Jackie Lee Cochran
Encyclopedia
Jackie Lee Cochran was an American rockabilly
musician, known as Jack the Cat.
, and as a result Cochran spent much of his youth living with relatives in Louisiana
, Meridian, Mississippi
, and with his grandmother in Gadsden, 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 to Abilene
to play on Slim 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 to Selma, 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 station WBAM. He was dismissed from the Air Force in 1955, and following this he became a member of Jimmy Swan
's band in Hattiesburg. In the mid-1950s he appeared on Cliffie Stone
's Hometown Jamboree
in Los Angeles
. He began playing rockabilly
shortly after hearing Elvis 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
with Sims Records
. His first singles for the label appeared in 1956. After further appearances on the Big D Jamboree he was asked to play on the Spade Cooley
show in California
. Despite O'Donnell's disapproval, Cochran moved to the West Coast and performed on the show. He then signed with Decca 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 the Douglas Aircraft Company
and quit music for a time. He restarted his career during the rockabilly revival in Europe
, releasing three albums on Rollin' Rock Records in 1973 and touring Norway
in 1981. He took up the nickname "Waukeen" in the 1970s as well, a name given to him by his native American grandmother. In 1985 the German record label Hydra released a successful compilation of his early recordings (later on CD) "Jack The Cat - The Jackie Lee Cochran Story". To promote the album the label boss Klaus Kettner put together a European tour for Jackie Lee Cochran which was so successful, that they teamed up for all the following tours until his passing. He recorded new material for Hydra Records and Ace Records. He died in 1998 in his apartment in California at age 64.
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
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 murderMurder
Murder is the unlawful killing, with malice aforethought, of another human being, and generally this state of mind distinguishes murder from other forms of unlawful homicide...
, and as a result Cochran spent much of his youth living with relatives in Louisiana
Louisiana
Louisiana is a state located in the southern region of the United States of America. Its capital is Baton Rouge and largest city is New Orleans. Louisiana is the only state in the U.S. with political subdivisions termed parishes, which are local governments equivalent to counties...
, Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian, Mississippi
Meridian is the county seat of Lauderdale County, Mississippi. It is the sixth largest city in the state and the principal city of the Meridian, Mississippi Micropolitan Statistical Area...
, and with his grandmother in Gadsden, Alabama
Gadsden, Alabama
The city of Gadsden is the county seat of Etowah County in the U.S. state of Alabama, and it is located about 65 miles northeast of Birmingham, Alabama. It is the primary city of the Gadsden Metropolitan Statistical Area, which has a population of 103,459. Gadsden is closely associated with the...
.
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 to Abilene
Abilene, Texas
Abilene is a city in Taylor and Jones counties in west central Texas. The population was 117,063 at the 2010 census. It is the principal city of the Abilene Metropolitan Statistical Area, which had a 2006 estimated population of 158,063. It is the county seat of Taylor County...
to play on Slim Willet
Slim Willet
Slim Willet was an American disc jockey, musician, and songwriter....
's radio show. This brought him to the attention of the managers of the Big D Jamboree
Big D Jamboree
Big D Jamboree was an American radio program broadcast by KRLD-AM in Dallas, Texas. The show consisted of appearances by famous country musicians as well as sketch comedy and jokes. It was also carried by KRLD-TV during the 1950s.-History:...
, who had him perform on this program as well. He was then transferred to Selma, Alabama
Selma, Alabama
Selma is a city in and the county seat of Dallas County, Alabama, United States, located on the banks of the Alabama River. The population was 20,512 at the 2000 census....
, where he founded the country group The Flying C Ranch Boys. This group performed in local bars and restaurants, as well as on radio station WBAM. He was dismissed from the Air Force in 1955, and following this he became a member of Jimmy Swan
Jimmy Swan
Jimmy Swan was an American country musician.Swan came from a rural Alabama farming family; his father abandoned the family when Swan was very young, and he was brought up in Birmingham. His mother died in the late 1920s, and he was destitute for most of his teenage years...
's band in Hattiesburg. In the mid-1950s he appeared on Cliffie Stone
Cliffie Stone
Cliffie Stone , born Clifford Gilpin Snyder, was an American country singer, musician, record producer, music publisher, and radio and TV personality who was pivotal in the development of California’s thriving country music scene after World War II during a career that lasted six decades...
