Gene Vincent

Vincent Eugene Craddock (February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971), 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 both the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.

Early life

Vincent Eugene Craddock was born in Norfolk, Virginia, on February 11, 1935. His 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 general store and sailors' tailoring shop in Norfolk.

Having spent his youth in the Norfolk area, Craddock dropped out of school at 17 and enlisted in the U.S. 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 dollar reenlistment bonus to buy a new Triumph motorbike. In July 1955, while in Norfolk, a motorcycle shattered his left leg. He refused to have it amputated. The leg was saved, but left him with a limp and pain. He wore a steel sheath around the remains for the rest of his life. Most accounts relate the accident as the fault of a drunk driver who struck him, although some claim as 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. 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 bars 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. 5 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 Gallup left the band in 1956 and Russell Williford was ushered in as new guitarist for The Blue Caps and played into 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 15 December 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, and stood in a hunched posture. Good is credited with the transformation of Vincent's image. After the TV appearance he toured France, Holland, Germany, and the UK performing in his US stage clothes..

On 16 April 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 England 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 again the UK in 1963 with British four-piece 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.

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 appeared on the Capitol Records label. 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 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 (from the Bluecaps) 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 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 & Legacy

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. In 2012, his band, the Blue Caps, would be retroactively inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame by a special committee, alongside Vincent.

Discography

Singles

• "Woman Love"/"Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Capitol F 3450 US) (6/4/56) (Capitol 45-CL 14599 UK), No. 5
• "Race With the Devil"/"Gonna Back Up Baby" (Capitol F3530 US) (9/10/56) (Capitol 45-CL 14628 UK), No. 96
• "Blue Jean Bop"/"Who Slapped John" (Capitol F3558 US) (10/56) (Capitol 45-CL 14637 UK), No. 34
• "Jumps, Giggles And Shouts"/"Wedding Bells" (Capitol 14681 UK)
• "Crazy Legs"/"Important Words" (Capitol F3617 US) (1/7/57) (Capitol 45-CL 14693 UK)
• "Five Days"/"Bi Bickey Bi Bo Bo Go" (Capitol F3678 US) (3/25/57) (Capitol 45-CL 14722 UK)
• "Lotta Lovin'"/"Wear My Ring" (Capitol F3763 US) (7/22/57) (Capitol 45-CL 14763 UK), No. 13
• "Dance to the Bop"/"I Got It" (Capitol F3839 US) (11/18/57) (Capitol 45-CL 14808), No. 23
• "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) (Capitol 45-CL 14830)
• "Baby Blue"/"True to You" (Capitol F3959 US) (5/58) (Capitol 45-CL 14868 UK)
• "Rocky Road Blues"/"Yes I Love You Baby" (Capitol F4010 US) (7/58) (Capitol 45-CL 14908 UK)
• "Git It"/"Little Lover" (Capitol F4051 US) (9/58) (Capitol 5-CL 14935 UK)
• "Say Mama"/"Be Bop Boogie Boy" (Capitol F4105 US) (11/58) (Capitol 45-CL 14974 UK)
• "Over the Rainbow"/"Who's Pushing Your Swing" (Capitol F4153 US) (1/59) (Capitol 45-CL 15000 UK)
• "Summertime"/"Frankie And Johnnie" (Capitol 45-CL 15035 UK)
• "The Night is So Lonely"/"Right Now" (Capitol F4237 US) (6/59) (Capitol 45-CL 15053 UK)
• "Wild Cat"/"Right Here on Earth" (Capitol F4313 US) (11/59) (Capitol 45-CL 15099 UK)
• "My Heart"/"I Got To Get To You Yet" (Capitol 45-CL 15115 UK)
• "Pistol Packin' Mama"/"Weeping Willow" (Capitol 45-CL 15136 UK) (6/60)
• "Pistol Packin' Mama"/"Anna Annabelle" (Capitol F4442 US) (9/60)
• "Anna Annabelle"/"Accentuate The Positive" (Capitol 45-CL 15169 UK) (60)
• "Jezebel"/"Maybe" (Capitol 45-CL 15179 UK) (61)
• "If You Want My Lovin'"/"Mister Loneliness" (Capitol F4525 US) (61) (Capitol 45-CL 15185 UK)
• "She She Little Sheila"/"Hot Dollar" (Capitol 45-CL 15202 UK) (61)
• "I'm Going Home (To See My Baby)"/"Love Of A Man" (Capitol 45-CL 15215 UK) (61)
• "Brand New Beat"/"Unchained Melody" (Capitol 45-CL 15231 UK) (61)
• "Lucky Star"/"Baby Don't Believe Him" (Capitol F4665 US) (61) (Capitol 45-CL 15243 UK (62)
• "King Of Fools"/"Be-Bop-A-Lula '62" (Capitol 45-CL 15264 UK) (62)
• "Held For Questioning"/"You're Still In My Heart" (Capitol 45-CL 15290 UK) (63)
• "Crazy Beat"/"High Blood Pressure" (Capitol 45-CL 15307 UK) (63)
• "Where Have You Been All My Life"/"Temptation Baby" (Columbia DB 7174 UK) (63)
• "Humpity Dumpity"/"A Love 'Em And Leave 'Em Kinda Guy" (Columbia DB 7218 UK) (64)
• "La Den Da Den Da Da"/"The Beginning Of The End" (Columbia DB 7293 UK) (64)
• "Private Detective"/"You Are My Sunshine" (Columbia DB 7343 UK) (64)
• "Bird Doggin'"/"Ain't That Too Much" (Challenge 59337 US) (66) (London HLH 10079 UK)
• "Lonely Street"/"I've Got My Eyes On You" (Challenge 59347 US) (66) (London HLH 10099 UK)
• "Born To Be A Rolling Stone"/"Hurtin' For You Baby" (Challenge 59365 US) (67)
• "Be-Bop-A-Lula '69"/"Ruby Baby" (Dandelion S 4596 UK) (69)
• "White Lightning"/"Scarlet Ribbons" (Dandelion S 4974 UK) (70)
• "Story Of The Rockers"/"Pickin' Poppies" (Forever FR6001 US) (70) (Spark SRL 1091 UK) (73)
• "Sunshine"/"Geese" (Kama Sutra KA514 US) (70)
• "The Day The World Turned Blue"/"How I Love Them Old Songs" (Kama Sutra KA518 US) (70)
• "The Day The World Turned Blue"/"High On Life" (Kama Sutra KS2013018 UK) (71)
• "Roll Over Beethoven"/"Say Mama"/"Be-Bop-A-Lula" (Beeb 001 UK) (74)
• "Hound Dog"(live)/"Be-Bop-A-Lula"(live) (Norton 45-114 US) (04)

