Remembering Gene Vincent
Written by admin on February 11, 2010 – 8:37 pm -Gene Vincent would have been 75 years old today if he hadn’t sadly died at the age of just 36 in 1971.
| Born Vincent Eugene Craddock in Norfolk, Virginia, he changed his name to Gene Vincent after leaving the US Navy in the mid-fifties. At the same time he formed a rockabilly band called the Blue Caps. In 1956 he wrote the song “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, which would be his biggest and most memorable hit. A demo of the song was enough to secure Vincent a contract with Capitol Records, who were in search of an artist to perform in the style of RCA Records’ Elvis Presley. |  |
“Be-Bop-A-Lula” reached number 7 and spent 20 weeks on the Billboard Pop Chart. Other hits followed, but none to rival the success of his first. An important step in Gene Vincent’s career was his trip to England in 1959, where he gained a new and ardent following among British teenagers. It was also on this trip that television producer Jack Good advised Vincent to put on the black leathers that would become so strongly associated with him.
On April 16, 1960, during a UK tour, Gene Vincent was in the car that tragically crashed and killed fellow rocker Eddie Cochran. Vincent broke his ribs and collarbone.
Gene Vincent did branch out into folk rock and country rock in the mid-sixties, but failed to make an impact on the charts with these efforts. His European concerts continued to attract a loyal following though. His final tour was in the UK in 1971, where he was backed by The Wild Angels. Gene died shortly after on October 12, 1971 from a ruptured stomach ulcer while visiting his father in California.
Gene Vincent is one of several American rock ‘n’ roll artists who ended up more popular abroad than in their homeland. He is most fondly remembered for his 50s hits, including “Blue Jean Bop,” “Say Mama,” and of course “Be-Bop-A-Lula.”
Here’s Gene Vincent performing “Say Mama” on UK television in 1964.
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Posted in Rock 'n' roll |
