| James "Sugar Boy" Crawford | |
|---|---|
James "Sugar Boy" Crawford making a rare appearance at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, 1996 as a special guest for his grandson, Davell Crawford |
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| Background information | |
| Birth name | James Crawford |
| Born | October 12, 1934 |
| Origin | New Orleans, Louisiana |
| Genres | Rhythm and blues |
| Occupations | Singer |
| Instruments | Vocals, piano |
| Years active | 1950–1969 |
| Labels | Aladdin, Checker Records, Imperial, Specialty |
| Associated acts | Davell Crawford, Snooks Eaglin |
James "Sugar Boy" Crawford (born October 12, 1934) is a New Orleans R&B artist. He is the author of the classic "Jock-A-Mo" in 1954, a hit that was later recreated as "Iko Iko",[1] by The Dixie Cups and redone by many artists including Dr. John, Belle Stars, The Grateful Dead and Cyndi Lauper.
Starting out on trombone, he formed a band which local DJ Doctor Daddy-O named "The Chapaka Shawee" (Creole for "We Aren't Raccoons"), the title of an instrumental they played. Signed on by Chess Records president Leonard Chess, the group was re-named "Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters".
Although his song became a standard at the New Orleans Mardi Gras, Crawford himself disappeared from public view, and in a 2002 interview for Offbeat, told how his career came to an abrupt halt in 1963 after a severe beating which incapacitated him for two years, forcing him to leave the music business. In 1969, he decided to limit his singing to in church only.[1]
Crawford appeared on his grandson Davell Crawford's 1995 CD Let Them Talk.[2] He has since made some stage appearances with Davell as well including the one at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival[1] (1996), and most recently at the 7th annual Ponderosa Stomp in April 2008.[3]
Among the artists Crawford has recorded with are guitarist Snooks Eaglin.