Sonny West
Joe " Sonny " West ( born July 30, 1937 in Clovis, Texas ) is an American rockabilly singer. He made major contributions to the development of the " West Texas Sound".
Life
Childhood and youth
Sonny West was the fifth and youngest child of the West family, who moved to the birth of her last child to El Morro, New Mexico. At the age of six, he listened to the old records of his parents and was influenced by Jimmie Rodgers, Hank Williams and the blues. During his youth he learned mandolin, and later guitar. At 17 he left school and worked in a grocery store. By the way he earned as a local musician something.
Career
A year later he formed his own band. In 1956, he got a recording contract with the Norman Petty Studios in Clovis, New Mexico. There he published his first two self-written pieces of Rock-Ola Ruby on the A- side and Sweet Rockin 'Baby on the B-side. In 1957 he wrote the pieces Oh Boy and Rave On! That were in the version of Buddy Holly become hits. By 1958, West took on various other rockabilly pieces. To date, Sonny West enters public on various rockabilly events on the side of Sleepy LaBeef or Sid King. In addition, he was inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and in the West Texas Musicians Hall of Fame for his services to the rockabilly music.