Nassawadox in Northampton County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
Arthur Crudup
(1905-1974)
Arthur "Big Boy" Crudup, a blues singer, guitarist, and songwriter sometimes called "The Father of Rock 'n' Roll," was born in Mississippi and gained prominence as a recording artist in Chicago in the 1940s. A cover of Crudup's "That's All Right" launched the career of Elvis Presley, who later recorded two more of Crudup's works. Among others who covered Crudup were the Beatles, B.B. King, and Elton John. Rarely receiving royalties, Crudup supported his family as a laborer and farm worker and moved to Franktown ca. 1960. He toured internationally and performed with his sons James, George, and Jonas as The Malibus in Weirwood and Nassawadox. He died on 28 March 1974 and is buried near here.
Erected 2023 by Department of Historic Resources. (Marker Number WY-27.)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: African Americans • Arts, Letters, Music • Entertainment • Industry & Commerce. A significant historical date for this entry is March 28, 1974.
Location. 37° 28.483′ N, 75° 51.501′ W. Marker is in Nassawadox, Virginia, in Northampton County. It is on Lankford Highway (U.S. 13) south of Rogers Road (County Road 606), on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 7401 Railroad St, Nassawadox VA 23413, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is on the Eastern Shore. It is also in the American South, specifically in the Upper South, on the Delmarva Peninsula, and in the Tidewater. Globally, it is in the North Atlantic Region, North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
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Credits. This page was last revised on June 7, 2026. It was originally submitted on June 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 7 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on June 7, 2026, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
