PEE WEE CRAYTON

Pee Wee Crayton was born near Rockdale Texas in 1914, but grew up in Austin.
Like many Texas blues guitarists, Pee Wee relocated to California in the 30's. It would be there that he would absorb the emerging Jump Blues style, spearheaded by fellow Texan T-Bone Walker.
Crayton's sound combined the jazzy sophistication of T-Bone and the aggression of Guitar Slim. It is very likely that Pee Wee was the first blues guitarist to record with a Fender Stratocaster (one had been given to him as a gift by Leo Fender).
Pee Wee's violent playing stands in stark contrast to his smooth vocal style, and was copied note-for-note by Johnny "Guitar" Watson and other West Coast jump blues guitarists.
Pee Wee Crayton's guitar pyrotechnics, blasting away through the blare of a big band, are a far cry from the so-called "blues" peddled by the likes of Eric "Pruneface" Clapton.
Pee Wee Crayton passed away in 1985.

Listen to Pee Wee Crayton's "I Got News For You"