Jimmy Van Eaton was a drummer in the early days of rock ‘n roll, recording with the likes of Jerry Lee Lewis (1935–2022), Billy Lee Riley (1933–2009), and others at Sun Records in Memphis, Tennessee.
- Died: February 9, 2024 (Who else died on February 9?)
- Details of death: Died in Alabama at the age of 86.
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Jimmy Van Eaton’s legacy
Van Eaton couldn’t have been born in a better place and at a better time to pursue music. Born in Memphis, he got his first drum set as a teenager and was quickly playing music with a series of bands, including dabbling in the emerging genre of rock ‘n roll. While recording a demo at Sun Studio with his band, the Echoes, he caught the eye of producer Jack Clement (1931–2013), who drafted him to record with early rock pioneer Billy Lee Riley.
Van Eaton quickly became a session player for Sun Records and a touring drummer with such stars of the day as Conway Twitty (1933–1993). Over the years he recorded with Roy Orbison (1936–1988), Johnny Cash (1932–2003), Charlie Rich (1932–1995), and many others. His best-known work was with early rock icon Jerry Lee Lewis. Van Eaton began to fade from the music industry in the 1960s, but he returned many years later to play and tour.
He released a solo record in 1998, “The Beat Goes On,” and worked on the soundtrack to the Jerry Lee Lewis biopic, “Great Balls of Fire.” He is an inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame and the Memphis Music Hall of Fame.
Tributes to Jimmy Van Eaton
Full obituary: The New York Times
