Cliff Crofford has passed away...........

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 22 Nov 2009 8:12 pm

Just got an email from Larry Petree in Bakersfield who told me that our old friend Cliff Crofford had passed away. Cliff (along with Billy Mize) was a mainstay at the old Foothill Club in Signal Hill, Ca. for many years. Larry said he'd had a stroke and didn't make it through the night! I'm really sorry to hear about this as he was one of the good guys! I haven't kept in touch with him since I left California so I don't know if his wife Maxine is still alive or not. If so she needs our prayers as they were very close!

Cliff in addition to being a singer, guitarist, trumpet player was a very successful song writer having some major hits to his credit such as:

Old Rivers......recorded by Walter Brennan
Send Me Down to Tucson....recorded by Mel Tillis
Chip, Chip......recorded by Gene McDaniels

He wrote a lot of things for the Clint Eastwood movies "Every Which Way But Loose" & "Any Which Way You Can".............JH in Va.

Skeeter Stultz · Post by **Skeeter Stultz** » 22 Nov 2009 8:50 pm

So sorry to hear of this. We had a saying between us that one of us would say to the other around the holidays, "I'm going to give it one more year". We even kept that going a few years after I hung it up. A few years after I quit I lost track of him.
Thank you Jerry for posting this. So much could be said but right now words fail me. If at all posible please get word to Maxine that Colleen and I are thinking of her and the kids.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 22 Nov 2009 10:20 pm

I am so sorry to hear of this. Cliff was a major part of an era I also had the privilege
of participating in. I saw Cliff around two years ago at a benefit for Lou Martin at the VFW in Riverside, Ca. He was still singing good and we talked about the old days in So. Calif.

one Sunday at Tommy Alsup's Cliff brought the new record of Walter Brennan's Old Rivers for us to listen to and critic. We all knew it was going to be a hit !

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 23 Nov 2009 9:28 am

I just heard that Maxine is still around so if anyone would like to send a card to her or the family her mailing address is......

PO Box 215
Ontario, Ca.
91762

thanks, JH in Va.

David Haddock · Post by **David Haddock** » 24 Nov 2009 7:49 pm

I was just discovering these great songs he wrote, my favorite is probably Charlotte's Web. My best wishes to his family.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 24 Nov 2009 9:41 pm

I just talked to Larry Settles an old bandmate of Cliffs at the old Foothill Club at the bottom of Signal Hill, Long Beach, Ca. Larry did not have all the details except Cliff was having services at a Cemetary in Claremount, Ca. next Saturday. Larry was advised about Cliff by Leo Eiffert. Maybe Leo can post some more information.

GaryHoetker · Post by **GaryHoetker** » 24 Nov 2009 9:58 pm

Very sorry to hear this. Cliff was a regular for a long time on "Cousin Herb's Trading Post" TV show here in Bakersfield. You could see he was a gentleman, well-liked, and talented, of course. The greats are passing fast. RIP.

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 25 Nov 2009 6:52 am

That is sad news. He and Billy Mize were on the music scene in Southern Cal for a long, long time.

Here is what may be Cliff's first recorded performance, with Bill Woods' band, circa 1951 or so.

Have I Got A Chance With You

Here are the only 2 pictures I have of Cliff, both with Billy:

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 25 Nov 2009 9:37 am

I just found another picture of a bunch of Bakersfield people, including Cliff. I think that's him in the front row with the trumpet. Most of the guys were growing whiskers. How many can you ID?

Mitch Drumm · Post by **Mitch Drumm** » 25 Nov 2009 3:43 pm

Here is Cliff's obituary:

Cliff Crofford, co-host of the mid-1950s KBAK-TV show "The Chuck Wagon Gang" and a prolific honky-tonk club performer and movie-soundtrack songwriter, died Sunday, two days after suffering a massive stroke, according to his granddaughter, Danielle Crofford Fetters.

Crofford, who would have turned 80 on Dec. 12, played with Bill Woods' Orange Blossom Playboys at the Blackboard saloon and at various local venues with the Jimmy Thomason Band. He co-hosted the KBAK show with Billy Mize using the Blackboard band, headed by Buck Owens, and was later a regular on "Town Hall Party" and "The Cal Worthington Show," two Los Angeles-based programs.

