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Gene Vincent
Birth name Vincent Eugene Craddock
Born February 11, 1935
Origin Norfolk, Virginia
Died October 12, 1971 (aged 36)
Genre(s) Rock and Roll, Rockabilly
Occupation(s) Singer, Musician
Instrument(s) Vocals, Guitar

Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 - October 12, 1971) was an American rock'n'roll pioneer musician, best known for his hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula". Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. A music genre is a categorical and typological construct that identifies musical sounds as belonging to a particular category and type of music that can be distinguished from other Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African Rockabilly is one of the earliest styles of Rock and roll music and emerged in the early 1950s A musician is a person who plays or writes Music. Musicians can be classified by their roles in creating or performing music An instrumentalist plays a A musical instrument is a device constructed or modified for the purpose of making Music. Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, which is often contrasted with Speech. The guitar is a Musical instrument with ancient roots that is used in a wide variety of musical styles Events 660 BC - Traditional founding date of Japan by Emperor Jimmu. Year 1935 ( MCMXXXV) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Events 539 BC - The army of Cyrus the Great of Persia takes Babylon. Year 1971 ( MCMLXXI) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the 1971 Gregorian calendar. Rock and roll (also known as rock 'n' roll) is a form of Music that evolved in the United States in the late 1940s and early 1950s with roots in mostly African

Contents

Early life

His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States He grew up in Virginia under the influence of country, rhythm and blues and gospel music. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. This article is about the canonical books of the New Testament He received his first guitar as a gift from a friend at the age of 12.

In 1952, Gene left school and joined the Navy. Year 1952 ( MCMLII) was a Leap year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. In 1955 he was stationed in Korea. Year 1955 ( MCMLV) was a Common year starting on Saturday (link displays the 1955 Gregorian calendar) Korea is a geographic area composed of two sovereign countries a civilization and a former state situated on the Korean Peninsula in East Asia. In July 1955, whilst in Norfolk, he was involved in a severe motorcycle accident that shattered his left leg. He refused to have it amputated, the leg was saved, but left him with a permanent limp and considerable chronic pain for the rest of his life.

Early career

Vincent Eugene Craddock, born February 11, 1935, showed his first real interest in music while his family lived in Munden Point, VA, near the North Carolina line where they ran a country store. His father (Ezekiah Jackson Craddock) also volunteered to serve in the U. S. Coast Guard and patrolled American coastal waters to protect Allied shipping against German U-boats during World War II. His mother (Mary Louise) maintained a general store at Munden Point. However, Craddock's parents moved the family and opened a new general store and sailor's tailoring shop in downtown Norfolk, Virginia. Having spent his youth in the Norfolk, Virginia area, Vincent Eugene Craddock decided to pursue the freewheeling life of a sailor. He dropped-out of school at age seventeen and enlisted in the U. S. Navy in 1952. Craddock's parents signed the required forms allowing him to join the navy. He completed basic training and joined the fleet as a destroyerman. He proved to be a good sailor while deployed at sea, but gained a reputation as a trouble-maker while on liberty ashore. Craddock never saw combat, but completed a Korean War deployment. He sailed home from Korean waters aboard battleship USS WISCONSIN (BB-64), though was not part of the ship's company. Craddock planned a long career in the U. S. Navy and, in 1955, used his $612 dollar reenlistment bonus to buy a new Triumph motorbike [1]. On the way back for duty on NOB Norfolk, Cradduck was struck by a car and nearly lost his leg. He was treated at the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, but was medically discharged from the navy shortly thereafter. Craddock was a Norfolk native and became involved in the local music scene. He thus changed his name to “Gene Vincent” and formed a rockabilly band called the “Bluecaps” (a term used in reference to enlisted sailors in the U. S. Navy). [2]

