Gene Crabb

Drummer, bandleader and vocalist Gene Crabb was a fixture on the Dallas scene for about a decade after WWII, working clubs like the Old Top Rail and the Round-Up before dropping out of sight. He worked as far away as Amarillo (with Rip Ramsey's Texas Wanderers) and Carlsbad, New Mexico (with Dick Dyson and Buddy Griffin) and in 1950-51 was part of the house band that Johnny Gimble put together at the Bob Wills Ranch House to hold the fort whenever Wills was on the road. Soon after, Crabb teamed with guitarist-vocalist Eddie Willis (2) and began a long stay at the Round-Up Club. He and Willis would record for 4 Star Records and Rural Rhythm Records in the mid 1950's, but Crabb's debut seems to have been "Truck Stop Lucy" recorded for Jimmy Richard's short-lived local label Richtone. In addition to releases with Willis, Crabb aksi cut an odd quasi-rock and roll record at the end of 1955 on Rural Rhythm, but drifted out of Dallas eventually and his subsequent activity is unknown.