Gene Vincent

Name	Gene Vincent
Background	solo_singer
Birth name	Vincent Eugene Craddock
Born	February 11, 1935Norfolk, Virginia, United States
Died
Genre	Rockabilly, rock and roll
Occupation	Singer, musician
Years active	1955–1971
Instrument	Vocals, guitar

Vincent Eugene Craddock (February 11, 1935–October 12, 1971), better known as Gene Vincent, 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. He is a member of the Rock and Roll and Rockabilly Halls of Fame.

Biography

Early life

Vincent Eugene Craddock was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 11, 1935. His early musical influences included country, rhythm and blues and gospel music. 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 as a gift from a friend at the age of 12.

His father, Ezekiah Jackson 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. His mother, Mary Louise Craddock, maintained a general store at Munden Point. Craddock's parents moved the family and opened a new general store and sailor's tailoring shop in Norfolk.

Having spent his youth in the Norfolk area, Craddock decided to pursue the life of a sailor. He dropped out of school at age 17 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 crewman aboard the fleet oiler USS Chukawan, although he did spend a two week training period on the repair ship USS Amphion before returning to the Chukawan. 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, but 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. In July 1955, while 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 chronic pain for the rest of his life. 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). The band included Willie Williams on rhythm guitar, Jack Neal on upright bass, Dickie Harrell on drums, and the innovative and influential lead guitarist, Cliff Gallup. He and his band are named "Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps", not "...the Blue Caps" as often stated.

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

Biggest hits

In 1956 he wrote "Be-Bop-A-Lula", No. 102 on Rolling Stone magazine's "500 Greatest Rock and Roll Songs of All Time" list. Local radio DJ "Sheriff Tex" Davis arranged for this to be demoed 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. 7 and spending 20 weeks on the Billboard Pop 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 "Bluejean Bop" (No. 49). 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 rumor, possibly started by his manager.

Cliff Gallop left the band and Johnny Meeks was ushered in as new guitarist for The Blue Caps in 1957. The group had another hit with 1957's "Lotta Lovin'" (highest position No. 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, 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. On November 17, 1957 Vincent and His Blue Caps performed the song on the nationally-broadcast Ed Sullivan Show. The song spent nine weeks on the charts and peaked at No. 23 on January 23, 1958, and would be Vincent's last American hit single. The song was used in the movie Hot Rod Gang for a dance rehearsal scene featuring dancers doing West Coast Swing.

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. 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".

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.] He wore black leather, gloves, and a medallion stood in a hunched posture. Good is credited with the transformation of Vincent's image. After the TV appearance he toured the France, Holland, Germany, and the UK performing in his US stage clothes. When joined by Eddie Cochran and a month long extension of the tour, he resumed the maximum leather state dynamics.

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. 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 subsequently moved to England in 1963. The band Sounds Incorporated—a six-piece outfit which included three saxophones, guitar, bass and drums. They later went on to play with The Beatles at their Shea Stadium concert.

Later career

Vincent's 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. He also put out some tracks on EMI's Columbia label, including a cover of Arthur Alexander's "Where Have You Been All My Life". A new backing band called The Shouts joined him at this time.

In 1966 and 1967, back in the States, he recorded tracks for Challenge Records. On these, he was backed by ex-members of The Champs and Glen Campbell. Challenge released a single in the US and the UK London label released two singles and collected all the recordings onto an LP Gene Vincent on the UK London label in 1967. Although critically well received, none of these releases sold well.

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

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. Because of pressure from his ex-wife, the Inland Revenue and promoter Don Arden, Vincent had to return swiftly 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 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.

Vincent died on October 12, 1971 from a ruptured stomach ulcer while visiting his father in California, 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. 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.

