ArtistInfo

Sonny West

voc, *1937 US, Lubbock, Texas
Singer / Songwriter of Rock
A.k.a. Joe West

Sonny West (born July 30, 1937, near Lubbock, Texas) is a rock and roll songwriter and musician. He was the youngest of five children born to Joseph William West and Alberta Grimes. West wrote and recorded both "Oh, Boy!" and "Rave On" on the Atlantic label in the late 1950s. Although West's original versions of these songs failed to achieve wide recognition or commercial success, Buddy Holly covered both songs and transformed them into two of the most memorable rock and roll songs of the late 1950s. Singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen has often remarked that "Rave On" is one of the greatest rock and roll songs of all time, and that he psyches up for live performances by singing it backstage.

Genres

• Rock
• Pop

Plays With