Arthur Crudup (1905-1974)

WY-27

Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup, a blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter sometimes called “The Father of Rock ‘n’ Roll,” was born in Mississippi and gained prominence as a recording artist in Chicago in the 1940s. A cover of Crudup’s “That’s All Right” launched the career of Elvis Presley, who later recorded two more of Crudup’s works. Among others who covered Crudup were the Beatles, B.B. King, and Elton John. Rarely receiving royalties, Crudup supported his family as a laborer and farm worker and moved to Franktown ca. 1960. He toured internationally and performed with his sons James, George, and Jonas as The Malibus in Weirwood and Nassawadox. He died on 28 March 1974 and is buried near here.

Department of Historic Resources, 2023

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References/Bibliographic Citation:

The Blues Foundation: https://blues.org/blues_hof_inductee/arthur-big-boy-crudup/ “Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup,” Mississippi Encyclopedia: https://mississippiencyclopedia.org/entries/arthur-big-boy-crudup/ Hillary T. Chesson, “Va.’s Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup and a Legacy of the Blues,” Delmarva Now, 5 April 2017. https://www.delmarvanow.com/story/news/local/virginia/2017/04/05/vas-arthur-big-boy-crudup-and-legacy-blues/99781522/ Stefanie Jackson, “Effort Underway to Remember Local Music Legend Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup,” Eastern Shore Post, 22 April 2021: https://easternshorepost.com/2021/04/22/effort-underway-to-remember-local-music-legend-arthur-big-boy-crudup/ Mississippi Blues Trail: https://msbluestrail.org/blues-trail-markers/arthur-crudup Brian Lukasavitz, “Blues Law: Arthur ‘Big Boy’ Crudup vs. Lester Melrose,” American Blues Scene: http://www.americanbluesscene.com/2015/11/blues-law-arthur-big-boy-crudup-vs-lester-melrose/ Correspondence with Billy Sturgis.