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Known
for such hits as "Twenty Flight Rock" and "Summertime Blues," rockabilly
pioneer Eddie Cochran "had been nursing a premonition that he would
die dramatically…troubled as he was by the death of his friend Buddy
Holly. As Cochran travelled to Heathrow Airport from Bristol, the
Ford Consul that carried him and fellow touring rock 'n' roll great
Gene Vincent had a high-speed blow-out…Cochran was thrown through
a door after the car skidded 150 yards on the wet road, striking
a concrete lamp-post; the singer received a massive blow to his
skull as he landed…Vincent suffered a fractured collarbone and severe
injuries to his legs…Cochran was less fortunate. Admitted to a Bath
hospital, he died…on Easter, 17 April 1960, from extensive brain
lacerations, instantly assuming the status of rock 'n' roll's second
martyr." So asserts Jeremy Simmonds in this clearly written, at
times darkly humorous, and completely captivating examination of
deceased musicians.
Despite its title, this fascinating tome includes not just rock
'n' rollers, but rap, country, folk, soul, blues, funk, and jazz
artists. Simmonds covers all the luminaries-among them Patsy Cline,
Kurt Cobain, Sam Cooke, Cass Elliott, Jimi Hendrix, John Lennon,
Freddie Mercury, Elvis Presley, Joe Strummer, and Otis Redding-as
well as numerous lesser-known performers. Fans of Lone Star music
will find much to explore in this massive volume; Simmonds discusses
many Texas-born singers, including Jesse Belvin (San
Antonio), Jimmy Dean (Olton),
Freddy Fender (San
Benito), Bobby Fuller (Goose
Creek), Buddy Holly (Lubbock),
Lightnin'
Hopkins (Centerville),
Waylon Jennings (Littlefield),
Janis Joplin (Port
Arthur), Roger
Miller (Fort Worth),
Roy
Orbison (Vernon), Ray
Peterson (Denton),
Jim Reeves
(Panola County),
The Big Bopper (Sabine
Pass), Jesse Mae Robinson (Call),
Selena (Lake
Jackson), Joe Tex (Rogers),
Townes Van Zandt (Fort
Worth), and Stevie Ray Vaughan (Oak Cliff). Unfortunately, some
singers perished in Texas. Ricky Nelson, for example, died in a
plane crash near De
Kalb on December 31, 1985.
In a publication this size, mistakes are bound to surface. For instance,
the author erroneously maintains that artist DJ Screw was born in
Houston; actually, his
birthplace was Bastrop.
Simmonds contends that his encyclopedia is "the ultimate chronology
of pop's dead." Errors aside, I agree. Music enthusiasts will undoubtedly
enjoy this engaging work. "Hail! Hail! Rock 'n' Roll!"
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