James "Sugar Boy" Crawford obit

James Crawford Obituary

 

He was not on the list.

James Crawford, Jr. affectionately known as "Sugar Boy" by family and friends departed his earthly life at Canon Hospice on Sat., September 15, 2012, at 1:15 AM. He was 77 years young. James was the only child of the late James Crawford, Sr. and Mary Dixon Crawford. Raised in Uptown New Orleans, he resided in the Gentilly area before and after Katrina. James graduated from Booker T. Washington Senior High School in 1952 and continued on to Engineering School where he finished in 1954. He then gained employment with Tulane University, F. W. Woolworth, Godchaux's and the Masonic Temple. He retired in 2000 and started his business, C&C Locksmith. James is survived by his Queen, Annie B. Crawford; his two daughters, Andre' Hines and Bernadette Crawford; two step children, Rosalind Francis and Edward Johnson, Jr.; two grandsons, Davell Crawford and Rahsaan Young; one granddaughter, Roshawna Nicholas and four great-grandchildren, Ahsanti Young, Jaylen Young, Canai Young and Keyire Young. The family would like to extend their heart felt appreciation and gratitude to family, friends, and church families. A very special thanks to the caring staff at Ochsner Baptist Hospital and Canon Hospice for their dedicated professionalism in tending to the physical needs of Mr. Crawford. James was a member of Fellowship Missionary Baptist Church. Relatives and friends, pastors, officers, and members of Fellowship MBC, First African B.C., all neighboring churches, employees of Ochsner Baptist Hosp., Canon Hospice and all local musicians are invited to attend the funeral services at First African Baptist Church of the Sixth District, 3524 LaSalle St. on Sat. Sept. 22, 2012 for 10am. Rev. Moses. S. Gordon II Pastor officiating. Church visitation Sat. 8am until 10am only. Interment Rest Haven Cemetery, 10400 Old Gentilly Rd. A musical tribute will be held Friday Sept. 21, 2012 at the above named church for 7pm. Remains will not be present. Dwight Franklin and Diane Peterson Musical Directors. James "Sugarboy" Crawford, Jr. remains will lie in state Friday from 3 to 6pm at the parlor of the Little John Funeral Home 2163 Aubry St. Professional Services Entrusted to: LittleJohn Funeral Home 2163 Aubry Street Cal K. Johnson.

Starting out on trombone, Crawford formed a band, which a local DJ, Doctor Daddy-O, named the Chapaka Shawee (Creole for "We Aren't Raccoons"), the title of an instrumental that they played. Crawford recalled, "During high school we had a little band, nothing real organized at first. I was back playing piano... The other fellows in the band were Edgar "Big Boy" Myles, Warren Myles, Nolan Blackwell, Irving "Cat" Banister, and Alfred Bernard- just a bunch of youngsters having fun." The group was signed by Chess Records president Leonard Chess and was renamed Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters.

His song "Jock-A-Mo" became a standard at the New Orleans Mardi Gras, but Crawford disappeared from public view. In a 2002 interview for Offbeat magazine, he described how his career came to an abrupt halt in 1963, after a severe beating at the hands of state troopers incapacitated him for two years, forcing him to leave the music industry. In 1969, he decided to sing only in church. In 2012, he made a guest appearance singing gospel in an episode of the HBO series Treme. He died one month before the episode aired. James "Sugar Boy" Crawford was also Inducted into The Louisiana Music Hall Of Fame.

Crawford appeared on the 1995 album Let Them Talk, by Davell Crawford, his grandson. He made some stage appearances with Davell, including one at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival in 1996 and at the seventh annual Ponderosa Stomp in April 2008.

Among the artists Crawford recorded with was Snooks Eaglin.