Gene Vincent and the Bluecaps soon gained a reputation playing in various country bands in his native Norfolk, Virginia. Country music is a blend of popular musical forms originally found in the Southern United States and the Appalachian Mountains. Norfolk is an Independent city in the Commonwealth of Virginia in the United States There, they won a talent contest organised by local radio DJ "Sheriff Tex" Davis, who became his manager. [3] In 1956 he wrote "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and signed a publishing contract with Bill Lowery of The Lowery Group of music publishers in Atlanta, Georgia. Year 1956 ( MCMLVI) was a Leap year starting on Sunday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Bill Lowery was born October 21 1924 and died June 8, 2004. Early successes In The early 50's Bill Lowery was the Lowery recorded Gene singing "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and secured him a recording contract with Capitol Records. Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as "Be-Bop-A-Lula" was not on Vincent's first album and was not picked by Capitol as the first single to be released, however, Lowery got Capitol to agree that "Be-Bop-A-Lula" would be the "B-side" of the first single ("Woman Love"). Prior to the release of the single record, Lowery pressed promotional copies of "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and sent them to radio stations throughout the country. By the time that Capitol released the single, "Be-Bop-A-Lula" had already gained attention from the public and radio DJ's. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" was picked up and played by other U. S. radio stations (obscuring the original "A-side" song), became a hit and launched Gene Vincent as a pop star. Vincent's backing band included Willie Williams on rhythm guitar, Jack Neal on upright bass, Dickie Harrell on drums, Paul Peek singer/guitar and the innovative and influential lead guitarist, Cliff Gallup. Ervin L "Wee Willie" Williams ( December 18, 1935 - August 28, 1999) was an American Rockabilly pioneer musician Paul Edward Peek Jr ( June 23, 1937 &ndash April 3, 2001) was an early Rockabilly pioneer Clifton E "Cliff" Gallup ( June 17 1930 - October 9 1988) was an American Electric guitarist who played

After "Be-Bop-A-Lula" became a huge hit (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & His Blue Caps were unable to follow it up with the same level of commercial success, but released critically acclaimed songs like "Race With The Devil" (#96 in Billboard) and "Bluejean Bop" (#49). Race with the Devil is a 1975 occult thriller and Action film starring Peter Fonda ( Easy Rider) Warren That year, Vincent was reportedly convicted of public obscenity and fined $10,000 by the state of Virginia for his live performance of the erotic song, "Woman Love", although this is now believed to have been a rumour, possibly started by his manager. The Commonwealth of Virginia ( is an American state

The group had another hit with 1957's "Lotta Lovin'" (highest position #13 and spending 19 weeks in the charts). Gene Vincent was awarded Gold Records for 2 million sales of Be-Bop-A-Lula and 1. 5 million sales of Lotta Lovin'. The same year he toured the east coast of Australia with Little Richard and Eddie Cochran. For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic Australia topics. Rev Richard Wayne Penniman (born December 5 1932 better known by the Stage name Little Richard, is an American Singer, Songwriter Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran ( October 3, 1938 He took music lessons in school but quit the band to play drums Vincent also became one of the first rock stars to star in a film, The Girl Can't Help It together with Jayne Mansfield. The Girl Can't Help It is a 1956 comedy / Musical film, starring Jayne Mansfield, Tom Ewell, and Edmond O'Brien Jayne Mansfield (April 19 1933 – June 29 1967 was an American actress working both on Broadway and in Hollywood.

"Dance to the Bop" was released by Capitol records on October 28, 1957. [4] On November 17, 1957 Vincent and His Blue Caps performed the song on the nationally broadcast Ed Sullivan Show. [4]. The song spent 9 weeks on the charts and peaked at #23 on January 23, 1958, would be Vincent's last USA hit single. [5] The song was used in the movie "Hot Rod Gang" for a dance rehearsal scene featuring dancers doing West Coast Swing. West Coast Swing ( WCS) is a Partner dance derived from Lindy Hop. [5]

