Eugene Vincent Craddock, more commonly known as Gene Vincent, was born on February 11, 1935, in Norfolk, Virginia. Despite his early departure from school at the age of 17, Vincent's life took a significant turn when he joined the Navy, only to have his naval career abruptly ended following a motorcycle accident in 1955.
This unfortunate event marked a turning point in Vincent's life, as he was soon introduced to the rising star Elvis Presley, which inspired him to pursue a singing career of his own. His exceptional voice caught the attention of Norfolk disk jockey Tex Davis, who played a crucial role in connecting Vincent with Capitol Records.
In 1956, Vincent recorded the iconic song "Be-Bop-A-Lula," which became a massive hit, selling millions of copies. This initial success led to numerous movie appearances, including "The Girl Can't Help It" (1956) and "Hot Rod Gang" (1958),and earned him a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
However, Vincent's fame was short-lived, as his original Blue Caps band disbanded relatively quickly, and his popularity in America began to dwindle. The rebellious rockers of the 1950s were replaced by clean-cut teen idols of the early 1960s, leading Vincent to relocate to Britain in 1959, where he became a cult figure.
Vincent remained in Britain for a decade, returning to America in 1969 with a new record deal. He experienced a brief resurgence in popularity among California's hippy teenagers, who revered him as a legend. Tragically, Vincent's life was cut short on October 12, 1971, at the age of 36, due to complications from a bleeding ulcer and seizure.
Throughout his life, Vincent was married four times and was known for his hard drinking, which likely contributed to his untimely death. Despite his tumultuous career and personal life, Gene Vincent remains an important figure in the development of rock 'n' roll, and his music continues to inspire new generations of fans.