St Louis pianist/vocalist James Crutchfield passed away on Saturday (December 8th).
Crutchfield was born in Baton Rouge in 1912, and grew up largely in lumber
camps across Louisiana and Texas, where he learned to play piano. In Bogalusa
he learned from Little Brother Montgomery. He later played with Elmore James
and Boyd Gilmore in Mississippi, and moved to St. Louis in 1948.

He was still active in St. Louis, and played Wednesdays at the Venice Cafe. He
recorded LPs for the German Munich label and the Dutch Swingmaster label, and
has six cuts on the Delmark "Biddle Steet Barrelhousin'" album. The Swingmaster
record was just rereleased on CD.
(from Scott Barretta , 'Living Blues magazine')