Gene Vincent

Gene Vincent, real name Eugene Vincent Craddock (February 11, 1935 - October 12, 1971) was an American rockabilly pioneer musician, best known for his hit "Be-Bop-A-Lula". He started playing in various country bands in his native Norfolk, Virginia after leaving the United States Navy with a permanent leg injury. He signed at Capitol Records with his backing band The Blue Caps.

Related Topics:
February 11 - 1935 - October 12 - 1971 - Rockabilly - Country - Norfolk, Virginia - United States Navy - Capitol Records

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After "Be-Bop-A-Lula" became a huge hit in 1956, Gene Vincent & the Blue Caps were unable to follow it up with the same level of commerical success but recorded critically acclaimed songs like "Bluejean Bop" and "Race with the Devil". 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 rumor.

Related Topics:
1956 - Virginia

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The group had another hit with 1957's "Lotta Lovin'." Vincent also became one of the first rock stars to star in a film, The Girl Can't Help It. By the 1960s, Vincent's career had mostly ended in the US, though he maintained a sizeable audience in Europe, especially England and France.

Related Topics:
The Girl Can't Help It - 1960s - US - Europe - England - France

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In 1960, while on tour in Britain, Vincent and songwriter Sharon Sheeley were seriously injured in a high-speed traffic accident in a London taxicab travelling through Chippenham, Wiltshire on the A4. 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 fiance) Eddie Cochran.

Related Topics:
1960 - Britain - Sharon Sheeley - London - Taxicab - Chippenham - Wiltshire - A4 - Eddie Cochran

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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.

Related Topics:
Folk-rock - Country-rock - Capitol Records

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Gene Vincent died from a ruptured stomach ulcer and is interred in the Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California.

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In 1998, he was posthumously inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.

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