Gene Vincent

Gene Vincent
Background information
Birth name Vincent Eugene Craddock
Born (1935-02-11)February 11, 1935
Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Died October 12, 1971(1971-10-12) (aged 36)
Newhall, California, U.S.
Genres Rockabilly, rock and roll, blues, country
Occupation(s) Singer, musician
Instruments Vocals, guitar
Years active 1955–1971

Gene Vincent (born Vincent Eugene Craddock; February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971) was an American musician who pioneered the styles of rock and roll and rockabilly. His 1956 top ten hit with his Blue Caps, "Be-Bop-A-Lula", is considered a significant early example of rockabilly.[1] He is a member of both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Biography

Early life

Vincent Eugene Craddock was born February 11, 1935, in Norfolk, Virginia to parents, Mary Louise and Ezekiah Jackson Craddock. His musical influences included country, rhythm and blues and gospel music. His favourite composition was Beethoven's overture Egmont. He showed his first real interest in music while his family lived in Munden Point, Princess Anne County (now Virginia Beach), Virginia, near the North Carolina line, where they ran a country store. He received his first guitar at the age of twelve as a gift from a friend.

Vincent's father, Ezekiah Craddock, 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. Mrs. Craddock maintained a general store at Munden Point. Craddock's parents moved the family and opened a general store and sailors' tailoring shop in Norfolk.

Having spent his youth in the Norfolk area, Craddock dropped out of school at seventeen and enlisted in the United States Navy in 1952. Craddock's parents signed the forms allowing him to join the Navy. He completed boot camp and joined the fleet as a crewman aboard the fleet oiler USS Chukawan although he spent two weeks training period in the repair ship USS Amphion before returning to the Chukawan. Craddock never saw combat but completed a Korean War deployment. He sailed home from Korean waters aboard battleship USS Wisconsin, but was not part of the ship's company.

Craddock planned a career in the Navy and, in 1955, used his $612 re-enlistment bonus to buy a new Triumph motorbike. In July 1955, while in Norfolk, a motorcycle crash shattered his left leg. He refused to have it amputated. The leg was saved, but the crash left him with a limp and pain. He wore a steel sheath around the leg[2] for the rest of his life. Most accounts relate the accident as the fault of a drunk driver who struck him, although some claim Craddock had been riding drunk. Years later in some of his professional music bios, there is no mention of an accident, but it was claimed that he was wounded in combat in Korea.[3] He spent time in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital and was medically discharged from the Navy shortly thereafter.

Early music career

Craddock became involved in the local music scene in Norfolk. He changed his name to Gene Vincent, and formed a rockabilly band called the Blue Caps (a term used in reference to enlisted sailors in the U.S. Navy).[4] The band included Willie Williams on rhythm guitar, Jack Neal on upright bass, Dickie Harrell on drums, and lead guitarist, Cliff Gallup. He and his band were named Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps. He also collaborated with another rising musician, Jay Chevalier of Rapides Parish, Louisiana.

Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps soon gained a reputation playing in various country bars in his native Norfolk, Virginia. There, they won a talent contest organized by local radio DJ "Sheriff Tex" Davis, who became his manager.[5]

Biggest hits

In 1956 he wrote "Be-Bop-A-Lula", which drew comparisons to Elvis Presley[1] and which Rolling Stone magazine lists as No. 103 on Rolling Stone's 500 Greatest Songs of All Time.[6] Local radio DJ "Sheriff Tex" Davis arranged for this to be demo-ed and this secured him a contract with Capitol Records. He signed a publishing contract with Bill Lowery of The Lowery Group of music publishers in Atlanta, Georgia. "Be-Bop-A-Lula" was not on Vincent's first album and was picked by Capitol producer Ken Nelson as the B side of his first single. Prior to the release of the single, Lowery pressed promotional copies of "Be-Bop-A-Lula" and sent them to radio stations throughout the country. By the time Capitol released the single, "Be-Bop-A-Lula" had already gained attention from the public and radio DJs. The song was picked up and played by other U.S. radio stations (obscuring the original "A-side" song), and became a hit and launched Vincent as a rock 'n' roll star.

After "Be-Bop-A-Lula" became a hit (peaking at No. 5 and spending 20 weeks on the Billboard Pop Chart, and No. 5 and 17 weeks in the Cashbox Chart), Gene Vincent and 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" (No. 96 in Billboard and No. 50 in Cashbox) and "Bluejean Bop" (No. 49 in Billboard, and another million selling disc).[7]

Cliff Gallup left the band in 1956 and Russell Williford joined as the new guitarist for the Blue Caps. Williford played and toured Canada with Vincent in late 1956 and left in early 1957. Gallup came back to do the next album, left again, then Russell came back and exited before Johnny Meeks entered the band. The group had another hit with 1957's "Lotta Lovin'" (highest position No. 13 and spending 19 weeks in Billboard, and No. 17 and 17 weeks in Cashbox). Vincent was awarded gold records for two million sales of "Be-Bop-A-Lula",[7] and 1.5 million sales of "Lotta Lovin'". The same year he toured the east coast of Australia with Little Richard and Eddie Cochran, drawing audiences totaling 72,000 to their Sydney Stadium concerts. Vincent also made an appearance in the film, The Girl Can't Help It with Jayne Mansfield, performing "Be-Bop-A-Lula" with The Blue Caps in a rehearsal room.