Gene and His Bluecaps also appeared several times on The "Town Hall Party" show, California's largest country music barndance held at the Town Hall which was at 400 Long Beach Boulevard in Compton, California. The Town Hall Party drew in excess of 2,800 paid admissions each Friday and Saturday with room for 1,200 dancers. The show was also on from 8:30pm to 9:30pm over the NBC network. In addition, it was shown over KTTV, channel 11 from 10:00pm to 1:00am on Saturday nights. [6] Appearances were on October 25, 1958, as well as July 25th and Nov. 7th, 1959. Songs performed were: Be-Bop-A-Lula, "High Blood Pressure," Rip It Up, "Dance To The Bop," "You Win Again," "For Your Precious Love," "Rocky Road Blues," "Pretty Pearly", "High School Confidential," Over The Rainbow, Roll Over Beethoven and "She She Little Sheila". " Over the Rainbow " (sometimes mistakenly known as "Somewhere Over the Rainbow" is a Song with music by Harold Arlen and lyrics by E " Roll Over Beethoven " is a 1956 hit single by Chuck Berry originally released on Chess Records, with "Drifting Heart" as the B-side. [7]

Departing from traditional naming conventions, he and his band are named "Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps", not ". . . the Blue Caps" as often stated. A dispute with the US Tax Authorities and The American Musicians' Union over payments to his band and his having sold the band's equipment to pay a tax bill led him to leave the USA and try his hand in Europe. The

Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in the United Kingdom and France. The year 1959 ( MCMLIX) was a Common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom, the UK or Britain,is a Sovereign state located This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. The United States of America —commonly referred to as the In 1960, while on tour in the UK, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident in a private hire taxi travelling through Chippenham, Wiltshire on the A4 on the journey to London Airport where they were set to return to the US that night. Year 1960 ( MCMLX) was a Leap year starting on Friday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. Sharon Sheeley ( April 4, 1940 &ndash May 17, 2002) was an American songwriter born in California in 1940 whose work brought success Chippenham is a Market town in Wiltshire, England, located at, some 21 km (13 miles east of Bath and 163 km (96 miles west of London Etymology The county formerly 'Wiltonshire' or 'Wiltunscir' (9th century is named after the former county town of Wilton (itself named after the River Wylye The car, a Ford Consul, suffered a blowout causing it to swerve and crash into a lamp post on Rowden Hill. Ford Consul (1951–1956 The Consul was first shown at the 1950 London Motor Show and was the start of Ford of Britain's successful attack on the family saloon car market and replaced Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and further damaged his weakened leg, and Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Both Vincent and Sheeley survived, but the accident killed Vincent's tourmate and Sheeley's fiancé, Eddie Cochran. Raymond Edward "Eddie" Cochran ( October 3, 1938 He took music lessons in school but quit the band to play drums

Vincent subsequently moved to England in 1963. England is a Country which is part of the United Kingdom. Its inhabitants account for more than 83% of the total UK population whilst its mainland Year 1963 ( MCMLXIII) was a Common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar of the Gregorian calendar. His stage shows became "must see" events that greatly influenced some of the most respected players in the world today. It was during his early tours of Britain that he adopted the trademark leather outfit, at the suggestion of British rock 'n' roll impressario, Jack Good. Jack Good (born 7 August 1931, Greenford, London) is a Icon painter and television and Record producer British fans held in high regard the band that supported him, Sounds Incorporated - a six-piece outfit which included three saxophones, guitar, bass and drums. Sounds Incorporated, later known as Sounds Inc, were a British Instrumental pop group who recorded extensively in the The saxophone (commonly referred to simply as sax) is a conical- bored transposing Musical instrument considered a member of the Woodwind They later went on to play with The Beatles at their famed Shea Stadium concert. The Beatles were a pop and rock band from Liverpool, England formed in 1960 William A Shea Municipal Stadium, usually shortened to Shea Stadium or just Shea (ʃeɪ̪ is a Stadium located in the New York City borough

Later career

His attempts to re-establish his American career recording in folk rock and country rock genres proved unsuccessful, he is best remembered today for his recordings of the 1950s and early 1960s which originally appeared on the Capitol Records label. Folk rock is a musical genre combining elements of Folk music and rock music. For the geological term see Country rock (geology. Country rock is a Musical Genre formed from the fusion of rock Capitol Records is a major United States -based Record label owned by EMI and located in Hollywood California and New York City as He also put out some tracks on EMI's Columbia label, the best of which being his cover of Arthur Alexander's "Where Have You Been All My Life". The Columbia Graphophone Company was one of the earliest Gramophone companies in the United Kingdom. Arthur Alexander ( May 10, 1940 – June 9, 1993) born in Sheffield Alabama, was perhaps one of the biggest stars to arise out A new backing band called The Shouts joined him at this time.

