ArtistInfo

Big Daddy Rucker

*1927
R&B/Soul
A.k.a. Ervin Rucker

Ervin Groves, aka “Big Boy Groves,” was born Perry Ervin Minor Groves, Jr. in 1927 in Oklahoma. As a bandleader and songwriter, he appeared on labels like Money Records, Spark, Vita, and Dolphin in the 1950s, and then on Tennessee-based Duplex and San Diego-based Musette in the '60s and '70s. He changed his name to Ervin Rucker in the late '50s, but was known as “Big Daddy” Rucker when he began recording on his own GME label in the late '60s and teamed up with the Johnny Otis Show on singles like "This Is My Song" b/w "He Made You Mine" (Hawk Sound/Kent Records). As Ervin “Big Daddy” Rucker, he formed Big Daddy Rucker Blues in the seventies, with the band remaining extant in one form or another over the next 40-plus years. Marvin Gaye mentioned Rucker in his 1976 song "Since I Had You," singing "Big Daddy Rucker is sho' nuff playin', ah." Though Rucker died in 1982, the band continued on, later relocating to San Luis Obispo. Former Big Daddy Rucker Blues player Mike Dollins later co-founded the Cruize Brothers Band.

Genres

• R&B/Soul
• Rock
• Blues