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Gene Vincent, real name Vincent Eugene Craddock, (February 11, 1935 – October 12, 1971) was an American rockabilly pioneer musician, best known for his hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula".

Early life

His parents, Ezekiah Jackson and Mary Louise Craddock, were shop owners in Norfolk, Virginia. He grew up in Virginia under the influence of country, Rhythm and Blues and Gospel music. 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. In 1955 he was stationed in Korea. In July 1955, whilst in Norfolk, he was involved in a 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

He left the Navy and started playing in various country bands in his native Norfolk, Virginia. In 1956 he wrote "Be-Bop-A-Lula", which helped him sign a contract at Capitol Records with his backing band The Blue Caps. The band at this time included Willie Williams on rhythm guitar, Jack Neal on upright bass, Dickie Harrell on drums, and the innovative and influential lead guitarist, Cliff Gallup.

After "Be-Bop-A-Lula" had become a huge hit (peaking at #7 and spending 20 weeks in the Billboard Pop Chart), Gene Vincent & the 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). That year, Vincent was reputedly 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 just a rumour, possibly started by his then manager.

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. Vincent also became one of the first rock stars to star in a film, The Girl Can't Help It together with Jayne Mansfield. In late 1957, Gene Vincent had his last USA hit single with "Dance To The Bop" (which spent 9 weeks in the charts peaking at #23).

There were numerous changes of personnel in his backing group, The Blue Caps. However, 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.

Following a visit to Europe in 1959, Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in England and France. By that time his career had mostly ended in the US. In 1960, while on tour in Britain, 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. The car, a Ford Consul, suffered a blowout causing it to swerve and crash into a lamp post. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak 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.

The car and other items from the crash were impounded at the local police station until a coroners' inquest could be held. At that time, Dave Dee, later of the band Dave Dee, Dozey, Beaky, Mick and Titch, was a police cadet at the station, and taught himself to play guitar on Eddie Cochran's impounded instrument.

Subsequently, he moved to England in 1963. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn 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.

Later career

His attempts to re-establish his American career by recording in folk rock and country-rock styles proved unsuccessful, and he is most remembered today for his recordings of the 1950s and early 1960s which originally appeared on the Capitol Records label.

In 1969, he recorded the album "I'm Back and I'm Proud" for long-time fan John Peel's Dandelion label, and later recorded a further two albums for the Kama Sutra label, although none of these were successful commercially.

He has achieved a genuine legendary status and his work is respected, and often copied, by singers and groups worldwide. For example, Jim Morrison copied Gene's 'Leather Look'. His major hit, Be-Bop-A-Lula has become what is considered to be one of the top three rock'n'roll records of all time and has rightly earned Gene a place in the history of modern music. Had he managed to survive through the Punk years, he would undoubtedly still be a leading figure in contemporary rock'n'roll.

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 & the Comets and Duane Eddy. Because of pressure from his ex-wife, the Inland Revenue and promoter Don Arden, Gene had to return rather swiftly to the USA.

Gene Vincent died 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 on its formation in 1997. The following year he was also posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

Cover versions of songs by Gene Vincent

"Baby Blue" has been performed by the White Stripes at their shows, including their show for Radio 1 at Maida Vale, London.
"Be Bop A Lula" was released by The Everly Brothers on the 1958 album The Everly Brothers.
"Say Mama" was released by a Finnish band called Hurriganes on the 1973 album Rock And Roll All Night Long.
"Be Bop A Lula" was released by John Lennon on the 1975 album Rock 'n Roll
"Get It" was released by Dave Edmunds and Rockpile on the 1977 album Get It.
"Rollin' Danny" was released by The Fall as a single (titled "Rollin' Dany") in 1985.
A 1989 live recording of "Race With The Devil" (from John Peel's 50th birthday party) was released by The Fall on their 2000 compilation album Backdrop.
"Be Bop A Lula" was released by Paul McCartney on the 1991 album Unplugged (The Official Bootleg).
Versions of "Race with The Devil" and "Cruisin'" can be found on Runaway Boys: A Retrospective '81-'92 by Stray Cats.
Jeff Beck released an entire album of Gene Vincent covers, Crazy Legs, in 1993.
"Catman" was released by The Birthday Party on their early ep (titled "Hee-Haw").
"Blue Jean Bop" was released by Paul McCartney on the 1999 album Run Devil Run.

References

Books

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" (the ultimate reference book to his recorded work) (A4 176pp Soft Cover) Spent Brothers Productions (2005) ISBN 0-9519416-7-4

Music

Ian Dury And The Blockheads. Sweet Gene Vincent: New Boots and Panties!!(1977): Demon (originally Stiff Records)

External links

@@ Line 16: / Line 16: @@
 Following a visit to Europe in [[1959]], Vincent managed to attract a new huge and discerning audience there, especially in [[England]] and [[France]]. By that time his career had mostly ended in the [[United States|US]]. In [[1960]], while on tour in [[Britain]], Vincent and songwriter [[Sharon Sheeley]] were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident in a private hire taxi travelling through [[Chippenham, Wiltshire|Chippenham]], [[Wiltshire]] on the [[A4 road|A4]]. The  car, a [[Ford Consul]], suffered a blowout causing it to swerve and crash into a lamp post. Vincent broke his ribs, collarbone, and added further damage to his already weak 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]].
+The car and other items from the crash were impounded at the local police station until a coroners' inquest could be held. At that time, Dave Dee, later of the band Dave Dee, Dozey, Beaky, Mick and Titch, was a police cadet at the station, and taught himself to play guitar on Eddie Cochran's impounded instrument.
 Subsequently, he moved to England in [[1963]]. His stage shows became "must see" events and his bands through those years were to spawn 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.