One of the coolest dudes to ever stroll the stage, Gene Vincent defined rockabilly and set the standard for greasers and future punks around the world.
I met Gene on October 28, 1957 . I just turned 13 *** Knew him for 14 wonderful years *** On a Friday night , June 13, 1958 we sat in his dressing room at Tiny Dumonts in Portland , Oregon *** that night the "Gene Vincent Baby Blue Fan Club" was born *** He suggested calling it "Baby Blue" as that was his current hit record here in the Pacific Northwest *** He gave me the signature name of "Carole/Baby Blue" Such an honor . He lived in Portland and I was blessed to spend time with him and kept me up to date on his appearances and other info for the club news letters . There were two distinct sides to "Sweet Gene" The Rock Star * The performer * and the softer side . He was kind , and sensitive , generous to a fault . I adored him . He was in my mind the Greatest Rock Star Ever *** Gene was Exciting *** He was Your Hearts Greatest Thrill *** He was Magic ! Gene loved to sing , its what he lived for and he was grateful to all his fans * They were the ones that kept him going . Well aware that he was in constant pain from his leg and serious health issues . He was The Ultimate Performer , the voice of an angel when he slowed things down and sang his ballads . He Would Take Your Breath Away . It broke my heart watching this sweet man fighting against all odds to perform another show until he had nothing left to give . He quietly slipped away , took his final flight home to Los Angeles and died four days later on Tuesday , October 12, 1971 at 4:55 PM *** The last time I talked to him was on Wednesday September 20 ,1971 from London *** He was the Rhythm In My Heart ! *** I think about him every day *** I miss him ! God Bless * Vincent Eugene Craddock aka "Sweet Gene" *** RIP xx
A Certainly Most Sweet epitaph for your memories you've shared with us all, Thank you for that, You are the Sweetest of Hearts. Love and All God's Blessings upon you and Gene ♥
My dad told me ..he saw him in a Chinese restaurant in the late 50's he limped and my grandmother said leave him alone ... Not knowing who he was. The legend .. the reason I wear a cap lol. I guess he was down to earth.
Other rock stars seemed to play up their rebelliousness superficially to give character to their performance whereas Gene seemed to restrain himself to give his. Genes performances I've seen are a perfect blend of madness, warmth, danger and fun. That also seems to describe him and for someone who embodied Rock'n'Roll he always seemed to be very polite, humble and kind.
Gene Vincent was an inspiration to every British Rock'n'Roll singer in the 50s, as was his guitarist Cliff Gallop, to every lead guitarist of the day, all over the world !
@@simonparkes5750 There's also a clip of Paul McCartney telling about how Gene tried to shoot Gary Glitter. There are a few more stories of him and his pistol. He was pretty wild and a huge talent. I can see that many people loved him.
I only saw the best side of him, he took me on busses and trams and let me in to see many of his shows in Blackpool. I saw some of his last shows but he looked awful.
Gene told many stories about his leg the true fact is that he did a tour of duty in the US Merchant Navy and re signed as to get a sign up bonus which he used to buy a motor bike which while he was riding it was hit by a woman in a Cadalic who ran a red light, his lower leg was nearly torn off and the doctors wanted to cut it off and he begged his mother not to let them. the leg was to give him no end of pain for the rest of his life. he nearly allways wore a brace or cast. towards the end he neaded crutches for help.he died aged 31 .
I believe he was also hurt in the car accident that took the life of Eddie Cochran. Gene really gets under your skin watching him perform, and hearing about his very interesting and dramatic life. I'm glad some of his performances are here for us to enjoy.
He also had the first leg injury while he was still in the military. Regardless of how he got it, he was still in the military. Of course he was hurt again in the wreck that killed Eddie Cochran. That goes without saying. There's a clip of Gene singing Temptation Baby on U Tube from an English movie called Live It Up made in the mid 60s.
Gene is buried near my mother in Eternal Valley Cemetery in Newhall, Santa Clarita, California. She passed away last June 30, 2018. She was a teen in the 50s and grew up with all that cool rock and roll. I think she would get a kick out of knowing she was going to be laid to rest just a few feet from a rock and roll legend. Miss you mom...
May your mother rest in peace 🙏 The passing of Gene has left my world forever Misty Blue 😥I knew him well for 14 amazing years. 1957 * October 12, 1971 * Loved him deeply 💔 Forever Missed 😭Sweet Gene was a gift from God 🤗 Carole/Baby Blue 💙
He was backed at one point in the early 60’s by the Outlaws, a Joe Meek band that included Ritchie Blackmore, Chas Hodges, Mick Underwood, and Kenny Lindgren. The road manager was Peter Grant, later of Led Zepplin fame....
That hair during his BeBopAlula days, either it was Brylcreem (a little dab'l do ya...) or Vitalis, us young wannabe's couldn't afford such luxuries so we used a swipe of Vaseline petroleum jelly instead.- that's when I learned the difference between it and Vicks Vaporub. ☺
He knew Eddie Cochran and must've been devastating being in the same car crash with Eddie Cochran. Gene Vincent was an influence on the Beatles music. Gene Vincent's music will always live on especially to Rockabilly fans.
The Stray Cats music sounded similar to the Gene Vincent sound. I think that's what made them great. Gene Vincent's recording guitarist Clifton Gallup was fantastic.
