Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

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Biography

Forest MS, United States (1905 – 1976)

Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup (also known as “Pop” Crudup) (August 24, 1905 – March 28, 1976) was a singer and guitarist. He is best known outside blues circles for writing songs later covered by Elvis Presley (and since covered by dozens of other artists), such as “That’s All Right Mama”, “My Baby Left Me” and “So glad you’re mine”, and by many claims, “Blue Suede Shoes”.

Born in Forest, Mississippi and living and working in throughout the South and Midwest as a migrant worker for a time, he and his family returned to Mississippi in 1926. He sang , then began his career as a singer around Clarksdale, Mississippi. He visited Chicago as member of the Harmonizing Four in 1939 and stayed there to work as a solo musician, but barely made a living as a street singer. Record producer Lester Melrose allegedly found him while he was living in a packing crate, introduced him to Tampa Red and signed him to a contract with RCA Victor’s Bluebird label.

He recorded with RCA in the late 1940s and with Ace Records, Checker Records and Trumpet Records in the early 1950s and toured throughout the country, specifically Black establishments in the South, with Sonny Boy Williamson II and Elmore James. He also recorded under the names Elmer James and Percy Lee Crudup.
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  • SBrewski

    Dude sounds like the Father of all Rock and Roll to me

    20 Dec 2012 Reply

  • strajnic

    Elvis knew what was good!

    2 Nov 2012 Reply

  • FyoMiDos

    legend

    16 Jul 2012 Reply

  • DeJMoreno

    I vote for tabacco!

    25 Nov 2011 Reply

  • Druid66

    He's not just a big boy, he's a man, by gum.

    21 Sep 2011 Reply

  • Parisblues

    There's a large choice of pictures without doing tabacco incitation. Please vote.

    21 Aug 2011 Reply

  • ErasedLittleMan

    incredible...

    8 Aug 2011 Reply

  • hustlerzinc

    The Songs That Inspired The Big Boppa's CD - Rock 'n' Roll Legends, Rockabilly Hits NEW ROCKABILLY CD COMPILATION RELEASE, 4th April 2011, CD and Digital Download. This volume of ' The Songs That Inspired' series looks at the music associated with the dance form of Boppin', the fast train driving rhythms and slapping double bass, the sharp guitar licks and haunting echo of a rebel without a cause. This album will have you boppin' from start to finish and provides an education into early roots of rock and roll. Featuring Elvis Presley, Buddy Holly, Gene Vincent, Chuck Berry, Johnny Burnette, Carl Perkins, Warren Smith, Howlin' Wolf, Arthur Crudup and many other Rockabilly pioneers and legends. Get it NOW from: Amazon http://www.amazon.co.uk/Songs-That-Inspired-Big-BoppaS/dp/B004DJ1VX4/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1301761043&sr=8-1 Tesco: http://www.tescoentertainment.com/store/mp3/various-artists-the-songs-that-inspired-the-big-boppas/2%3A49288249/ and all good record stores.

    4 Apr 2011 Reply

  • Chiaroscurist

    Dude's hella decent.

    11 Dec 2010 Reply

  • Dani_Gabarrot

    One of many Blues legends.

    1 Jun 2009 Reply

  • LondonLouis

    I am sure there's better versions of "That's All Right Mama" around. Back in the early 1970s, Crudup stayed overnight with us up in Manchester. Nice guy, reminiscing about what it was like to be touring the US South in the 1930s. Had stories of having to run for his life when one of the other blues players he was touring with got out of line. For me, it was nice to be with the guy whose music ("Mama") provided Sam Philips with the "White guy playing black music" when Elvis started goofing around in the Sun Studios with Crudup's hit. You can still feel the hair rise on the back of your neck when you hear the power that Elvis brought to the tune. Crudup wasa decent blues player. Not one of the true greats. But he was in at the birth of White Rock Music - and it was his music that inspired the young Elvis.

    6 Dec 2008 Reply

  • LondonLouis

    I am sure there's better versions of "That's All Right Mama" around. Back in the early 1970s, Crudup stayed overnight with us up in Manchester. Nice guy, reminiscing about what it was like to be touring the US South in the 1930s. Had stories of having to run for his life when one of the other blues players he was touring with got out of line. For me, it was nice to be with the guy whose music ("Mama") provided Sam Philips with the "White guy playing black music" when Elvis started goofing around in the Sun Studios with Crudup's hit. You can still feel the hair rise on the back of your neck when you hear the power that Elvis brought to the tune. Crudup wasa decent blues player. Not one of the true greats. But he was in at the birth of White Rock Music - and it was his music that inspired the young Elvis.

    6 Dec 2008 Reply

  • mojoaxel

    It's pure insanity that those great songs are still copyright protected!

    13 Jun 2008 Reply

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