"Dance to the Bop" was released by Capitol records on October 28, 1957.[8] On November 17, 1957 Vincent and His Blue Caps performed the song on the nationally-broadcast Ed Sullivan Show.[9] The song spent nine weeks on the Billboard charts and peaked at No. 23 on January 23, 1958 and No. 36 and 8 weeks in Cashbox, and would be Vincent's last American hit single.[10] The song was used in the movie Hot Rod Gang for a dance rehearsal scene featuring dancers doing West Coast Swing.[8][11][12]

Vincent and His Blue Caps also appeared several times on 'Town Hall Party', California's largest country music barn dance held at the Town Hall in Compton, California. '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 8:30 to 9:30 pm over the NBC Radio network. It was also shown on KTTV, channel 11 from 10 pm to 1 am on Saturday nights.[13] Appearances were on October 25, 1958, as well as July 25 and November 7, 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".[14]

Europe

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 US and try his hand in Europe.

On December 15, 1959, Vincent appeared on Jack Good's TV show Boy Meets Girl, his first appearance in England.[15] He wore black leather, gloves, and a medallion, and stood in a hunched posture. Good is credited with the transformation of Vincent's image. After the TV appearance he toured France, the Netherlands, Germany and the UK performing in his US stage clothes.[16]

On April 16, 1960, while on tour in the UK, Vincent, Eddie Cochran and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were involved in a high-speed traffic accident in a private hire taxi in Chippenham, Wiltshire. Vincent broke his ribs and collarbone and further damaged his weakened leg. Sheeley suffered a broken pelvis. Cochran, who had been thrown from the vehicle, suffered serious brain injuries and died the next day. Vincent returned to the States after the accident.

Promoter Don Arden had Vincent return to the UK in 1961 to do an extensive tour in theatres and ballrooms with Chris Wayne and the Echoes. Due to the overwhelming success of this tour, Vincent subsequently moved to Britain in 1963. The accompanying band, Sounds Incorporated, a six-piece outfit which included three saxophones, guitar, bass and drums, later went on to play with the Beatles at their Shea Stadium concert.

He toured the UK again in 1963 with the Outlaws, featuring future Deep Purple guitar player Ritchie Blackmore, as a backing band. Vincent's alcohol problems marred the tour, resulting in problems both on stage and with the band and management.[17]

Later career

Vincent's attempts to re-establish his American career in folk rock and country rock proved unsuccessful; he is remembered today for recordings of the 1950s and early 1960s that appeared on the Capitol label. In the early sixties, he also put out tracks on EMI's Columbia label (the British label, not the U.S. CBS/Columbia), including a cover of Arthur Alexander's "Where Have You Been All My Life?". A backing band called the Shouts joined him.

In 1966 and 1967, in the States, he recorded for Challenge Records, backed by ex-members of the Champs and Glen Campbell. Challenge released three singles in the US, and the UK London label released two singles and collected recordings on to an LP, Gene Vincent, on the UK London label in 1967. Although well received, none sold well.

In 1968 in a hotel in Germany, Gene Vincent tried to shoot Gary Glitter, Vincent fired several shots and missed and a frightened Glitter left the country the next day.[18]

In 1969, he recorded the album I'm Back and I'm Proud for long-time fan John Peel's Dandelion label, produced by Kim Fowley with arrangements by the Byrds' Skip Battin and backing vocals by Linda Ronstadt. He recorded two other albums for the Kama Sutra label, reissued on one CD by Rev-Ola in March 2008.

On his 1969 tour of the UK he was backed by the Wild Angels, a British band who had worked at the Royal Albert Hall with Bill Haley & His Comets and Duane Eddy. Because of pressure from his ex-wife, the Inland Revenue and promoter Don Arden, Vincent returned to the US.