(NB Apart from the first 1957 reissue, this listing omits the very many reissue singles released over the decades)

Albums

• Bluejean Bop (Capitol T764 US & UK) (8/13/56)
• Gene Vincent and His Blue Caps (Capitol T811 US & UK) (1957)
• Gene Vincent Rocks! And The Blue Caps Roll (Capitol T970 US & UK) (3/58)
• A Gene Vincent Record Date (Capitol T1059 US & UK) (11/58)
• Sounds Like Gene Vincent (Capitol T1207 US & UK) (6/59)
• Crazy Times (Capitol T1342 US & UK mono) (Capitol ST1342 US & UK stereo) (3/60)
• The Crazy Beat of Gene Vincent (Capitol T 20453 UK) (63)
• Shakin' Up A Storm (Columbia 33-OSX 1646 UK) (64)
• Gene Vincent (London HAH 8333 UK) (67)
• I'm Back And I'm Proud (Dandelion D9 102 US)(69) (Dandelion 63754 UK) (70)
• Gene Vincent (Kama Sutra KSBS 2019 US) (70) retitled If Only You Could See Me Today (Kama Sutra 2361009 UK) (71)
• The Day The World Turned Blue (Kama Sutra KSBS 2027 US) (70) (Kama Sutra 2316005 (UK) (71)
• Rhythm in Blue (bootleg) (Bluecap Records BC2-11-35 Canada) (79)
• Be-Bop-A-Lula (bootleg) (Koala KOA 14617 US) (80)
• Forever Gene Vincent (Rolling Rock LP 022 US) (80) (contains 4 rare recordings by Gene Vincent)
• Dressed in Black (Magnum Force MFLP 016 UK) (82)
• Gene Vincent With Interview By Red Robinson (bootleg) (The Great Northwest Music Company GNW 4016 US) (82)
• From LA to Frisco (Magnum Force MFLP 1023 UK) (82)
• For Collectors Only (Magnum Force MFLP 020 UK) (84)
• Rareties (sic) (bootleg) (Dr Kollector CRA 001 France) (86)
• Rarities Vol 2 (bootleg) (Doktor Kollector DK 005 France) (85)
• Important Words (Rockstar RSR LP 1020 UK) (90)
• Hey Mama! (Rollercoaster ROLL 2012 UK) (98)

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

EPs

• Hot Rod Gang (Capitol EAP 1-985 US & UK) (9/58)
• Be-Bop-A-Lula '62 (Capitol EAP 1-20448 France) (62)
• Live and Rockin' (Fan club issue UK) (69)
• The Screamin' Kid Live! (bootleg) (no label 20240 France) (69)
• The Screaming Kid (bootleg) (no label 20.266 France) (69)
• Rainyday Sunshine (Rollin' Danny RD1 UK) (80)
• On Tour With Gene Vincent & Eddie Cochran (Rockstar RSR-EP 2013 UK) (86)
• In Concert Vol 1 (bootleg) (Savas SA 178305 France) (88)
• The Last Session (Strange Fruit SFNT 001 UK) (88)
• Hey Mama! (Rollercoaster CDEP 123 UK) (98)
• Blue Gene (Norton EP-076 US) (99)

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

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