Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup

US, Mississippi delta blues singer and guitarist sometimes refered to as "The Father of Rock and Roll" due to his influence on "The King of Rock and Roll", Elvis Presley, who recorded Crudup's "That's Allright (Mama)" for his initial, breakthrough record. He also wrote many other well known songs, such as "My Baby Left Me" and "So Glad You're Mine" which also have been covered by Presley and dozens of other artists.

Born: 24 August 1905 in Forest, Mississippi, USA.
Died: 28 March 1974 in Nassawadox, Virginia, USA (aged 68).

Discovered by legendary Chicago record producer Lester Melrose, Crudup made his recording debut for the Victor label in 1941. Over the next 11 years he did 36 recording sessions for Victor resulting in songs like "That's Allright (Mama)", "So Glad You're Mine" (both 1946) and "My Baby Left Me" (1950). He then recorded more infrequently for a.o. the Checker and Checker labels before he by 1956 withdrew from recording due to dissatisfaction with wages and battles with Melrose over his writing royalties. In 1962 he recorded again, this time for Bobby Robinson's Checker label, resulting in some of his best recorded work, backing himself on all instruments. His later recordings includes a 1968 Checker album and a 1970 album recorded in the UK with young british blues musicians including Dave Kelly, Tom McGuinness and Hughie Flint.

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