Discography

Singles

"Woman Love"/"Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Capitol F 3450 US) (6/4/56)

"Race With the Devil"/Gonna Back Up Baby" (Capitol F3530 US) (9/10/56)

"Blue Jean Bop"/"Who Slapped John" (Capitol F3558 US) (10/56)

"Crazy Legs"/"Important Words" (Capitol F3617 US) (1/7/57)

"Five Days"/"Bi Bickey Bi Bo Bo Go" (Capitol F3678 US) (3/25/57)

"Lotta Lovin'"/"Wear My Ring" (Capitol F3763 US) (7/22/57)

"Dance to the Bop"/"I Got It" (Capitol F3839 US) (11/18/57)

"Lotta Lovin'"/Be Bop A Lula" (Capitol F3871 US) (11/20/57) (Re-issue)

"I Got a Baby"/"Walking Home From School" (Capitol F3874 US) (1/58)

"Baby Blue"/"True to You" (Capitol F3959 US) (5/58)

"Rocky Road Blues"/"Yes I Love You Baby" (Capitol F4010 US) (7/58)

"Git It"/"Little Lover" (Capitol F4051 US) (9/58)

"Say Mama"/"Be Bop Boogie Boy" (Capitol F4105 US) (11/58)

"Over the Rainbow"/"Who's Pushing Your Swing" (Capitol F4153 US) (1/59)

"The Night is So Lonely"/"Right Now" (Capitol F4237 US) (6/59)

"Wild Cat"/"Right Here on Earth" (Capitol F4313 US) (11/59)

"Anna Annabelle"/"Pistol Packin' Mama" (Capitol F4442 US) (9/60)

Albums

Blue Jean Bop (Capitol T764 US) (8/13/56)

Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps (Capitol T811 US) (3/4/57)

Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll (Capitol T970 US) (3/58)

Gene Vincent Record Date (Capitol T1059 US) (11/58)

Sounds Like Gene Vincent (Capitol T1207 US) (6/59)

Crazy Times (Capitol T1342 US mono) (Capitol ST1342 US stereo) (3/60)

I'm Back And I'm Proud (Dandelion 63754) (1969)

EP's

Hot Rod Gang (Capitol EAP 1-985 US) (9/58)

Film appearances

The Girl Can't Help It (1956)

Hot Rod Gang (aka Fury Unleashed) (1958)

Live It Up! (aka Sing And Swing) (1960)

It's Trad, Dad! (aka Ring A Ding Rhythm) (1962)

Vincent was played by Carl Barât in the 2009 movie, Telstar

See also

Music

Ian Dury - "Sweet Gene Vincent", from New Boots and Panties!! (1977)

Havana 3 a.m. - "Blue Gene Vincent"

Johnny Carroll - "Black Leather Rebel"

Robert Gordon - "The Catman" on his album Rock Billy Boogie

Stray Cats - "Gene and Eddie" on their album Blast Off!.

Movies

Early in the movie, Quadrophenia, Kevin, played by Ray Winstone, sings "Be-Bop-A-Lula" in the bathtub.

In the 2003 movie, The Singing Detective, Robert Downey Jr, sings "In My Dreams" , "Important Words" and "Woman Love"

"Be-Bop-A-Lula" appears in the 1990 movie, Wild at Heart; one of the main characters is named Lula.

Bibliography

Steven Mandich: Sweet Gene Vincent (The Bitter End) Orange Syringe Publications. (2002) 1000 Printed. ISBN 0-953762602

Susan Vanhecke: Race With the Devil: Gene Vincent's Life in the Fast Lane. Saint Martin's Press ISBN 0-312-26222-1

Derek Henderson: Gene Vincent, A Companion Spent Brothers Productions (2005) ISBN 0-9519416-7-4

Mick Farren: Gene Vincent. There's One In Every Town The Do-Not Press (2004) ISBN 1-904316-37-9

References

External links

Official Gene Vincent website from Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Gene Vincent Fan club & website

Category:1935 births Category:1971 deaths Category:American expatriates in the United Kingdom Category:American rock musicians Category:Apex Records artists Category:Bandleaders Category:Capitol Records artists Category:Challenge Records artists Category:Deaths from ulcers Category:Musicians from Virginia Category:Norton Records artists Category:People from Norfolk, Virginia Category:Protopunk musicians Category:Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductees‎ Category:Rockabilly musicians Category:Rockabilly Hall of Fame inductees Category:United States Navy sailors Category:American people of Welsh descent