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'Death Rock' Pioneer Jody Reynolds Dies

Jody Reynolds, whose tragic musical tale of a suicidal lover, 'Endless Sleep,' kick-started the "death rock" craze of the late '50s and early '60s, had died in Palm Desert, Calif. He was 75 years old.

In 'Endless Sleep,' an appropriately dirgelike rockabilly ballad written by Reynolds, the singer's girlfriend attempts to drown herself in the ocean after a quarrel. At the song's conclusion, our hero rescues his distraught lady from "an angry sea." Later songs in the teen tragedy genre, such as Mark Dinning's 'Teen Angel,' Ray Peterson's 'Tell Laura I Love Her' and the Shangri-Las' 'Leader of the Pack' felt no such need, happily killing off its protagonists.

The song, which peaked at No. 5 in 1958, was the only hit for the Denver native, who grew up in Oklahoma and Arizona before relocating to California, where he based his career. Reynolds was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1999.

Dearly Departed Musicians

    Ralph Joseph "Jody" Reynolds, Nov. 7: The rockabilly singer, whose lone Top 10 hit 'Endless Sleep' ushered in a wave of similar songs about teens and tragedy in the late 1950s, died of liver cancer. He was 75.

    Amazon.com

    Mitch Mitchell, Nov. 12: The rock durmmer, left, and last surviving member of the legendary Jimi Hendrix Experience, was found dead of apparent natural causes in a Portland hotel room at age 61. The leader of the band overdosed in 1970, while bassist Noel Redding, right, died in 2003.

    Michael Ochs Archives / Getty Images

    Miriam Makeba, Nov. 10: THe South African singing legend who was banned from her own country for more than 30 years under apartheid died from a heart attack after collapsing on stage in Italy. She was 76.

    AP

    Shakir Stewart, Nov. 1: The Island Def Jam executive who became head of the legendary rap label following Jay-Z's departure, killed himself on Nov. 1. Police say he died of a self-inflicted gunshot wound. He was 34 years old.

    Merl Saunders, Oct. 24: The rock and jazz keyboardist who recorded albums with music titans like The Grateful Dead and Miles Davis, died at the age of 74 after complications from a stroke.

    Christopher Felver, Corbis

    Dee Dee Warwick, Oct. 18: The soul songstress died after months of declining health. Warwick, the sister of soul legend Dionne, also achieved a great deal of success, both as a solo artist as well as with her sister.

    Getty Images

    Levi Stubbs, Oct. 17: The iconic lead singer, second from left, who gave voice to Four Tops classics like "Reach Out I'll Be There" and "Baby I Need Your Loving" died at 72 from complications of cancer and a stroke. Abdul Fakir, far left, is now the sole living member of the original quartet.

    AP

    Nick Reynolds, Oct. 1: The Kingston Trio led the folk music uprising in the late 1950s, paving the way for the Dylans and the Baezs of the world. Reynolds, right with Dave Guard and Bob Shane, had been in the hospital with acute respiratory disease before his family took him off life support. He was 75.

    AP

    Norman Whitfield, Sept. 16: The Motown tunesmith responsible for anthems like 'I Heard It Through the Grapevine' 'Car Wash' and 'War' died shortly after awakening from a diabetes-related coma. He was 67.

    Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

    Richard Wright, Sept. 15: With Pink Floyd, he unleashed new sounds from his collection of synths and organs that gave the band its signature psychedelic sheen. Wright, who also wrote mammoth cuts like "Us and Them" for the band, died following a battle with cancer. He was 65.

    AP

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13 Comments

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K S

Don't forget Dickie Lee's "Patches" (1963)
and "Laurie" (1965)

November 18 2008 at 7:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Uncla Al

The last one I can think of is "Dead Mans Curve" by Jan and Dean. Then Jan did a real-life version by crashing into the back of a semi. Messed him up pretty good.

November 18 2008 at 6:25 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Mistress Lenore

Yay! I'm not the only one whose eyebrow raised over all those teenage death songs in the "good old days". "Leader of the Pack" has got to be the most histrionic exercise in melodrama ever committed to vinyl, but I love it so!!! Guess they needed an antidote to all that "Lollipop" cheerfulness.

November 18 2008 at 5:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
sparksdom

blah blah blah another celebrity dead can i dare ask who gives a crap ?

November 18 2008 at 5:35 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
2 replies to sparksdom's comment
HRP

Sparksdom ... more people than will care about your passing.

November 18 2008 at 6:34 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Rob

Hey Sparky I'm originally from detroit and in the business. Recently went back to pay last respects to a ture legend Levi Stubbs. an estimated 3300 people packed the area aroiund the funeral home to say good bye. People that you probably never heard of Barry Gordie, Aretha Franklin, Cher, The Temptations, The Four Tops. Stevie Wonder, Bob Seger, Thomas Hearns just to name a few of the lesser known people. Like it or not these were the people ho are the heart and soul of music, yesterday and today and tomarrow

November 18 2008 at 8:09 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Samm Bucceri

Who???

November 18 2008 at 4:55 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
rocnrol4ever2326

Good ole rockabilly, im with you pinonfamily I LOVE the 50s 60s stuff,Elvis,Jerry lee,Roy orbison,Carl Perkins,the list goes on ...............God Bless your soul and the family..............

November 18 2008 at 4:31 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Lou

They keep forgetting to mention "Last Kiss". That was one of the big "dead teenager" songs (as I used to call them).

Heck, Pearl Jam covered it!

November 18 2008 at 3:22 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Lou's comment
Rob

One of Jody's most fampous songs by the Shangri-la's "Leader of the Pack"

November 18 2008 at 8:00 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Jada Mada

They can call the song whatever they want, it sure the heck is better than what is coming out today. It's the 50 and 60's for me. That was when rock started. It is still the best era ever. And don't be dealing our hate with comments.

November 18 2008 at 2:47 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
Ted

Death rock? Are you serious? I have never heard of death rock. I never heard that term coined before. Are you sure you just aren't making this up you silly person you.

November 18 2008 at 2:08 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply
1 reply to Ted's comment
Rob

Try listening to something beside that "Mindless Fauter" you and people your age call music. Rock & Roll is here to stay

November 18 2008 at 7:57 PM Report abuse rate up rate down Reply