Crofford also toured with Johnny Cash and Roger Miller and worked for many years at the famous Foothill Club in Long Beach.

Clifton Thomas Crofford was born on a farm in Rochester, Texas, in 1929 and moved to San Diego in 1942 so his father could work in the defense industry. Crofford had played guitar from a young age but he found himself without an instrument to play in San Diego.

"He wanted to play guitar but they couldn't really afford a guitar," said his lifelong friend and fellow musician, Lawton Jiles. "So his mom found him an old Martin trumpet at a pawn shop. It had a hole in it. Cliff plugged it with chewing gum."

Crofford returned to Texas after World War II to complete high school, then moved back to San Diego upon graduation and studied music at Riverside City College.

In 1949, on his way to Reno via Highway 99, Crofford stopped in Bakersfield to meet Bill Woods on a friend's suggestion. Woods, who, by his own tally, convinced 47 different performers to move to Bakersfield in the 1940s, '50s and '60s, hit it off so well with him that Crofford, just 19, stayed and played trumpet that night with Woods' band at Cafe 99 in McFarland. Crofford joined the band permanently and later teamed up with Woods on his KAFY-AM radio show five days a week. As Jiles notes, Crofford never made it to Reno that year.

In 1953, Crofford joined Mize on "The Jimmy Thomason Show," and when Thomason moved back to Texas for two years, Crofford teamed with Mize to bring "The Chuck Wagon Gang" to Bakersfield audiences for a year and a half. Crofford also appeared on Cousin Herb Henson's "Trading Post" show.

Crofford, who recorded for Tally Records, Liberty Records, Dot and others, achieved his greatest fame writing songs for movies. He appeared in two of those films: "Every Which Way But Loose" and "Any Which Way You Can," both starring Clint Eastwood.

His list of movie songs, which is long, includes "Send Me Down to Tucson," "Bronco Billy," "Bar Room Buddies" (with Merle Haggard), "Smokey and the Bandit II," "Honky Tonk Man," "Charlotte's Web" and "Sharkey's Machine."

His non-movie songs were recorded by dozens of singers including Faron Young, Bobby Bare, Freddy Hart, Fats Domino, Cher, Gary Lewis and the Playboys, Wynn Stewart, Ray Price, Ferlin Husky and, perhaps most famously, Walter Brennan, who took Crofford's "Old Rivers" to No. 1 on BMI's country sales listing. The 1962 hit contained what was perhaps Brennan's (and Crofford's) most famous line: "One of these days, I'm gonna climb that mountain."

"He had a career that most people would have killed for," Jiles said. "He was a shy man, kind of always put himself down, but everybody loved him. He had no enemies -- he would talk to anybody."

At the time of his death Crofford lived in Ontario with his wife, Maxine, whom he wed in 1951. He is survived by two granddaughters, Dovelle Crofford and Danielle Crofford Fetters, and six great-grandchildren. His son, David Crofford, died in April.

A viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Friday at Draper Mortuary in Ontario, and a graveside service will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at Bellevue Memorial Park in Ontario. In lieu of flowers the family asks that contributions be made in Crofford's name to Kris Camp for Autistic Children, a 501(c)3 charity based in Salt Lake City, Utah.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 25 Nov 2009 4:27 pm

@ Friday November 27,2009 will be the visitation from 4-8pm at Draper Mortuary 811 N. Mountain Ave. Ontario,California.91762 Family and close friends only from 4 til 5 pm. At 5:00 they will open the doors to the public.The main viewing area will be the chapel.Then entire mortuary will be open and will we will be using the Heritage room as a second room for guests to socialize.@ Saturday,November 28,2009 will be the funeral service at Granite Creek Churck in Claremont,California at 1580 Claremont Blvd.If you can please arrive between 10:00am and 10:30. I will be there at 9:30am. If you need more info please call me at 1-714-833-7827. @ Monday,November 30,2009 will the graveside service at Bellevue Memoria Park in Ontario,California. next door to Drapers Mortuary.The Service will begin at 10:00am. RIP my brother Clifton "Cliff" Crofford,Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.

