Jody Reynolds, 1932-2008. R.I.P.

Until this morning I was not aware that rockabilly pioneer Jody Reynolds had died on November 7th of liver cancer. He would have turned 76 on December 3rd.

Reynolds had only hit but it was a hit that would be covered numerous times and inspire songs of its like. In 1958, Reynolds had a million selling hit called "Endless Sleep" about a boy who thinks his girlfriend has taken her own life after an argument. At the end of song though he finds her in the ocean and rescues her. Reynolds originally intended for the girl to commit suicide but in those days no record company wanted to touch that so he had to change the ending. Nonetheless, it is a very dark and foreboding song for its era. Reynolds said he wrote the song after listening to Elvis Presley's "Heartbreak Hotel" five times in a row.

Reynolds never had another hit although he did occasionally perform. He made his living selling real estate and for a time ran a music shop in southern California.

If you haven't heard "Endless Sleep" check it out at
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=su8cUzqmOUk.