Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps

A Rockabilly Tragedy

by Erika Cox

Gene Vincent was born Vincent Eugene Craddock on February 11, 1935 in Norfolk, Virginia. His family moved to Muden Point, Virginia when he was seven years old. He began playing the guitar at an early age and listening to the Grand Ole Opera and gospel music in the local black churches. He played with a number of local Black musicians at his parent’s home and in various other locations. He joined the United States Navy for a brief stint until he was riding a motorcycle and crashed leaving him with a permanent leg injury that required a lifelong brace.

While in the hospital he wrote a song called “Be-Bop-A-Lula” about a local stripper, which eventually would become his biggest hit. In the meanwhile, unable to continue his Navy career he returned back to Norfolk and started playing with various country bands around the city and promoting himself at radio stations.

He changed his name to Gene Vincent and tried to make a name for himself as a country singer, which he succeeded at becoming a local star. After hearing his song, “Be-Bop-A-Lula”, a local disc jockey named, “Sheriff” Tex Davis put together a band with Gene Vincent as the singer and he named the band Gene Vincent and the Blue Caps. Some sources say the name Blue Caps came from President Eisenhower’s baby blue golf cap.

Gene Vincent’s musical style was a mix of Rockabilly and Rock and Roll he had a Rockabilly sound but a Rock and Roll image and lifestyle. He was inspired by Carl Perkins but had the moves and high-strung energy of Elvis Presley. In 1956, the group signed with Capital Records and the song “Be-Bop-A-Lula” became an instant success.

Many of the follow up songs like “Bluejean Bop” and “Race with the Devil” were not as successful; in fact many radio stations refused to play “Race with the Devil” because of the lyrics and played “Bluejean Bop” instead. In 1957, the group had another big hit with “Lotta Lovin”, also Gene appeared in the film, “The Girl Can’t Help It”, singing his hit “Woman Love”.

The group also appeared on American Bandstand and the Ed Sullivan show. Touring constantly caused his leg injury to worsen and almost prevented him from appearing in the movie and his leg injury often kept him from performing, so he decided to get fitted with a permanent metal brace. Gene Vincent was poised to have a very successful and long lasting career.

However, tragedy would strike preventing his music career from ever reaching the level it could have. By 1958, Vincent was drinking heavily to keep up his energy while touring and he was also taking two bottles of aspirin to fight off his leg pains and aches. Also, Vincent had owed back taxes and lost his home.

He later had to settle for low paying jobs to make ends meet and soon after the Caps quit because they were not getting paid due to Gene’s financial problems and his inability to complete tours. In 1959, he started playing and touring with a number of bands they toured Japan but Vincent became so paranoid that he moved back to Los Angeles.

Although his popularity in the United States had dwindled in the 60’s, he was still very popular in England. He decided to go to Europe to tour and while in England he convinced his friend, Eddie Cochran, another popular Rock and Roll star, to start touring with him throughout England.

In April 1960, while traveling at a high speed in London (there had been a hired driver) Vincent, Eddie Cochran and Cochran’s girlfriend were involved in a fatal car accident. Vincent was seriously injured, he broke his collarbone, ribs, and further injured his already damaged leg, Eddie Cochran’s girlfriend suffered a broken pelvis.

However, Eddie Cochran was not as fortunate, he died in this tragic accident. This no doubt took a serious toll on Vincent leaving him feeling somewhat responsible for the death of his friend and tourmate. Gene never truly found success again, he toured around Europe but mostly as an opening act for other popular bands at the time. He had unsuccessful appearances and records and eventually returned back to Los Angeles.

Sadly, he died on October 12, 1971 at the young age of 36 from a bleeding stomach ulcer. Gene Vincent is gone but not forgotten. He is mostly remembered for his 50’s and early 60’s recordings. The Blue Caps had a successful reunion tour in 1993. Gene Vincent was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998 and was the first artist to be inducted into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in its formation in 1997.
 

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