Musician. Wayne Cochran was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born Talvin Wayne Cochran, the son of a cotton mill worker, he professionally distinguished himself by his energetic dance moves, outlandish outfits with rhinestone capes, and platinum blond pompadour hairstyle. He had his own band by 1955 and was expelled from high school for refusing to cut his bleached pompadour hairstyle. Early in his career, he played bass guitar on two of Otis Reddings' recordings. Sometimes referred to as "The White Knight of Soul," this blue-eyed singer performed with his band, "CC Riders," which included up to 14 musicians, a horn section, and two female backing vocalists, the Sheer Delights. He recorded seven albums. He wrote the September 1961 song "Last Kiss," which was a heart-wrenched saga about teenage love and a fatal car wreck. His version was mildly successful, but J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers' cover became a million-plus selling version in 1964. Most recently, in 1998, Pearl Jam's version of "Last Kiss" reached #2 on the Billboard Top Hit 100. There have been at least 35 covers of this song. His 1966 song "Going Back To Miami" was covered by the Blues Brothers in 1980 and gained popularity. None of his other penned songs reached this high on the Billboard charts. Throughout his career, he made numerous television appearances including the late-night "David Letterman Show" along with being a headliner in Las Vegas clubs. Later in life, in 1981, he abandoned performing to become an evangelical preacher at the Voice for Jesus Church Ministries near Miami. According to his obituary, he succumbed to cancer after a long illness. He was married twice and had two children.
Musician. Wayne Cochran was an American musician, singer, songwriter, and record producer. Born Talvin Wayne Cochran, the son of a cotton mill worker, he professionally distinguished himself by his energetic dance moves, outlandish outfits with rhinestone capes, and platinum blond pompadour hairstyle. He had his own band by 1955 and was expelled from high school for refusing to cut his bleached pompadour hairstyle. Early in his career, he played bass guitar on two of Otis Reddings' recordings. Sometimes referred to as "The White Knight of Soul," this blue-eyed singer performed with his band, "CC Riders," which included up to 14 musicians, a horn section, and two female backing vocalists, the Sheer Delights. He recorded seven albums. He wrote the September 1961 song "Last Kiss," which was a heart-wrenched saga about teenage love and a fatal car wreck. His version was mildly successful, but J. Frank Wilson and the Cavaliers' cover became a million-plus selling version in 1964. Most recently, in 1998, Pearl Jam's version of "Last Kiss" reached #2 on the Billboard Top Hit 100. There have been at least 35 covers of this song. His 1966 song "Going Back To Miami" was covered by the Blues Brothers in 1980 and gained popularity. None of his other penned songs reached this high on the Billboard charts. Throughout his career, he made numerous television appearances including the late-night "David Letterman Show" along with being a headliner in Las Vegas clubs. Later in life, in 1981, he abandoned performing to become an evangelical preacher at the Voice for Jesus Church Ministries near Miami. According to his obituary, he succumbed to cancer after a long illness. He was married twice and had two children.
Bio by: Linda Davis
Gravesite Details
B-36
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