Sharon Sheeley

Sharon K. "Shari" Sheeley (April 4, 1940 – May 17, 2002) was an American songwriter, who wrote songs for Glen Campbell, Ricky Nelson, Brenda Lee, and Sheeley's former fiancé, Eddie Cochran.

Sheeley attended Newport Harbor High School in Newport Beach, and briefly worked as a teen model. She went to Hollywood to meet the stars, and write songs. She wrote her first song, "Poor Little Fool", which Ricky Nelson recorded. In 1958 it became Nelson's first US #1 and the Billboard Hot 100's first #1. At age 18, Sheeley was the youngest woman to write an American number-one hit.

Jerry Capehart, the manager and songwriting partner of Eddie Cochran, then agreed to look after Sheeley's interests, and she and Cochran began a relationship. She wrote "Love Again" and "Cherished Memories" for Cochran, and the 1959 hit "Somethin' Else" with Eddie's brother Bob Cochran. Her other songwriting credits included "Hurry Up", recorded by Ritchie Valens.

In April 1960 she traveled to England to join Cochran and Gene Vincent, who were touring there. She and Cochran were reported as being "unofficially engaged". She recorded a song, "Homework", with producer Jack Good.

On the night of April 16, 1960, Sheeley, Vincent, and Cochran were traveling in a private hire taxi from a concert in Bristol to London airport when it blew a tire and slammed into a lamp post near Chippenham, Wiltshire. All three were rushed to hospital. Cochran, who had been thrown from the vehicle, suffered fatal brain injuries and died the next day, at the age of 21. Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis, and Vincent broke his ribs and collarbone and added further damage to his already weak leg.

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