Meet Rufus Thomas

I was checking out a few of Stax records music artists on line; as many of you know Stax Records was based in Memphis and was often called Motown South. The lable had great R and B artists like Sam and Dave, Booker T and the MG's, Otis Redding. Stax Records even had the great blues singer and guitar player Born Under a Bad Sign, Angel of Mercy "Angel of mercy on me!, I came into the yard and my dog was looking thin, when your own dog turns his back on you, then you know you don't have a freind, Angel of Mercy, have mercy on me because a little mercy is all I need"- Albert King.

Then there was Rufus Thomas "the Memphis Bulldog" this guy was old when I was was a kid, but we always liked his music because it was fun music. At the time we didn't realize how Rufus Thomas worked so hard to create positive entertainment for his young listeners.  Rufus was born in 1917 (died 2001 in Memphis) in Mississippi to a family of sharecropers, and appeared in a school play at the age of six, where he played the part of a frog. Rufus went on to develop the ability to do a vareity of animals chickens, dogs cats etc. Rufus Thomas went on to college, but had to drop out because of economic reasons. Rufus was known for kidding around and acting young even when he was getting old. We saw him as a grand dad type, much like in our own family.

One time Rufus Thomas ended up firing a young guitar player in his band for playing loud and all over the place, the guitar players' name turned out to be Jimi Hendrix.

I personally hope I have as much get up and go as Rufus Thomas did when I'm his age on the video clip below.

Rufus Thomas- Walking The Dog