Rock 'n' roll pioneer Gene Vincent was born Eugene Vincent Craddock and helped him to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, his success was short lived. His original Blue Caps band broke up fairly quickly and his fame in America dwindled as rebellious rockers of the 1950s were replaced by clean cut teen idols of the early 1960s. Vincent moved to Britain where he was a cult figure in 1959 and remained there for a decade when he returned to America in 1969 with a new record deal and enjoyed a brief revival amongst the hippy teenagers in California who revered him as a legend. His new found fame was cut short by his death on October 12, 1971 at the age of 36 years following complications of a bleeding ulcer and seizure. He had been married four times and was a reputed hard drinker which most likely caused his death.
Interred at Eternal Valley Memorial Park, Newhall, California, USA.
Had a #7 pop hit with "Be-Bop-A-Lula" in 1956 with his group, The Blue Caps.
Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998.
He was awarded a Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Recording at 1749 North Vine Street in Hollywood, California.
Died of a bleeding ulcer at his parents home in Newhall, CA, in 1971. Unfortunately, he had no money left from his recording career and his parents didnt have the money for a funeral, so the city of Los Angeles paid for his burial.
