Rufus Thomas

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Rufus Thomas
Thomas in 1972
Thomas in 1972
Background information
Birth nameRufus C. Thomas, Jr.
Also known asMr. Swing
Born(1917-03-26)March 26, 1917
Cayce, Mississippi, U.S.
DiedDecember 15, 2001(2001-12-15) (aged 84)
Memphis, Tennessee, U.S.
Genres
Occupations
Years active1936–1998
Labels

Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001)

comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels, including Chess Records and Sun Records in the 1950s, before becoming established in the 1960s and 1970s at Stax Records. His dance records, including "Walking the Dog" (1963), "Do the Funky Chicken" (1969), and "(Do the) Push and Pull" (1970), were some of his most successful songs. According to the Mississippi Blues Commission, "Rufus Thomas embodied the spirit of Memphis music perhaps more than any other artist, and from the early 1940s until his death . . . occupied many important roles in the local scene."[4]

He began his career as a

radio station WDIA in Memphis, both before and after his recordings became successful. He remained active into the 1990s and as a performer and recording artist was often billed as "The World's Oldest Teenager". He was the father of the singers Carla Thomas (with whom he recorded duets) and Vaneese Thomas and the keyboard player Marvell Thomas
.

Early life

Thomas was born in the rural community of

tap dancer, performing on the streets and in amateur productions at Booker T. Washington High School, in Memphis.[4][5] From the age of 13, he worked with Nat D. Williams, his high-school history teacher, who was also a pioneer black DJ at radio station WDIA and columnist for black newspapers, as a master of ceremonies at talent shows in the Palace Theater on Beale Street.[5][6] After graduating from high school, Thomas attended Tennessee A&I University
for one semester, but economic constraints led him to leave to pursue a career as a full-time entertainer.

Early career

Thomas began performing in traveling

B.B. King, and others discovered by Thomas later in the 1940s included Bobby Bland and Johnny Ace.[2][5][9]

In the early 1940s, Thomas began writing and performing his own songs. He regarded

Dallas, Texas. Thomas said, "I just wanted to make a record. I never thought of getting rich. I just wanted to be known, be a recording artist. . . . [But] the record sold five copies and I bought four of them."[10] The record, "I'll Be a Good Boy" backed with "I'm So Worried", gained a Billboard review, which stated that "Thomas shows first class style on a slow blues".[11] He also recorded for the Bullet label in Nashville, Tennessee, when he recorded with Bobby Plater's Orchestra and was credited as "Mr. Swing"; the recordings were not recognised by researchers as being by Thomas until 1996.[12] In 1951 he made his first recordings at Sam Phillips's Sun Studio, for the Chess label, but they were not commercially successful.[12][13]

He began working as a DJ at radio station WDIA in 1951, and hosted an afternoon R&B show called Hoot and Holler. WDIA, featuring an African-American format, was known as "the mother station of the Negroes" and became an important source of blues and R&B music for a generation, its audience consisting of white as well as black listeners. Thomas used to introduce his shows saying, "I'm young, I'm loose, I'm full of juice, I got the goose so what's the use. We're feeling gay though we ain't got a dollar, Rufus is here, so hoot and holler."[14] He also used to lead tours of white teenagers on "midnight rambles" around Beale Street.[14] Thomas claimed to be the first black DJ to play Elvis Presley records, which he did until the station program director made him stop due to segregation. Shortly thereafter, Thomas performed on stage with Elvis to an all-black audience and the audience stormed through to get to him. After that, the program director allowed Elvis songs to be played on WDIA.[14]

His celebrity in the South was such that in 1953, at Sam Phillips's suggestion, he recorded "Bear Cat" for

Booker T and the MGs.[12]

Stax Records

In 1960 he made his first recordings with his 17-year-old daughter Carla, for the

Satellite label in Memphis, which changed its name to Stax the following year. The song, "Cause I Love You", featuring a rhythm borrowed from Jesse Hill's "Ooh Poo Pa Doo", was a regional hit; the musicians included Thomas' son Marvell on keyboards, Steinberg, and the 16-year-old Booker T. Jones.[6][8] The record's success led to Stax gaining production and distribution deal with the much larger Atlantic Records.[4]

Rufus Thomas continued to record for the label after Carla's record "