His final US recordings were four tracks for Rockin' Ronny Weiser's Rolling Rock label, a few weeks before his death. These were released on a compilation album of tribute songs, including "Say Mama" by his daughter, Melody Jean Vincent, accompanied by Johnny Meeks on guitar. He later recorded four tracks (released years later as The Last Session) in Britain in October 1971 as part of his last tour. He was backed by Richard Cole and Kansas Hook. They recorded five tracks at the BBC studios in Maida Vale, London, for Johnnie Walker's radio show. He managed one show at the Garrick Night Club in Leigh, Lancashire, and two shows at the Wookey Hollow Club in Liverpool on October 3 and 4 before his health gave out. Vincent returned to the US and died a few days later. Four of these tracks were later released on the BBC's own label pre-fix BEEB001 called The Last Session; this includes a version of "Say Mama". The four tracks are now on Vincent's White Lightning album.

Death and legacy

Vincent died at the young age of 36 on October 12, 1971 from a ruptured stomach ulcer while visiting his father in California,[3] and is interred in the Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California.

He was the first inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame upon its formation in 1997.[19] The following year he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Vincent has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1749 N. Vine Street. In 2012, his band, the Blue Caps, were retroactively inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by a special committee, alongside Vincent. On Tuesday, September 23, 2003 Vincent was honored with a Norfolk's Legends of Music Walk of Fame bronze star embedded in the Granby Street sidewalk.

Discography

Singles

Year Titles (A-side, B-side)
Both sides from same album except where indicated		 US single UK single Peak chart positions US Album
US UK
1956 "Be-Bop-A-Lula"
b/w "Woman Love" 		Capitol 3450 Capitol 14599 7 16 Gene Vincent's Greatest!
"Race with the Devil"
b/w "Gonna Back Up Baby" (Non-album track) 		Capitol 3530 Capitol 14628 96 28
"Blue Jean Bop"
b/w "Who Slapped John"		 Capitol 3558 Capitol 14637 — 16 Bluejean Bop
"Jumps, Giggles and Shouts"
b/w "Wedding Bells" (Non-album track)		 N/A Capitol 14681 — —
1957 "Crazy Legs"
b/w "Important Words" (from Gene Vincent's Greatest!)		 Capitol 3617 Capitol 14693 — — Non-album tracks
"Five Days"
b/w "B-I-Bickey-Bi, Bo-Bo-Go" (from The Bop That Just Won't Stop)		 Capitol 3617 Capitol 14693 — —
"Lotta Lovin'"
b/w "Wear My Ring" (Non-album track)		 Capitol 3763 Capitol 14763 13 — Gene Vincent's Greatest!
"Dance to the Bop"
b/w "I Got It"		 Capitol 3839 Capitol 14808 23 — Non-album tracks
1958 "I Got a Baby"
b/w "Walkin' Home From School"		 Capitol 3874 Capitol 14830 — —
"Baby Blue"
b/w "True To You" 		Capitol 3959 Capitol 14868 — —
"Rocky Road Blues"
b/w "Yes I Love You Baby" (from Gene Vincent's Greatest!)		 Capitol 4010 Capitol 14908 — —
"Git It"
b/w "Little Lover" (from Gene Vincent's Greatest!)		 Capitol 4051 Capitol 14935 — — A Gene Vincent Record Date
"Say Mama"
b/w "Be Bop Boogie Boy" 		Capitol 4105 Capitol 14974 — — Non-album tracks
1959 "Over the Rainbow"
b/w "Who's Pushing Your Swing" 		Capitol 4153 Capitol 15000 — — Gene Vincent's Greatest!
"Summertime"
b/w "Frankie and Johnnie" (from Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll)		 N/A Capitol 15035 — — A Gene Vincent Record Date
"The Night Is So Lonely"
b/w "Right Now" 		Capitol 4237 Capitol 15053 — — Non-album tracks
1960 "Wild Cat"
b/w "Right Here On Earth" 		Capitol 4313 Capitol 15099 — 21
"My Heart"
b/w "I Got To Get You Yet" 		N/A Capitol 15115 — 16 Sounds Like Gene Vincent
"Pistol Packin' Mama"
US B: "Anna Annabelle"
UK B: "Weeping Willow" 		Capitol 4442 Capitol 15136 — 15 Non-album tracks
"Anna Annabelle"
b/w "Accentuate The Positive" (from Crazy Times)		 N/A Capitol 15169 — —
1961 "Jezebel"
b/w "Maybe" (from Sounds Like Gene Vincent) 		N/A Capitol 15179 — — Bluejean Bop
"If You Want My Lovin'"
b/w "Mister Loneliness" 		Capitol 4525 Capitol 15185 — — Non-album tracks
"She She Little Sheila"
b/w "Hot Dollar" 		N/A Capitol 15202 — 22 Crazy Times
"I'm Going Home"
b/w "Love Of A Man" 		N/A Capitol 15215 — 36 Non-album tracks
"Brand New Beat"
b/w "Unchained Melody" (from Gene Vincent and The Blue Caps) 		N/A Capitol 15231 — — Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll
"Lucky Star"
b/w "Baby Don't Believe Him"		 Capitol 4665 Capitol 15243 — — Non-album tracks
1962 "Be-Bop-A-Lula '62"
b/w King Of Fools" 		N/A Capitol 15264 — —
1963 "Held for Questioning"
b/w "You're Still In My Heart" 		N/A Capitol 15290 — —
"Crazy Beat"
b/w "High Blood Pressure" 		N/A Capitol 15307 — —
"Where Have You Been All My Life"
b/w "Temptation Baby" 		N/A Columbia 7174 — —
1964 "Humpity Dumpity"
b/w "A Love 'Em and Leave 'Em Kinda Guy" 		N/A Columbia 7218 — —
"La Den Da Den Da Da"
b/w "The Beginning Of The End" 		N/A Columbia 7293 — —
"Private Detective"
b/w "You Are My Sunshine" 		N/A Columbia 7343 — —
1966 "Bird Doggin'"
b/w "Ain't That Too Much" 		Challenge 59337 London 10079 — —
"Lonely Street"
b/w "I've Got My Eyes On You"		 Challenge 59347 London 10099 — —
1967 "Born to Be a Rolling Stone"
b/w "Hurtin' For You Baby" 		Challenge 59365 N/A — —
1969 "Be-Bop-A-Lula '69"
b/w "Ruby Baby" 		N/A Dandelion 4596 — — I'm Back and I'm Proud
"Story Of The Rockers"
b/w "Pickin' Poppies" 		Playground 100
Forever 6001		 Spark 1091 — — Non-album tracks
1970 "White Lightning"
b/w "Scarlet Ribbons" 		N/A Dandelion 4974 — — I'm Back and I'm Proud
"Sunshine"
b/w "Geese" 		Kama Sutra 514 N/A — — Gene Vincent
"The Day The World Turned Blue"
US B: "How I Love Them Old Songs"
UK B: "High On Life" 		Kama Sutra 518 Kama Sutra 2013 018 — — The Day the World Turned Blue

