Wayne cochran bio

I interviewed Wayne Cochran in June, 2017. His wife had passed away unexpectedly that February, and in setting up that talk it became obvious his staff were concerned for him. They seemed glad he had something to take his mind off the grief for a minute or two.

With Chili’s restaurant providing a synthetic backdrop that only amplified the intensity of my interviewee, I asked Wayne as much about his church life as his music. Three words come up again and again in Cochran’s sermons: hope, faith, love. He didn’t just toss the trio into his speech like greeting-card clichés, he defined each word, carefully explained why it was important, and why he returned to them again and again.

“Faith goes against all intellect, all reasoning, all knowledge,” he’d said in a recent sermon. “You’re tryin’ to believe in somethin’ that you can’t see…Anytime you hear anybody use reasoning to lower the expectation of the word, that’s the flesh, that’s the world, that’s not God. You really think that you’re gonna figure out the sense and logic in God’s word? Ain’t no way. What we have to do is shut up and believe…What do you have for proof? Faith. That’s all I need. Because I believe it, it is.”

So faith and reason just don’t go together, I asked. “Oh, no. Reasoning is what man’s mind concludes is true. If your reasoning differs from what His word says, change your reasoning. See, your reasoning is what conclusion you come to from all your experiences and thoughts in life. That don’t mean it’s real.”

I laughed, telling him those experiences certainly felt real. “Well, cannibals believe what they doin’ is real. It’s normal to them…That don’t make it normal. You can’t trust what society says is normal.”

I got the feeling Wayne actually savored the idea that there are those who find it a little crazy to believe in the good book. That just made it a little more special. Had he ever doubted his faith?

“Oh, yeah. I think everybody does, because the devil never quits. I doubt if my faith

Who is Wayne Cochran? A Brief Career Overview

Wayne Cochran, affectionately known as "The White Knight of Soul," was an American singer, songwriter, and musician whose flamboyant style and powerful vocal performances made a lasting impact on the soul music scene. His high-energy shows, characterized by wild outfits and a platinum blond pompadour, captivated audiences across the country and earned him a devoted fan base. Cochran led the dynamic group Wayne Cochran & the C.C. Riders, blending elements of soul, rhythm and blues, and rock to create a signature sound that resonated with music lovers.

Throughout his career, Cochran was not only known for his electrifying stage presence but also for his songwriting prowess, particularly for penning the iconic song "Last Kiss." Although the track gained more notable acclaim after being covered by other artists, it showcased his ability to craft heartfelt, relatable narratives through music. Cochran's connection to vinyl culture was profound, with multiple vinyl releases that collectors cherish to this day, further solidifying his status in the vinyl community. Let's dive deeper into the life of this remarkable artist and unravel his incredible journey!

Wayne Cochran's Early Life and Background

Born on May 10, 1939, in Thomaston, Georgia, Talvin Wayne Cochran was raised in a family that valued hard work. His father worked at a cotton mill while his mother came from a farming background, instilling in him the virtues of perseverance and determination. Growing up, Cochran was immersed in a melting pot of musical influences, from country tunes on the radio to the burgeoning sounds of rhythm and blues. These early experiences fueled his passion for music, leading him to front his first band, the Rockin' Capris, as a teenager.

Cochran's family encouraged his musical pursuits, allowing him to explore and play with various instruments. As he navigated his teenage years, Coc

American singer (1939–2017)

Musical artist

Talvin Wayne Cochran (May 10, 1939 – November 21, 2017) was an American singer, known for his outlandish outfits and platinum blondpompadour hairstyle. He was sometimes referred to as The White Knight of Soul. Cochran is best known today for writing the song "Last Kiss", which he performed with the C.C. Riders.

Biography

Talvin Wayne Cochran was born on May 10, 1939, in Thomaston, Georgia, to Talvin A. Cochran, a cotton mill worker, and the former Mini Lee Starley, who came from a farming family.

Influenced by the country and rhythm and blues music he heard on the radio, Cochran fronted his first band - a group called the Rockin' Capris - as a teenager, and eventually left high school to pursue music as a full-time career. He moved to Macon, Georgia, where he befriended the soul singer Otis Redding (playing bass guitar on Redding's early recording of "Shout Bamalama" and its B-side "Fat Girl") and recorded his first single, "The Coo", attracting the attention of King Records, which signed him to a record deal. Cochran became close friends with King labelmate James Brown, whose stage show and road band influenced his own performing style and inspired him to assemble his own soul revue, the C.C. Riders, which occasionally featured as many as 14 musicians plus two female backing v

Wayne Cochran, the “blue-eyed soul” singer known for his towering pompadour, has died of cancer at his Florida home. He was 78.

The singer, who was called the “White Knight of Soul” for songs like “Last Kiss,” saw his heyday in the 1960s and ’70s. He had fans from the Blues Brothers to Rod Stewart and Elvis Presley, but he gave it all up to become a minister at a church he founded in Miami.

He died Nov. 21, his son Christopher said.

The Blues Brothers took notice of one of his hits, “Goin’ Back to Miami,” and introduced the song to an ’80s audience, according to the Miami Herald.

Cochran and his band the C.C. Riders opened in Las Vegas for a commercially revived Presley. But life in the fast lane took a toll. Tired of partying, he broke up his band in the ’70s and started the Voice for Jesus Church near Miami Gardens in a row of warehouses.

Cochran, who was born in Thomaston, Ga., told the Miami Herald in a 1983 interview that he was “a hillbilly with a sixth-grade education.”

“I’m a rock ’n’ roll singer,” he said. “And yet, pastors will recognize the anointing and invite you in for four or five days to teach their flocks.”

As a white teen growing up in west Georgia, Cochran was captivated by black music.

“I never heard race in the music. It was just music that spoke to me. It moved me,” he told the Herald in 2011.

He moved to nearby Macon, and met soul singer Otis Redding. In 1960, he played bass with Redding’s band on the single “Shout Bamalama.”

Cochran used the power of popular music for the rest of his life through ministry, saying his was not a typical church, but one where folks came to get ecstatic, have a good time and boogie.

At one point, his church spiritually adopted 800 families living in housing projects in Miami’s impoverished Liberty City.

“He was all about family,” said