Sugar Boy Crawford

Sugar Boy Crawford | Wireimage | tc051

James “Sugar Boy” Crawford, Jr. was born in New Orleans, Louisiana, on October 12, 1934. Based in New Orleans, he originally signed to Chess as an instrumentalist playing trombone. His best known song "Jock a mo" was recorded by Chess in 1954. The Dixie Cups "Iko Iko" is based on the song.

In 1963 a severe beating by state troopers incapacitated him for two years and he quit the music business, although he made some guest appearances later in his life. He became a building engineer, and later ran a locksmith business. In 1984 he met Benny Goodman’s brother, Gene, who offered to help him recover his royalties for Jock-A-Mo.

James Crawford died in New Orleans, Louisiana, after a brief illness, on September 15, 2012.

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