Connie Curtis Crayton (18 December 1914, Rockdale, Texas — 25 June 1985, Los
Angeles, California[1]), known as Pee Wee Crayton, was an American R&B and
blues guitarist and singer. There are several stories on how he acquired the
name Pee Wee. In a Living Blues article in the 1980s, he stated that friend and
singer, Roy Brown, gave him the nickname. This makes sense since Brown had a
way of making nicknames for many of his friends. It has also been said that his
father gave him the nickname as a tribute to a local Texas piano player. Crayton
began playing guitar seriously after moving to California in 1935, and settling
in San Francisco. While there he absorbed the music of
T-Bone Walker,
but developed his own unique approach. His aggressive playing contrasted with
his smooth vocal style, and was copied by many later blues guitarists. In 1948
he signed a recording contract with Modern Records. One of his first recordings
was the instrumental, Blues After Hours, which reached #1 in the
Billboard R&B chart late that year. Its flip side, the sleek pop ballad
I'm Still in Love With You, and the livelier Texas Hop indicate
his range, but this was music very much of its time and place, California in
the late 1940s, and he never managed to break that mould. He went on to record
for many other record labels in the 1950s including Imperial in New Orleans,
Louisiana, Jamie in Philadelphia and Vee-Jay in Chicago. It is thought he was
the first blues guitarist to use a Fender Stratocaster, given to him by Leo
Fender. Crayton largely faded from view until Vanguard unleashed his LP,
Things I Used to Do, in 1971. After that his profile was raised somewhat;
he toured and made a few more albums prior to his passing. A long time resident
of Topanga, California, Crayton died of a heart attack in 1985 was interred in
the Inglewood Park Cemetery.
(quoted from wikipedia.org)
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Biographical Information on Pee Wee Crayton
Pee Wee Crayton biography at wikipedia.org.
Pee Wee Crayton biography at afgen.com.
Pee Wee Crayton biography by Terry Currier.
Pee Wee Crayton biography by JCMarion.
Pee Wee Crayton biography by Bill Dahl.
Pee Wee Crayton biography at blindpigrecords.com.
Pee Wee Crayton biography and photo at allaboutjazz.com.
Pee Wee Crayton Videos
Pee Wee Crayton - Red Rose Boogie. Runtime 01:34.
pee wee crayton - huckle boogie. Runtime 02:38.
Pee Wee Crayton - Have You Lost Your Love for Me. Runtime 02:14.
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