Merseybeat group the Dennisons later that year.[19]

As well as recording and appearing on radio and in clubs, Thomas continued to work as a boiler operator in the textile plant, where he claimed the noises sometimes suggested musical rhythms and lyrics to him, before he finally gave up the job in 1963,

the Bar-Kays. He also became a mentor to younger Stax stars,[2] giving advice on stage moves to performers like Otis Redding, who partnered daughter Carla on record.[5]

After "Jump Back" in 1964, the hits dried up for several years, as Stax gave more attention to younger artists and musicians. However, in 1970 he had another big hit with "Do the Funky Chicken", which reached #5 on the R&B chart, #28 on the pop chart, and #18 in Britain where it was his only chart hit.[20] Thomas improvised the song while performing with Willie Mitchell's band at a club in Covington, Tennessee, including a spoken word section that he regularly used as a shtick as a radio DJ: "Oh I feel so unnecessary - this is the kind of stuff that makes you feel like you wanna do something nasty, like waste some chicken gravy on your white shirt right down front." The recording was produced by Al Bell and Tom Nixon, and used the Bar-Kays, featuring guitarist Michael Toles. Thomas continued to work with Bell and Nixon as producers, and later in 1970 had his only number 1 R&B hit [and his second-highest pop charting record] with another dance song, "Do the Push and Pull".[18][21] A further dance-oriented release in 1971, "The Breakdown", climbed to number 2 R&B and number 31 Pop. In 1972, he featured in the Wattstax concert, and he had several further, less successful, hits before Stax collapsed in 1976.[2][5]

Later career

Thomas continued to record and toured internationally, billing himself as "The World's Oldest Teenager" and describing himself as "the funkiest man alive".

hot pants, boots and capes, all in wild colors."[4]

He continued as a DJ at WDIA until 1974, and worked for a period at WLOK before returning to WDIA in the mid-1980s to co-host a blues show.[4] He appeared regularly on television and recorded albums for various labels.[5] Thomas performed regularly at the Porretta Soul Festival in Italy; the outdoor amphitheater in which he performed was later renamed Rufus Thomas Park.[7]

He played an important part in the Stax reunion of 1988, and appeared in

Atlanta, Georgia. In 1997, he released an album, Rufus Live!, on Ecko Records. In 1998, he hosted two New Year's Eve shows on Beale Street.[7]

In 1997, to commemorate his 80th birthday, the

ASCAP in 1997.[5] He was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2001.[2]

Death and legacy

Rufus Thomas' grave, at the New Park Cemetery in Memphis

He died of heart failure in 2001, at the age of 84, at St. Francis Hospital in Memphis.[2] He is buried next to his wife Lorene, who died in 2000, at the New Park Cemetery in Memphis.

Writer Peter Guralnick said of him:[6]

His music... brought a great deal of joy to the world, but his personality brought even more, conveying a message of grit, determination, indomitability, above all a bottomless appreciation for the human comedy that left little room for the drab or the dreary in his presence.

Thomas was honored with a marker on the Mississippi Blues Trail in Byhalia.[4]

Discography

Albums

Year Title Catalogue ref Peak chart positions
US
200
[22] 		US
R&B
[22]
1963 Walking the Dog Stax 704[23] 138 —
1970 Do the Funky Chicken Stax STS-2028[24] — 32
Rufus Thomas Live: Doing the Push & Pull at P.J.'s Stax STS-2039[25] 147 19
1972 Did You Heard Me? Stax STS-3004[26] — —
1973 Crown Prince of Dance Stax STS-3008[27] — 42
1977 If There Were No More Music AVI 6015[28] — —
1978 I Ain't Gettin' Older, I'm Gettin' Better AVI 6046[29] — —
1988 That Woman Is Poison! Alligator AL 4769[30] — —
1996 Blues Thang! Sequel/Castle SEQ 1054 — —
The Best of Rufus Thomas: Do the Funky Somethin' (compilation) Rhino R2 72410 — —
1997 Rufus Live! [rec. 1996 at Southern Crossroads Festival in Atlanta, GA] Ecko ECD 1013 — —
2000 Swing Out with Rufus Thomas High Stacks HS 9982 — —
2005 Just Because I'm Leavin' (posthumous) Segue Records SRRT05 — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.

