Fans of Eddie Cochran from Great Britain filled the Freeborn County Historical Museum Thursday morning.

Friday, February 01, 2002

Fans of Eddie Cochran from Great Britain filled the Freeborn County Historical Museum Thursday morning. The 36 men and women were in Albert Lea to take a look at the museum’s collection of Cochran memorabilia and visit the community where Cochran grew up.

The group was among those attending the annual Buddy Holly gathering in Clear Lake, Iowa, and had contacted museum officials to arrange for a side trip. Bev Jackson, executive director of the Freeborn County Historical Society, and Albert Lea Mayor Bob Haukoos were on hand to welcome the visitors.

&uot;We’re fans of Eddie Cochran, but we also love music from the whole era – Cochran, Jean Vincent, Buddy Holly, Little Richard -&160;all of them,&uot; said Clive Harvey, the informal travel coordinator for the Buddy Holly Society. Harvey has been in Albert Lea before, and has contributed items to the museum’s Cochran collection.

Margaret Majerczyk is another fan, originally from Liverpool, but now living in Floyd, Iowa. She remembers seeing Cochran in concert when she was 15 and said she still enjoys listening to his music.

The museum has a special Cochran exhibit set up in the museum’s basement, and the items will remain on display until after the Eddie Cochran Weekend in June.

Cochran was a rock-and-roll musician from the 1950s and early 60s who quickly became a well-known and respected singer and guitar player. He was born and spent his childhood in Albert Lea, before moving to California with his family just before starting high school. Cochran achieved fame early, but was killed in an automobile accident in England when he was 21.