Jan Crutchfield (February 26, 1938 – October 30, 2012) was an American country music singer and songwriter. He is best known for writing "Statue of a Fool", which was first recorded in 1969 by Jack Greene and was a No. 1 hit on the Hot Country Songs charts for him. Versions of the song by Brian Collins and Ricky Van Shelton also charted in the top 10.
However, authorship of the song is surrounded in controversy. According to Genna Sapia-Ruffin, common-law wife of David Ruffin, former member of The Temptations, on page 251 of her book A Memoir: David Ruffin -- My Temptation (1993-2003, 1st Books Library), Ruffin wrote and originally released the song on a 78 RPM in 1958, when he was recording under the name "Little Eddie Bush.' However, as he was only seventeen years old at that time, later covers of the song gave writing credits to Jan Crutchfield. (David himself, has stated that he wrote it, in several live appearances with fellow ex-Temptation Eddie Kendrick and/or Dennis Edwards, also there is a YouTube video in which he states this just before he goes into the song.
Ruffin rerecorded the song in 1975 for the album Who I Am, with his name unchallenged as the sole writer.
Other notable compositions written by Crutchfield include "Tear Time" by Dave & Sugar, "My Heart Is an Open Book", and several singles by Lee Greenwood, including "She's Lying", "It Turns Me Inside Out", and "Going, Going, Gone".
Crutchfield died on October 30, 2012.
His brother, Jerry Crutchfield, is a record producer who also worked with Greenwood.