## The Innovator of Cool
Eddie Cochran was a rock and roll pioneer who wrote, sang, and produced his own hits. With ‘Summertime Blues’, he captured the frustration of teenage life with a perfect mix of rhythm and rebellion. He was a master of the guitar and a visionary in the studio, always pushing for a bigger, better sound. He was 21 and the world was his for the taking.
## April 17, 1960
While on a successful tour of the UK, Eddie Cochran was killed in a car accident when his taxi blew a tire and crashed in Bath, England. His friend Gene Vincent was also in the car and survived, but Eddie’s loss was a crushing blow to the first wave of rock and roll. It was a tragic end for a man who had such a massive influence on the future of the genre.
## C’mon Everybody Forever
Eddie’s legacy is etched into the DNA of rock and roll. His riffs and his production techniques were studied by everyone from The Beatles to the leaders of the punk movement. He proved that an artist could be the complete package. Eddie Cochran is gone, but his ‘Three Steps to Heaven’ still provides a roadmap for every musician who seeks to blend power with melody. The innovator has left the building.