's Hometown Jamboree
Hometown Jamboree
Hometown Jamboree was an American country music radio and television show broadcast each Saturday night by KXLA radio, Pasadena, California and KTLA-TV, Los Angeles, California. The show was hosted by Cliffie Stone and first held at the American Legion Stadium in El Monte, California, and later at...
in Los Angeles
Los Ángeles
Los Ángeles is the capital of the province of Biobío, in the commune of the same name, in Region VIII , in the center-south of Chile. It is located between the Laja and Biobío rivers. The population is 123,445 inhabitants...
. He began playing rockabilly
Rockabilly
Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of rock and roll music, dating to the early 1950s.The term rockabilly is a portmanteau of rock and hillbilly, the latter a reference to the country music that contributed strongly to the style's development...
shortly after hearing Elvis Presley
Elvis Presley
Elvis Aaron Presley was one of the most popular American singers of the 20th century. A cultural icon, he is widely known by the single name Elvis. He is often referred to as the "King of Rock and Roll" or simply "the King"....
.
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
Recording contract
A recording contract is a legal agreement between a record label and a recording artist , where the artist makes a record for the label to sell and promote...
with Sims Records
Sims Records
Sims Records was a country music record label in the 1950s and 1960s.Russell Sims had been associated with Country music in the late 40s and early 50s and became a sort of touring manager for T.Texas Tyler who was a Four Star Records artist...
. His first singles for the label appeared in 1956. After further appearances on the Big D Jamboree he was asked to play on the Spade Cooley
Spade Cooley
Donnell Clyde Cooley , better known as Spade Cooley, was an American Western swing musician, big band leader, actor, and television personality...
show in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Despite O'Donnell's disapproval, Cochran moved to the West Coast and performed on the show. He then signed with Decca Records
Decca Records
Decca Records began as a British record label established in 1929 by Edward Lewis. Its U.S. label was established in late 1934; however, owing to World War II, the link with the British company was broken for several decades....
, 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 the Douglas Aircraft Company
Douglas Aircraft Company
The Douglas Aircraft Company was an American aerospace manufacturer, based in Long Beach, California. It was founded in 1921 by Donald Wills Douglas, Sr. and later merged with McDonnell Aircraft in 1967 to form McDonnell Douglas...
and quit music for a time. He restarted his career during the rockabilly revival in Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, releasing three albums on Rollin' Rock Records in 1973 and touring Norway
Norway
Norway , officially the Kingdom of Norway, is a Nordic unitary constitutional monarchy whose territory comprises the western portion of the Scandinavian Peninsula, Jan Mayen, and the Arctic archipelago of Svalbard and Bouvet Island. Norway has a total area of and a population of about 4.9 million...
in 1981. He took up the nickname "Waukeen" in the 1970s as well, a name given to him by his native American grandmother. In 1985 the German record label Hydra released a successful compilation of his early recordings (later on CD) "Jack The Cat - The Jackie Lee Cochran Story". To promote the album the label boss Klaus Kettner put together a European tour for Jackie Lee Cochran which was so successful, that they teamed up for all the following tours until his passing. He recorded new material for Hydra Records and Ace Records. He died in 1998 in his apartment in California at age 64.
Singles
| Year | Title | Label | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1956 | Riverside Jump / Hip Shakin’ Mama | Sims Records | |
| 1957 | Ruby Pearl / Mama Don’t You Think I Know | Decca Records | |
| 1958 | I Want You / Buy A Car | Viv Records | |
| 1958 | I Want You / Buy A Car | Avalon Records | |
| 1958 | I Want You / Buy A Car | ABC-Paramount Records | |
| 1958 | Pity Me / Endless Love | Spry Records | |
| 1959 | I Wanna See You / Georgia Lee Brown | Jaguar Records | |
| 1985 | I Wanna See You / Pity Me / Honey Don't / Tryin´ To Get To You | Hydra Records EP | |
|
not issued in the 50s | Hydra Records |
Albums
- 1973: Swamp Fox
- 1980: Rockabilly Legend
- 1981: The Lonesome Drifter (UK)
- 1985: Jack The Cat (GER)
- 1985: Fiddle Fit Man (UK)
- 1987: Rockabilly Legend (GER)
- 1993: Jack The Cat (GER)
- 1997: Rockabilly Music
- 2005: The 1985 Session (UK)