'Ain't No Cure For the Summertime Blues'

Eddie Cochran was born on this day in 1938 in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.

Among the early rockers, Cochran showed a great deal of promise: he was good-looking, had a flexible voice which he used well, was an accomplished guitar player, had a great live act, and was an inventive songwriter, comfortable in a variety of pop music settings. He enjoyed a string of hits in both the U.S. and the UK beginning in 1957, including "C'mon Everybody" (referred to as the "[g]reatest party invitation of the rock and roll era" by critic Dave Marsh), "Cut Across Shorty," and the classic teen anthem, "Summertime Blues," featuring Eddie's deathless lyric, "I called my congressman and he said quote/'I'd like to help you, son, but you're too young to vote.'"

At the age of 22, following a successful UK concert tour, Cochran died in an auto accident on April 17, 1960 near Chippenham -- his fiance, songwriter Sharon Sheely, and fellow rocker Gene Vincent, both survived the crash but were seriously injured.

Posthumously, Cochran's songs continued to hit the charts until 1963.

Categories: Classic-Pop-Music