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Encyclopedia > Sharon Sheeley
Sharon Sheeley

Sharon Sheeley (April 4, 1940May 17, 2002) was an American songwriter born in California in 1940 whos work found success for artists like Glen Campbell, Ricky Nelson, Brenda Lee, and former fiancee, Eddie Cochran. In 1959 Eddie Cochran reached the charts with their co-written song "Somethin' Else." In 1958 Ricky Nelson reached the top of the charts with her song "Poor Little Fool." It was also the first #1 song to appear on the Billboard Hot 100 list. At age 19, she was youngest female to ever to write an American number one.


Sheeley, along with Gene Vincent and Eddie Cochran, were traveling in the same London taxicab en route to a London airport on the night of April 16, 1960 when it blew a tire and slammed into a lamp post. All three were rushed to the hospital. Eddie, who had been thrown from the vehicle, suffered fatal brain injuries. He died the next day April 17, 1960 at the age of 21. Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis and Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak leg.


Following the accident she returned to the states where she collaberated with musician/songwriter, Jackie DeShannon on a string of chart toppers which included Brenda Lee's "Dum Dum" and "Heart in Hand", and Irma Thomas' "Breakaway".


In 1961 she married Los Angeles disc jockey, Jimmy O'Neill. They divorced five years later but remained friends until her death in 2002. Five days after suffering a cerebral hemorrhage, she passed away on May 17, 2002 in Los Angeles at the age of 62.


In Agust 2000, RPM records released a collection of her songs that were recorded in the early 60's by a group of studio musicians that included then-unkown Glen Campbell, Leon Russell, David Gates, Hal Blaine, and Herb Alpert.


Other Song writing credits include "Cherished Memories" recorded by Eddie Cochran and "Hurry Up," recorded by Ritchie Valens.


  Results from FactBites:
 
Sharon Sheeley (3490 words)
Sharon Sheeley was often referred to as Eddie Cochran's girlfriend and nothing else.
Sharon flew into London in early April to be with Eddie for her 20th birthday on April 4th.
Later married to Jimmy O'Neill, emcee of television's {#Shindig!}, Sheeley largely vanished from the spotlight as the 1960s progressed; in mid-2000, the British label RPM issued Songwriter, a collection of vintage demos recorded by a studio group including then-unknown guitarist Glen Campbell, bassist David Gates, keyboardist Leon Russell and drummer Hal Blaine.
Sharon Sheeley (1135 words)
Sheeley was born of Irish extraction in California in 1940.
Sheeley had dated Ricky Nelson, who appeared in his parents' popular television sitcom The Ozzie and Harriet Show and who had capitalised on the success of the show with several Top Twenty hits.
Sheeley told him that "Poor Little Fool" had been written by her godfather for Presley but that she thought it would be ideal for him.
  More results at FactBites »

 

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