Garrett was born in Dallas, Texas, United States,[1] and attended South Oak Cliff High School, dropping out in the 10th grade.
[2] In 1976, he returned to Dallas to receive a special high school diploma that conferred an "honorary music degree.
He is often still mentioned on the Lubbock oldies station KDAV on a program hosted by his friend Jerry "Bo" Coleman.
On February 3, 1959, Garrett broadcast his own tribute show to Holly after he was killed (along with Ritchie Valens and the Big Bopper) in a plane crash in Iowa.
[4] In 1959, Garrett became a staff producer at Liberty Records in Hollywood, after having joined the label to work in the promotions department.
Among Garrett's roster of artists were Bobby Vee, Johnny Burnette, Gene McDaniels, Buddy Knox, Walter Brennan, Gary Lewis & the Playboys, and Del Shannon.
In 1976, when home video was in its infancy, Garrett bought cassette rights to the old RKO, Republic and Hal Roach (Laurel and Hardy) films for what United Press International termed "a pittance."