928, in McComb, Mississippi. Diddley was a member of his local Baptist church playing the trombone and violin and then later joined the orchestra which he played in until he was 18. After watching John Lee Hooker perform at a concert, Diddley was inspired to become a musician and started playing guitar with friends on street corners.
He began playing in clubs and made recordings of his songs ''I'm A Man'' and ''Bo Diddley'' at Chess Studios. The records got released in March 1955 and ''Bo Diddley'' then became a number one R&B hit.
Diddley is known for his signature rectangular-bodied guitars, guitar playing style and unique voice. Diddley was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and received a Grammy from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Bo Diddley died on the 2nd of June in 2008 from heart failure.
He began playing in clubs and made recordings of his songs ''I'm A Man'' and ''Bo Diddley'' at Chess Studios. The records got released in March 1955 and ''Bo Diddley'' then became a number one R&B hit.
Diddley is known for his signature rectangular-bodied guitars, guitar playing style and unique voice. Diddley was inducted into the Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame and awarded with a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation and received a Grammy from the National Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences. Bo Diddley died on the 2nd of June in 2008 from heart failure.