Born on October 12, 1934, in New Orleans, Louisiana, James ‘Sugar Boy’ Crawford, Jr. was an R&B singer, songwriter, and pianist. He was best known for writing the 1954 song “Jock-A-Mo”, which was later re-recorded and retitled “Iko Iko” and became a hit for the Dixie Cups, the Belle Stars, Dr. John, and many others. Originally a member of a high school band called Chapaka Shawee, they were signed to Chess Records and the label’s president Leonard Chess changed the group’s name to Sugar Boy and his Cane Cutters. The group’s 1954 single “Jock-A-Mo” became a New Orleans standard, either in its original form or as “Iko Iko”. After several singles under the band name, he began to release singles under the name James ‘Sugar Boy’ Crawford including “I Bowed on My Knees” (1954), “She’s Gotta Wobble (When She Walks)” (1956), “I Need Your Love” (1958), and “Have a Little Mercy” (1961). His music career was derailed in 1963 when he was on the receiving end of a severe beating from state troopers, which led to his leaving the music business for several years to recuperate. He returned to singing in 1969 but limited his performances to only churches. Chess Records released the compilation album Sugarboy Crawford, which contained the best of his singles from the 1950s. James ‘Sugar Boy’ Crawford made a few live appearances with his grandson Davell Crawford in 1996 and 2008. He filmed an appearance for the HBO television series Treme in 2012, but he died on September 15, 2012, one month before the episode aired.