LJ Eiffert · Post by **LJ Eiffert** » 26 Nov 2009 12:19 pm

Those of you who need to E-Mail me you can at leo@jtjsales.com! Leo J.Eiffert,Jr.

Herb Steiner · Post by **Herb Steiner** » 27 Nov 2009 7:12 am

The man lived a long, full life and had accomplishments most, if not all, musicians and songwriters would envy. His children should be immensely proud of this great contributor to our craft. God bless Cliff, and RIP.

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 3 Dec 2009 2:16 pm

Mitch,
The 4th from left looks like Buck and the 4th from right looks like Roy Lanham. maybe??

Fred Jack · Post by **Fred Jack** » 5 Dec 2009 7:41 am

Is the drummer a young Jr Nichols??

Dana Duplan · Post by **Dana Duplan** » 5 Dec 2009 8:46 am

I recognized a few, including Buck, Roy Nichols, Billy Mize, Bill Woods, Jelly Sanders. I never met Cliff, but had an opportunity to meet many of his peers (got to play with some too). This is a community of musicians like no other, I feel fortunate to have been a very small part of it--it's had a great impact on my life, even from the periphery. I feel a connection to Cliff as a result. My best wishes and condolences to his family and friends.

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 13 Apr 2010 6:39 am

Just looking through some old pictures and came across this shot of Cliff at the old Foothill Club, the female vocalist in the picture is Barbie Matthews. Note the Gibson Trini Lopez guitar Cliff has on which was given to him by Snuff Garrett.....JH in Va.

Dale Bennett · Post by **Dale Bennett** » 18 Apr 2010 3:04 pm

I'm so sorry to hear about that, we've lost so many here latly. One of my favorite memories of Cliff, we had been partying all night at the Aces Club at thier all night jam. I had an old 60 Caddie, i drove him home and he sat in the back seat with his guitar
and sang to me all the way home. Neither one of had any business being out on the roads, but me made it. God Bless Cliff Crawford. db

Wayne Franco · Post by **Wayne Franco** » 21 Apr 2010 6:58 am

Was that located in the San Fernando Vally. I remember some place like that up by Hanson Dam. Man was I young!

Jerry Hayes · Post by **Jerry Hayes** » 21 Apr 2010 11:07 am

The Aces Club was located in the city of Industry, California and was a very large club. They had music seven nights a week and also an after hours jam no Friday & Saturday nights. Also they'd have big name guests from time to time. I saw Ray Charles & his show there at one point.......JH in Va.

Dale Bennett · Post by **Dale Bennett** » 22 Apr 2010 5:48 am

How well you remember Jerry. It was a fun place. We used to go there after we ( Al, Archie,Clyde and me) would do our after hrs gig at the Imperial Inn and spend the rest of the morning or what ever there. Mike Garrow(ithink his name is)was the owner and i thought was a great host and i don't think anyone could run a jam better than Earl Ball. Later on we went to work with our friend Eddy Drake and i enjoyed my stay there with him. I remember having Marty Robbins and a lot of others and you would never know who was going to show up for the jams. Oh what some wonderful memories.

Billy Tonnesen · Post by **Billy Tonnesen** » 22 Apr 2010 1:28 pm

Hi, Jerry and Dale.
Were you guys familiar with the "Mozart Club" in the Inland Empire ? I never played there but knew a lot of guys that did.

Dale Bennett · Post by **Dale Bennett** » 23 Apr 2010 9:32 am

I Billy, I have herd of this place but really not familiar with it. Sorry, maybe Jerry will have some info on it. db

Dale Bennett · Post by **Dale Bennett** » 23 Apr 2010 9:34 am

Billy, i meant have heard of it not herd. I'm getting old and can't spell anymore. db

The Steel Guitar Forum

Cliff Crofford has passed away...........

Cliff Crofford has passed away...........

great songwriter

pics

pic's

Cliff Crawford

The foothill club

Aces, club

Mozart Club

Mozart Club