Holy Underwear, Batman ! Love this video ! Saw a lot of photos of Gene I had never seen before ! He was truly one of the icons of early rock n roll....what a tragedy he left us so young. And how impressive he continued to perform though in great pain from his injured leg, not wanting to disappoint the audiences ! The sign of a real "trouper" ! THANK YOU so much for sharing this very interesting, informative & intriguing video with us ! CHEERS !! :-)
I really hate that Steve Allen introduction putting down Gene and Be Bop A Lula. He did not get it, but the kids sure did, especially over in Liverpool where the teenage Beatles idolized him. Gene Vincent and his band was one of the all-time greats.
I’m 70 now but, when I was about 12, my grandad took me round to a relatives house (London) where he was introduced to me as a cousin so there was some British connection in his family
MANY YEARS AGO MY GIRLFRIEND NOW MY WIFE SAW LIVE HERE IN LONDON IT WAS A BIG VENUE FILL ED WITH GENES FANS HE WAS STILL AT THE TOP OF HIS CAREER & GAVE A GREAT SHOW THEN APPROX 1970 SAW HIM IN A MUCH SMALLER HALL FROM THE START AS ALL OF US WERE SO CLOSE TO THE STAGE WE COULD SEE HOW LIFE HAD BEEN SO UNKIND TO HIM IT WAS SO SAD IM SO GLAD WE SAW HIM THAT FIRST TIME BUT WISH THE LAST SHOW HAD BEEN CANCELLED AS THE MEMORY OF THE PAIN IN HIS FACE 4 FT AWAY IS STILL SO FRESH IN MY MIND R.I.P YOU DESERVE IT
Gene was such a dear soul, loved him deeply. It broke my heart 💔😢 watching his life deteriorating before my very eyes as the years passed by and knew that he was slipping away 😥He deserved so much better * He was the True King 👑Of Rock'n'Roll 🎸🎸🎷 Carole/Baby Blue 💙
Such a sad ending for Jim as he was popular when I was a young teen, I'm 78 years old and still like to hear his songs, like BE Bop A Lula one of my favorites.
WOW , GENES DEATH WAS SO SAD , THIS IS THE FIRST I HEARD OF HIS PASSING , AND AT SUCH A YOUNG AGE TOO . GENE VINCENT WILL GO DOWN IN ROCK AND ROLL HISTORY AS ONE OF THE INNOVATORS OF THIS GREAT MUSIC AND HIS SONGS WIL LIVE FOREVER !!!!!!
Saw Gene and the Blue Caps in Atlanta1957 or 8. Back in the day rock was just being born and seeing him on stage wearing as leg brace while the band really wailed on, the guitar player, hair combed back in the "duck tail" was swinging his head and hair around so hard I could see the sweat and grease flying off. It was revolution in action. Of course, my friends and i had to form a band playing all the 3 chord rockers and 4 chord slow songs at school and teen clubs. Glory Days.
On your Eddie Cochran video video you said that gene Vincent got his leg injury in the car crash that killed Eddie . Your videos are great by the way I really love them. Specailly the edde cochran one I still got the album he made. Although I was born 4 years after his death.
Gene got his leg injured in the Korean war as a motorcycle courier. He was only 16 but lied about his age. Of course after his injury, he was discharged for being underaged and received no benefits.
@@wesleycook7687... I forgot to complete my last message, I was going to correct it by saying Eddie Cochrane was the only one in his spyder porche at the time. Can't remember any mention of Gene Vincent being there? I remember reading this in a new pop magazine around 1978 it was called "the story of Rock" very good mag in deed, also had another one called the story of Pop. Wish I still had them they were very well produced.
for me there are 2 kings..... of course Elvis Presley and Gene Vincent ! I love their music now for 42 years and still I play Blue Gene bop, be bop a lula, race with the devil, jumps giggles and shout, catman, five feet o'lovin, bi-bickey-bi-bo go go, and all other Gene songs he wrote .... later this year (2017) I will have both rockabilly rebels tattooed on my arm !!
Terrific concise bio on a great artist. Perhaps more celebrated for his up-tempo numbers, but just as competent as a balladeer. Sounds like a pretty unassuming dude too, at least judging by his interviews. Sadly missed.
Steve Allen always mocked songs that didn't have exactly most exquisite lyrics but are really Classics! Many of Irving Berlin's songs had simple lyrics!
The opening dude i think is Steve Allen. He was a right winged conservative in the 50's. Some just don't get it. They said Rock would not last. An we have had the wonderful music for 60 years. So take that Squares. Gene was far out man
I There are two versions of Be ~Bop~ALula by Gene . One is faster love both . There is a single Gene did which for me is a fock n roll classic yet was not big hit ? The lyrics & driveing saxophone beat were perfect for Gene .its called of course ....SAY ~MAMA.
That was Steve Allen's joke on his Tonight Show. He had no use for Rock and Roll. When Elvis did Hound Dog on Allen's show, Elvis sung it to.......a hound dog.
Gene was a good judge of character so he knew Gary Glitter was a no good ...... What a fantastic sound Gene and the 56 Blue caps had streets ahead .Sweet Gene Vincent.
Gene's star on the "Hollywood Walk Of Fame" was placed there on Feb. 8, 1960 , across the street from Capitol Records 1750 North Hollywood & Vine * Gene was one of the first rock stars to receive such an honor , of which he was very humbled by *
Does anyone know why Gene tried to shoot Gary Glitter.I am a big fan of Gene but I just read about that incident in the late 60’s,so if someone can write few details about the subject.
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Move the Rock and Roll hall of fame to Memphis where it was invented and recorded. Get it out of that cold nothing Cleveland. All they had was a concert.
