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.