From:   "Dik de Heer" 
Date:  Sun Jun 16, 2002  2:16 am
Subject:  Born To Be With You : Billy "Crash" Craddock
 
BILLY "CRASH" CRADDOCK

Born William Wayne Craddock, 16 June 1939, Greensboro, North Carolina

People often associate the "Crash" nickname with auto racing, but Craddock
actually got it as a halfback in high school, crashing into linemen who were
twice his size. Growing up in Greensboro, NC, he pantomimed Grand Ole Opry
shows in the family's barn with a broomstick as a microphone, alternately
pretending he was Hank Williams, Faron Young, or Carl Smith. But when he
signed a recording contract in the late '50s, Columbia tried to mold him as
a teen idol, much like Elvis Presley or Fabian. It didn't work in the U.S.,
but "Crash" did pick up a trio of hits in Australia. Nevertheless, these 1958-60
Columbia recordings, produced by Don Law and with backing from the Nashville
A-Team, have stood the test of time rather well. Among them: "Ah, Poor Little
Baby" (covered by Adam Faith in the UK and later revived by Shakin' Stevens),
"Sweetie Pie", "Boom Boom Baby" (a # 1 in Australia) and "I Want That".
In 1971, he finally got his chance in country music when record producer Ron
Chancey signed him to his Cartwheel label. With a knack for making re-makes
of pop hits like "Knock Three Times" and "Ruby Baby" - and for adding a certain
energy to the country idiom - Craddock picked up the nickname "Mr. Country
Rock." From 1971 to 1982 he had 31 charting country singles, 19 of which hit
the Top 10.

CD recommendation: Boom Boom Baby (Bear Family 15610). The Columbia
recordings, 1958-1960. 21 tracks. Liner notes by Jimmy Guterman.
Further reading: Wayne Russell, Billy "Crash" Craddock : Early Days, in:
Now Dig This, August 1991.