Rufus Thomas Biography (1917-2001)

Born March 26, 1917, in Cayce, MS; son of sharecroppers; children: Carla (a singer), Marvell, Vanesse. Addresses: Home: 1595 Joanne St., Memphis, TN 38111.; Office: WDIA-AM Radio 1070, 112 Union Ave., Memphis, TN 38103.

Nationality: American
Gender: Male
Occupation: Singer, songwriter, radio personality, actor
Birth Details: March 26, 1917; Cayce, Mississippi, United States
Death Details: December 15, 2001; Memphis, Tennessee

Famous Works

CREDITS
Film Appearances
Himself, Wattstax, Wolper Pictures, 1972
Dancer at Haney's Big House, Great Balls of Fire!, Paramount,1989
Man in station, Mystery Train, Orion, 1989
Himself, Saturday Night, Sunday Morning: The Travels of Gatemouth Moore, 1992
Tommy, A Family Thing, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer/United Artists, 1996
Theo Johnson, Cookie's Fortune, October Films, 1999
Television Appearances
Specials
Performer, All Day and All Night: Memories from Beale Street Musicians, PBS, 1990
Rhythm, Country, and Blues: An "In the Spotlight" Special, PBS, 1994
Episodic
Ready, Steady, Go!, The Disney Channel, 1989
Interviewee, Rock & Roll, PBS, 1995
RECORDINGS
Albums
Walking the Dog, Stax, 1964
Do the Funky Chicken, Stax, 1970

Doing the Push & Pull Live at PJ's, Stax, 1971
Did You Hear Me, Stax, 1973
Crown Prince of Dance, Stax, 1974
Blues in the Basement, Stax, 1975
If There Were No Music, AVI, 1977
I Ain't Getting Older, I'm Gettin' Better, AVI, 1977
Rufus Thomas, Gusto, 1980
Jump Back, Edsel, 1984
Rappin Rufus, Ichiban, 1986
That Woman Is Poison, Alligator, 1988
Timeless Funk, Ichiban, 1992
Can't Get Away from This Dog, Stax, 1992
The Best of Rufus Thomas: Do the Funky Something, WEA/Atlantic/Rhino, 1996
Blues Thang!, Sequel, 1997
Rufus Live!, Ecko, 1998
Memories, MCA, 1998
Singles include "I'll Be a Good Boy," Star Talent, 1943; "Bear Cat,"Sun Records, 1950; (with daughter Carla Thomas) "'Cause I Love You," Satellite, 1960; "Breakdown," 1971; and "Do the Funky Penguin," 1972.
WRITINGS
Film Music
"Do the Dog," The Fan, Vestron, 1981
"Walking the Dog," The Cutting Edge, New World, 1992
"Philly Dog," Little Big League, Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, 1994
"Walking the Dog," All Men Are Liars, 1995
"Walkin' the Dog," Keys to Tulsa, Gramercy Pictures, 1997
"Walkin' the Dog," All I Wanna Do, Miramax, 1998
Television Music
"Forces of Rhythm," Dance Theatre of Harlem (special), 1977

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Billboard, March 29, 1997, p. 4.

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