- He was posthumously awarded a bronze star on the Legends of Music Hall of Fame at Granby Street in Norfolk, Virginia on September 23, 2003.
- He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1749 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California on February 8, 1960.
- Had a #7 pop hit with "Be-Bop-A-Lula" with his group, The Blue Caps (1956).
- Posthumously inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame (1997), the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (1998), and the Virginia Musical Museum's Virginia Music Hall of Fame.
- Died of a bleeding ulcer at his parents' home in Newhill, California. Unfortunately, he had no money left from his recording career and his parents didn't have the money for a funeral, so the city of Los Angeles paid for his burial.
- Following his sudden death, he was interred at Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhill, California. He passed away on October 12, 1971, four months away from what would have been his 37th birthday on February 11, 1972.
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