In 1966, back in the States, he recorded Am I That Easy to Forget for Challenge Records. Challenge Records was founded in Los Angeles in 1957 by cowboy singer Gene Autry and former Columbia Records A & R representative Joe Johnson On this, he was backed by ex-members of The Champs and Glen Campbell. The Champs were a Rock and roll band most famous for their Latin-tinged Instrumental " Tequila. Glen Travis Campbell (born April 22 1936 in Delight, Arkansas) is a Grammy Award, Dove Award winning and two time nominated Golden Although critically well received, it did not sell very well either in the USA or Britain where it was released on the London label.

In 1969, he recorded the album "I'm Back and I'm Proud" for long-time fan John Peel's Dandelion label, which included backing vocals by Linda Ronstadt. John Robert Parker Ravenscroft, OBE (30 August 1939 – 25 October 2004 known professionally as John Peel, was an English Disc jockey, radio Linda Maria Ronstadt (born July 15 1946 in Tucson Arizona) is an American popular vocalist and Entertainer whose vocal styles in a variety He later recorded a further two albums for the Kama Sutra label. Kama Sutra Records was started in 1964 by Arthur "Artie" Ripp, Hy Mizrahi and Phil Steinberg as Kama Sutra Productions a production The two Kama Sutra albums were reissued on one CD by Rev-Ola in March 2008.

He has achieved a genuine legendary status and his work is respected, and often copied, by singers and groups worldwide. His major hit, Be-Bop-A-Lula, is considered one of the great rock 'n' roll records.

On his final tour of the UK, he was backed by The Wild Angels, a British band who had previously worked at the Royal Albert Hall with Bill Haley & His Comets and Duane Eddy. The Royal Albert Hall is an Arts venue situated in the Knightsbridge area of the City of Westminster, London, England, best known This article is specifically about the rock and roll band See Bill Haley for biographical information regarding Haley himself Duane Eddy (born April 26, 1938) is a Grammy Award -winning American Guitarist. Because of pressure from his ex-wife, the Inland Revenue and promoter Don Arden, Gene had to return rather swiftly to the USA. The Inland Revenue was until April 2005 a department of the British Government responsible for the collection of direct taxation, including Don Arden (born Harry Levy, 4 January 1926, Manchester England – died 21 July 2007, Los Angeles) was an

His final US recordings were four tracks for Rockin' Ronny Weiser's Rolling Rock label, a few weeks before his death. These tracks were later released on a compilation album of tribute songs, including a version of "Say Mama" by his daughter Melody Jean Vincent (accompanied by Johnny Meeks on guitar). He later recorded five tracks (released years later as "The Final Sessions") in Britain in October 1971.

Gene Vincent died on October 12th 1971 from a ruptured stomach ulcer while visiting his father in California, and is interred in the Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California. California ( is a US state on the West Coast of the United States, along the Pacific Ocean. Newhall is the southernmost and oldest district of Santa Clarita California.

He was the first inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame upon its formation in 1997. The Rockabilly Hall of Fame was established on March 21, 1997 to present early Rock and roll history and information relative to the artists and personalities The following year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum is a Museum located on the shores of Lake Erie in downtown Cleveland Ohio, United States

Gene Vincent got a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (at 1749 N. Vine St. ) in the Category Music.

Film Appearances

Cover versions of songs by Gene Vincent

See also

Music

Movies

See also

References

  1. ^ Vincentpapers
  2. ^ http://www.rockabillyhall.com/LatestNewsGV.html
  3. ^ Sheriff Tex Davis - Obituaries, News - Independent.co.uk
  4. ^ Vincent, Gene (RCS Artist Discography)
  5. ^ [1][2][3]

Books

External links

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