Legenday Arthur Crudup February 1971 in Scotland - meeting first major bluesman

Arthur “Big Boy” Crudup

"Friday, February 19^th, 1971, Dundee, Scotland “……I’m saving the rest of this page to describe the blues concert in Dundee. At 3:20 I pelted home (from school; I was 16) and rushed off again, being lucky with the buses, and was at Bryan’s before 4:30. Mrs C took us to Waverley Station where we got the train for Dundee (we were carrying our sleeping bags, by the way). Arrived at seven after boring 90 minute ride. Nikki met us with a couple of pals and we walked to the students’ union on Marketgait: a good, modern hall. We went into a little room, and there was “Big Boy”!! We got his autograph in pencil and left him. His hands were large! At half eight Brewers Droop started playing – they are the group that tours with him in Britain. They were very good esp. the guitarist. “It Ain’t the Meat it’s the Motion” was a song that went over very well!

At 10 Big Boy came on to join the group. His music was incredible. Absolutely incredible. He played 2 1/2 hours (at 65 years old, that’s good!) doing e.g. “That’s All Right Mama”, “Rock Me Mama”, “Dust My Broom”, “Mean Old Frisco”, “Look on Yonders Wall”, “Katy Mae”. Brewers Droop played with him well. I’ve never been to such a good concert. I can’t express how good he sounded, but he has a high-pitched voice, very personal. Got to sleep at about three o’ clock next day.”

(Below are the autograph and ticket)

Mr. Crudup's autograph

My ticket to the show