Radio personality, entertainer and talent scout, Rufus Thomas the self-proclaimed world’s oldest teenager, personifies Memphis music. Thomas’ professional career began in the 30’s performing as a comedian in minstrel shows, and he heightened his career in the 1940’s as a disc jockey on WDIA, one of the few black managed stations of the era. Rufus Thomas has been a mentor to some of the most influential talent to come from the Memphis. He ran a talent show on the famous avenue for the Blues, Beale Street. His contestants soon turned into legends – B.B. King, Bobby ‘Blue’ Bland, and Ike Turner. As patriarch of the Thomas family, Rufus also guided the talent and careers of his children Carla, Vaneese and Marvell. In 1953, Thomas found success as a recording artist with his Sun Records release ‘Bear Cat,’ an answer song to Big Mama Thornton’s ‘Hound Dog.’ The song gave Sun Records its first national hit. Rufus and Carla became the first stars on Satellite Records, soon to be renamed Stax, recording the highly acclaimed duet ‘Cause I Love You.’ Thomas’ hits ‘Walking the Dog,’ ‘Do the Funky Chicken,’ and ‘(Do The) Push and Pull’ have become R&B classics. Suggested listening: Rufus Thomas – Funky Chicken (Stax SCD-88036-2)