Source:[31]

Singles

Year A-side B-side Catalogue no. Chart positions
US Pop
[32] 		US
R&B
[18]
UK
[20]
1950 "I'll Be a Good Boy" "I'm So Worried" Star Talent 807 — — —
"Gonna Bring My Baby Back"
(as Mr. Swing with Bobby Plater's Orchestra)[33] 		"Beer Bottle Boogie"
(as Mr. Swing with Bobby Plater's Orchestra) 		Bullet 327 — — —
1951 "Night Walkin' Blues" "Why Did You Dee Gee" Chess 1466 — — —
1952 "No More Doggin' Around" "Crazy 'Bout You, Baby" Chess 1492 — — —
"Juanita" "Decorate the Counter" Chess 1517 — — —
1953 "Bear Cat" "Walking in the Rain" Sun 181 — 3 —
"Tiger Man (King of the Jungle)" "Save Your Money" Sun 188 — — —
1956 "I'm Steady Holdin' On" "The Easy Livin' Plan" Meteor 5039 — — —
1960 "Cause I Love You"
(as Carla [Thomas] and Rufus) 		"Deep Down Inside"
(as Carla and Rufus) 		Satellite 102;
Atco 6177 		— — —
1961 "I Didn't Believe"
(as Rufus and Friend [Carla]) 		"Yeah, Yea-Ah"
(as Rufus and Friend) 		Atco 6199 — — —
1962 "Can't Ever Let You Go" "It's Aw'right" Stax 126 — — —
1963 "The Dog" "Did You Ever Love a Woman" Stax 130 87 22 —
"Walking the Dog" "You Said"
("Fine & Mellow" on some early copies) 		Stax 140 10 4 —
1964 "Can Your Monkey Do the Dog" "I Wanna Get Married" Stax 144 48 * —
"Somebody Stole My Dog" "I Want to Be Loved" Stax 149 86 * —
"That's Really Some Good"
(as Rufus & Carla) 		"Night Time Is the Right Time"
(as Rufus & Carla) 		Stax 151 92 (A)
94 (B) 		* —
"Jump Back" "All Night Worker" Stax 157 49 * —
1965 "Little Sally Walker" "Baby Walk" Stax 167 — — —
"Willy Nilly" "Sho' Gonna Mess Him Up" Stax 173 — — —
"When You Move You Lose"
(as Rufus & Carla) 		"We're Tight"
(as Rufus & Carla) 		Stax 176 — — —
"Chicken Scratch" "The World Is Round" Stax 178 — — —
1966 "Birds and Bees"
(as Rufus & Carla) 		"Never Let You Go"
(as Rufus & Carla) 		Stax 184 — — —
1967 "Sister's Got a Boyfriend" "Talkin' 'Bout True Love" Stax 200 — — —
"Sophisticated Sissy" "Greasy Spoon" Stax 221 — 43 —
1968 "Down ta My House" "Steady Holding On" Stax 240 — — —
"The Memphis Train" "I Think I Made a Boo-Boo" Stax 250 — — —
"Funky Mississippi" "So Hard to Get Along With" Stax 0010 — — —
1969 "Funky Way" "I Want to Hold You" Stax 0022 — — —
"Do the Funky Chicken" "Turn Your Damper Down" Stax 0059 28 5 18
1970 "Sixty Minute Man" "The Preacher and the Bear" Stax 0071 — 42 —
"(Do the) Push and Pull (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0079 25 1 —
1971 "The World Is Round" "
I Love You for Sentimental Reasons
" 		Stax 0090 — 34 —
"The Breakdown (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0098 31 2 —
"Do the Funky Penguin (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0112 44 11 —
1972 "6-3-8 (That's the Number to Play)" "Love Trap" Stax 0129 — — —
"Itch and Scratch (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0140 — — —
1973 "Funky Robot (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0153 — — —
"I Know You Don't Want Me No More" "I'm Still in Love with You" Stax 0177 — — —
"That Makes Christmas Day" "I'll Be Your Santa Baby" Stax 0187 — — —
1974 "The Funky Bird" "Steal a Little" Stax 0192 — 93 —
"Boogie Ain't Nuttin' (But Gettin' Down) (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0219 — 63 —
1975 "Do the Double Bump (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0236 — 74 —
"Jump Back '75 (Part 1)" "Part 2" Stax 0254 — — —
1976 "If There Were No Music" "Blues in the Basement" Artists of America 126 — 92 —
1977 "
Who's Making Love to Your Old Lady
" 		"Hot Grits" AVI 149 — — —
"I Ain't Gittin' Older, I'm Gittin' Better (Part 1)" "Part 2" AVI 178 — — —
1978 "Fried Chicken" "I Ain't Got Time" Hi 78520 — — —
1981 "Everybody Cried (The Day Disco Died)" "I'd Love to Love You Again" XL 151 — — —
1984 "Rappin' Rufus" "Rappin' Rufus (Instrumental Mix)" Ichiban 85-103 — — —
1998 "Hey Rufus!" "Body Fine"
(by
The Bar-Kays
) 		High Stacks HS9801-7 — — —
"—" denotes releases that did not chart or were not released in that territory.
* denotes that Billboard did not publish R&B charts during these chart runs.[13]

