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• Gene Vincent was an American Rock n' Roll pioneer with the hit single known for his song, "Be-Bop-A-Lula". He was the first rock star to act in a film, A Girl Can't Help It. In 1960, Vincent was injured in a car accident that killed rock musician Eddie Cochran while in Wiltshire, England.

• Fast Facts

  1. Full name: Vincent Eugene Craddock
  2. Born: February 11, 1935
  3. Birthplace: Norfolk, Virginia
  4. Died: October 12, 1971
  5. First inductee into the Rockabilly Hall of Fame in 1997
  6. Inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1998
  7. Has a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

• Career

  In 1952 Vincent left school to join the U.S. Navy. He planned to make a career of it, taking his re-enlistment bonus to buy a Triumph Motorcycle. He was hit by a car while riding it, smashing his left leg. His injury caused him to be medically discharged from the service.

  Soon after his discharge, he formed the band Vincent and His Blue Caps. Working his way up from singing in local country bars, they received a contract with Capitol Records and Vincent convinced them to record "Be-Bop-A-Lula" as a b-side and would become the song Vincent is most remembered by.

• Related Mahalo Pages

  Elvis Presley | Eddie Cochran | Carl Perkins | Buddy Holly | Link Wray | Jerry Lee Lewis | Ricky Nelson | Fats Domino | The Everly Brothers | Ritchie Valens | The Big Bopper | The Beatles

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