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Who was
Vincent Eugene Craddock?
By: Roy Sawyer. Jr.
Vincent Eugene Craddock was born either the 11th or 17th of Feb or 26 May 1935 in Norfolk, and he died 12 Oct 1971 in Newhall (Los Angeles Co.), Ca. He is buried in the Eternal Valley Memorial Park in Newhall, Ca. His father was Hezekiah Jackson Craddock ( 28 Aug 1914 - 22 Mar 1992). His family originated at Creswell in Washington Co., NC, and he is buried in the Santa Fe National Cemetery in New Mexico. Vincent Eugene Craddock's mother was (possibly Mary) Nancy Louise Cooper (5 Dec 1914 Knotts Island, NC - 30 Aug 1984 Burbank, Los Angeles Co., Ca). She is buried in Forest Lawn Memorial Park, Hollywood Hills, in Glendale, Ca.Vincent Eugene Craddock's paternal grandfather was Henry William Craddock (b. 17 Apr 1893),Washington Co., NC), and he married Maud Estelle Bateman (b. c1898, Tyrrell Co., NC).Vincent Eugene Craddock's maternal grandfather was Thomas White Cooper (6 Dec 1879 Knotts Island, NC - 5 May 1952 Norfolk, Va). He married Sarah Ansell (b. c1877, Knotts Island).
Vincent Eugene Craddock had two younger sisters:1. Evelyn Juanita Craddock (2 Jan 1938 - 14 Jan 2000) (m. Edward Butler).2. Sarah Louise "Tina" Craddock (13 Jan 1948, Norfolk - 15 Sep 2017, Oxnard Ca.) (m. Milton Bernard Stollak, 1946 - 2002)
He grew up at Munden's Point in Princess Anne Co., Va, where his parents ran a store. His father served in the US Coast Guard during World War II, so his mother ran the store alone. After the war was over, the family moved to Norfolk, and Vincent dropped out of school in 1952 and enlisted in the Navy on 17 Feb 1952. In July, 1955, his left leg was shattered in a motorcycle accident, and he spent considerable time in the Portsmouth Naval Hospital, and he refused to allow his leg to be amputated. He was released from the Navy on 30 Jul 1956. He was badly crippled for the rest of his life.On 11 Feb 1956, he had married Ruth Ann Hand (25 Mar 1940 - 2 Apr 2008, remarried to Daniel Holloway), but they separated in May, 1956, and were divorced in Portsmouth, Va, on 24 Jun 1958. In 1958 he married Nita Darlene Hicks Norton (5 May 1939 - 14 Sep 2010). She was the mother of their son, Vincent Eugene Craddock, Jr. (13 Oct 1960 - 27 Sep 2006) (buried with his father), who has living children. Apparently Craddock's second marriage ended in divorce, because he married Jacqueline Fusco on 10 Apr 1968 in Minden, Nevada, and they were divorced in Los Angeles, Ca, in March, 1971.
In 1955 or '56 he became very involved in the local music scene, and he changed his name to Gene Vincent. Radio Station WCMS disc jockey, "Sheriff Tex Davis" (William Douchette, 1914 - 2007) greatly helped boost Gene Vincent's music career, and he became his manager. Gene Vincent formed a rockabilly band, the Blue Caps - Willie Williamson on rhythm guitar (replaced in late '56 by Paul Peek), Jack Neal on upright bass, Dickie Harrell on drums (he is still active today), and Cliff Gallup on lead guitar. Grady Owen was another guitarist, and Tommy Facenda also was in the band. Cliff Gallup soon left the band, came back, then apparently they parted ways for good. He was Clifton E. "Cliff" Gallup (17 Jun 1930 - 9 Oct 1988), and he influenced Eric Clapton, Brian Setzer, and Jeff Beck. ROLLING STONE magazine lists Cliff Gallup as 79th in their list of 100 Best Guitarists. Cliff Gallup's family originated in Camden Co., NC, and they are aligned with Currituck's Gallop family. Cliff Gallop left the Blue Caps for good in 1956, and he was replaced by Russell Williford. Cliff Gallop's widow did not mention Gene Vincent in her husband's obituary. For many years, Cliff Gallup was Director of Maintenance and Transportation for the Chesapeake, Va, School System.
1956 was the year for Gene Vincent's biggest hit, BE-BOP-A-LULA. ROLLING STONE magazine placed the song as No. 103 of their list of "500 Greatest Songs of All Time".On 16 Apr 1960, in Chippenham, Wiltshire, England, Gene Vincent suffered a broken collarbone, broken ribs, and further damage to his bad leg in a high-speed taxi accident. Eddie Cochran (SUMMERTIME BLUES) died the following day from injuries sustained in the accident. From 1963, Gene Vincent lived in England, and he influenced the Beetles. After 1969, he returned to the United States.In 1997, Gene Vincent was the first inductee ever in the Rockabilly Hall of Fame.In 1998, Gene Vincent was inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.Gene Vincent has a star in the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 1749 North Vine Street.In 2012, the Blue Caps were retroactively inducted in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame alongside Gene Vincent by a special committee.On 23 Sep 2003, Gene Vincent was honored with a Norfolk's Legends of Music Walk of Fame Bronze Star embedded in the Granby Street sidewalk.Sources:Find-a-GraveAncestry.comWikepediaPersonal knowledge
