Jackie Lee Cochran

by Greg PratoAlthough not as instantly recognizable as certain other rockabilly artists, vocalist Jackie Lee Cochran was one of the genres earliest supporters, issuing several overlooked singles in the late 50s. Born in Dalton, GA, in the early 30s, Cochran was raised in both Louisiana and Texas. He was attracted to music and singing via country artists he heard on local radio, and decided to relocate to Los Angeles in the mid-50s, where he soon became a featured artist on Cliffie Stones Hometown Jamboree. This eventually led to a contract with Decca Records, for whom Cochran cut several singles for. When rockabillys popularity began to dwindle in the early 60s, Cochran continued to perform, as his live shows showcased a wide variety of musical styles: country, pop, blues, rockabilly, and rock & roll. During the 70s, Cochran adopted the nickname Waukeen (as a tribute to his American-Indian heritage), and continued to tour. Come the 80s, Cochran began issuing full-length albums on a somewhat regular basis: 1980s Swamp Fox, 1985s Fiddle Fit Man, and 1987s Jack the Cat. In 1997, a 20-track compilation of songs that Cochran recorded with renowned rockabilly producer Ronny Weiser back in the 70s was issued, titled Rockabilly Music. On March 15, 1998, Jack Waukeen Cochran died in his sleep in his Burbank, CA, apartment, at the age of 64.