Source:[18][31]

References

  1. ISBN 978-0313344237
    .
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Unterberger, Richie. "Rufus Thomas: Biography". AllMusic.com. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  3. ^ "Rufus Thomas Discography". Discogs.com. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  4. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Rufus Thomas". Mississippi Blues Trail. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  5. ^
    New York Times
    . Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  6. ^ a b c d Guralnick, Peter. "Rufus Thomas". Memphis Music Hall of Fame. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  7. ^ a b c Chandler, Candice. "Rufus Thomas: A Biography". Mississippi Writers and Musicians. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  8. ^
    ISBN 9780825672842
    .
  9. ^
    ISSN 0886-3032
    . Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  10. ^ Wilonsky, Robert (April 6, 1995). "Good Rockin' Last Night". Dallas Observer. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  11. ^ ""4-Star Records", 706 Union Avenue Sessions". Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  12. ^ a b c Clarke, Dave. "Liner notes for Rufus Thomas, Tiger Man: Complete Recordings (1950–1957)". Document Records. Retrieved July 18, 2015.
  13. ^ a b "Rufus Thomas Discography". SoulfulKindaMusic.com. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  14. ^ a b c "WGBH, Interview with Rufus Thomas, part 1". Retrieved July 19, 2015.
  15. ISBN 0-252-06969-2
    .
  16. ^ "Sam Phillips and the Remix". Whatconsumesme.com. Archived from the original on March 13, 2012. Retrieved December 4, 2012.
  17. ISBN 9780857124999
    .
  18. ^ a b c d Whitburn, Joel (1996). Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–1995. Record Research. p. 442.
  19. ISBN 0-00-717931-6
    .
  20. ^
    ISBN 0-00-717931-6
    .
  21. ISBN 9780857124999
    .
  22. ^ a b "Rufus Thomas - Awards". AllMusic. Archived from the original on August 2, 2013. Retrieved January 28, 2022.
  23. ^ "Rufus Thomas – Walking the Dog". Discogs.com. November 1963. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  24. ^ "Rufus Thomas – Do the Funky Chicken". Discogs.com. September 10, 1970. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  25. ^ "Rufus Thomas – Rufus Thomas Live Doing the Push & Pull at P.J.'s". Discogs.com. September 10, 1971. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  26. ^ "Rufus Thomas – Did You Heard Me?". Discogs.com. September 10, 1972. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  27. ^ "Rufus Thomas – Crown Prince of Dance". Discogs.com. September 10, 1973. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  28. ^ "Rufus Thomas – If There Were No Music". Discogs.com. September 10, 1977. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  29. ^ "Rufus Thomas – I Ain't Gettin' Older, I'm Gettin' Better". Discogs.com. September 10, 1978. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  30. ^ "Rufus Thomas – That Woman Is Poison!". Discogs.com. September 10, 1988. Retrieved July 16, 2015.
  31. ^ a b "Rufus Thomas Discography". Wangdangdula.com. Retrieved July 17, 2015.
  32. ISBN 0-89820-155-1
    .
  33. ^ Bullet Records, 706 Union Avenue Sessions. Retrieved 17 July 2015

Further reading

  • Greenberg, Steve. Do the Funky Somethin': The Best of Rufus Thomas (liner notes), Rhino Records, 1996.
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