Albums

(NB This listing omits the many reissue albums released over the decades)

EPs

(NB This listing omits the many EPs of album tracks & compilations)

Film appearances

See also

Music

Films

Bibliography

References

  1. 1 2 Gilliland, John (1969). "Show 8 – The All American Boy: Enter Elvis and the rock-a-billies. [Part 2]" (audio). Pop Chronicles. Digital.library.unt.edu. Track 3.
  2. ↑ Perrin, Jean-Éric; Rey, Jerôme; Verlant, Gilles (2009). Les Miscellanées du rock. Paris: Éditions Fetjaine / La Martinière. p. 252. ISBN 978-2-35425-130-7. Gene choisit de se faire poser une gaine d'acier autour des restes de son membre
  3. 1 2 Tobler, John (1992). NME Rock 'N' Roll Years (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 231. CN 5585.
  4. ↑ "Official Gene Vincent Web Site". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  5. ↑ "Sheriff Tex Davis". The Independent. London. September 13, 2007. Retrieved May 3, 2010.
  6. ↑ "The RS 500 Greatest Songs of All Time". December 9, 2004. Archived from the original on June 22, 2008. Retrieved 2008-04-10.
  7. 1 2 Murrells, Joseph (1978). The Book of Golden Discs (2nd ed.). London: Barrie and Jenkins Ltd. p. 87. ISBN 0-214-20512-6.
  8. 1 2 Archived March 26, 2010, at the Wayback Machine.
  9. ↑ "The Ed Sullivan Show – Season 10, Episode 8: November 17, 1957: Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps, Georgia Gibbs, Carol Burnett, Johnny Carson". TV.com. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  10. ↑ "HOT ROD GANG DVD Movie – 1958 Movie on DVD! – Gene Vincent Movie Hot Rods – HOT ROD GANG". Thevideobeat.com. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  11. ↑ Archived September 27, 2007, at the Wayback Machine.
  12. ↑ "Hot Rod Gang (1958)". IMDb.com. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  13. ↑ Hillbilly-Music.com. "Town Hall Party". hillbilly-music.com. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  14. ↑ "Gene Vincent – At Town Hall Party Production Details | Box Office – Yahoo! Movies". Movies.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2012-04-29.
  15. ↑
  16. ↑ Gene Vincent There's One in Every Town. Mike Farren. 2004. The Do Not Press Limited. pp. 75–80. ISBN 1-904316-37-9
  17. ↑ Black Knight. Jerry Bloom. 2008. Omnibus Press.
  18. ↑ "Regrettable Television: This Is Your Life, Gary Glitter". Channelhopping.onthebox.com. December 14, 2012. Retrieved 2014-04-24.
  19. ↑ "Rockabilly Hall of Fame Inductess". Rockabillyhall.com. Retrieved February 24, 2014.

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