Voting Station

Arthur 'Big Boy' Crudup

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Vocalist

The Resume

    (August 24, 1905-March 28, 1974)
    Born in Forest, Mississippi
    Blues singer/guitarist
    Wrote and recorded 'That's All Right (Mama),' 'My Baby Left Me' and 'So Glad You're Mine'
    Subject of the documentary 'Arthur Crudup: Born in the Blues' (1973)
    Last name pronounced 'crew-dup'

Why he might be annoying:

    He did not begin playing guitar until he was 32.
    He had an oddly high-pitched voice for a man who weighed 220 pounds.
    To get around his contract, he also recorded as Elmer James and Percy Lee Crudup.
    His stage fright limited his career in the 1940s.
    After retiring from music and returning to farming, he supplemented his income by selling moonshine.
    He called Elvis Presley 'Elvin Preston.'
    His name looks like it could be pronounced 'crud-up.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    After a promoter stranded his gospel group in Chicago, he was living in a cardboard box and playing in the streets to earn enough money to get back to Mississippi when a record producer discovered him (1941).
    His contract paid him a flat $200 per session with no performing or publishing royalties.
    Elvis Presley recorded three of his songs and said, 'If I ever got to the place where I could feel all old Arthur felt, I'd be a music man like nobody ever saw.'
    When his songs became hits for Elvis, B.B. King and Big Mama Thornton, he noted 'I was making everybody rich, and here I am poor.'
    He was rediscovered during the early 60s folk revival and overcame his stage fright enough to make a modest living.
    He was touring with Bonnie Raitt shortly before his death.
    After his death, his children won two million dollars in back royalties from his old labels.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 4 Votes: 75.00% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 11 Votes: 54.55% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 11 Votes: 72.73% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 12 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 68.97% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 11 Votes: 45.45% Annoying