ArtistInfo Logo  ArtistInfo

Artist Portrait

Rufus Thomas

voc, 1917-2001 US, Cayce
Singer / Songwriter of R&B/Soul
A.k.a. Rufus C. Thomas, Jr. Mr. Swing

Rufus Thomas, Jr. (March 26, 1917 – December 15, 2001) was an American rhythm and blues, funk, soul and blues singer, songwriter, dancer, DJ and comic entertainer from Memphis, Tennessee. He recorded for several labels including Chess and Sun in the 1950s, before becoming established in the 1960s and 1970s at Stax Records. He is best known for his novelty dance records including "Walking the Dog" (1963), "Do the Funky Chicken" (1969) and "(Do the) Push and Pull" (1970). 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."

     
Genres
  • R&B/Soul
  • Blues
  • Rock
Plays With
Rufus Thomas & His Orchestra
Bluesiana
Popular Tracks   
Walking the Dog - Mono on Walking the Dog by Rufus Thomas
Cause I Love You on Presenting Rufus Thomas by Rufus Thomas
(Do The) Push And Pull - Pt. 1 on Funkiest Man Alive: The Stax Funk Sessions 1967-1975 by Rufus Thomas
Bear Cat - Remastered 2022 on Sun Records Originals: Bear Cat by Rufus Thomas
The Breakdown - Pt. 1 on Did You Heard Me? by Rufus Thomas
The Memphis Train on The Platinum Collection by Rufus Thomas
Do The Funky Chicken on Stax Profiles: Rufus Thomas by Rufus Thomas
Do The Funky Penguin - Part 1 on Did You Heard Me? by Rufus Thomas
The Funky Bird on Crown Prince Of Dance by Rufus Thomas
Walking the Dog - Remastered on Walking the Dog by Rufus Thomas

Track list and 30sec audio provided by

Band Members
Discography



Title Artist Year Type
Gee WhizCarla Thomas, Rufus Thomas2016Compil.
Walkin' The DogRufus Thomas2012Compil.
Crazy About You Baby, The Complete 1950-1957 RecordingsRufus Thomas2011Compil.
Early YearsRufus Thomas2010Compil.
Tiger Man: Earliest Recordings 1950-1957Rufus Thomas2008Compil.
His R&B Recordings 1949-1956 - The Sun Years, PlusRufus Thomas2008Compil.
The Very Best Of Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas2007Compil.
The Platinum CollectionRufus Thomas2007Compil.
Stax ProfilesRufus Thomas2006Compil.
School Boy Crush / Do The Funky PenguinAverage White Band / Rufus Thomas2005Album
Funky Hot Grits / Give Me The Green LightRufus Thomas2002Single
Live In PorrettaRufus Thomas2002Album
The Funkiest Man (The Stax Funk Sessions 1967 - 1975)Rufus Thomas2002Compil.
Best Of The BestRufus Thomas1999Compil.
Swing Out With Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas1999Album
Funky Chicken (Soul Aces)Rufus Thomas1999Compil.
MemoriesRufus Thomas1998Compil.
Hey Rufus! / Body FineRufus Thomas / Bar-Kays1998Single
Rufus Live!Rufus Thomas1997Album
The Best Of Rufus Thomas (Do The Funky Somethin')Rufus Thomas1996Compil.
Blues Thang!Rufus Thomas1996Album
Did You Heard Me? - Crown Prince Of DanceRufus Thomas1995Compil.
Rufus Thomas Live!Rufus Thomas1994Compil.
The Best Of Rufus Thomas: The Singles 1968 - 75Rufus Thomas1993Compil.
Timeless FunkRufus Thomas1992Single
Timeless FunkRufus Thomas1992Album
Get Up Offa That Funk / Jump Back BabyRufus Thomas1992Album
Can't Get Away From This DogRufus Thomas1991Compil.
That Woman Is Poison!Rufus Thomas1988Album
Theme From "Shaft" / Do The Funky ChickenIsaac Hayes / Rufus Thomas1988Single
Ramasses Rap / Memphis TrainRufus Thomas1987Single
Do The Funky Chicken / Mr. Big StuffRufus Thomas / Jean Knight1985Single
Rappin' RufusRufus Thomas1985Album
Christmas Comes But Once A Year / I'll Be Your Santa BabyAlbert King / Rufus Thomas1984Single
Jump BackRufus Thomas1984Compil.
Martha Reeves / Rufus Thomas / The Nashville Teens / The TroggsMartha Reeves / Rufus Thomas / The Nashville Teens / The Troggs1981Compil.
Everybody Cried (The Day Disco Died) / I'd Love To Love You AgainRufus Thomas1981Single
Everybody Needs Somebody To Love / If You Need Me / Walking The Dog / Jump BackSolomon Burke / Rufus Thomas1980Single
Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas1980Album
Funky Chicken / Walkin' The DogRufus Thomas1979Single
Os Grandes Sucessos De Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas1979Single
Chronicle: Their Greatest Stax HitsRufus Thomas & Carla Thomas1979Compil.
Fried Chicken / I Ain't Got TimeRufus Thomas1978Single
I Ain't Gettin' Older, I'm Gettin' BetterRufus Thomas1978Album
The Breakdown, Part I / Do The Funky Penguin, Part IRufus Thomas1977Single
I Ain't Gittin' Older, I'm Gittin' BetterRufus Thomas1977Album
Do The Funky Chicken / Sixty Minute Man, Part IIRufus Thomas1977Single
If There Were No MusicRufus Thomas1977Album
Who's Makin' Love To Your Old Lady / Hot GritsRufus Thomas1977Single
The Best Of Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas1976Compil.
If There Were No Music / Blues In The BasementRufus Thomas1976Single
Do The Double BumpRufus Thomas1975Single
Jump Back 75Rufus Thomas1975Single
The Funky Bird / Steal A LittleRufus Thomas1974Single
Tutti Frutti / I Wanna SangRufus Thomas1974Single
Boogie Ain't Nuttin' (But Gettin' Down)Rufus Thomas1974Single
I'm Still In Love With You / The Funky BirdRufus Thomas1974Single
I'll Be Your Santa Baby/That Makes Christmas DayRufus Thomas1973Single
Crown Prince Of DanceRufus Thomas1973Album
Trampa de Amor / 6-3-8Rufus Thomas1973Single
Mr. Memphis / Best Of Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas1973Compil.
Funky RobotRufus Thomas1973Single
I'm Still In Love With YouRufus Thomas1973Single
Do The Funky Chicken / Happy / Hang 'Em HighRufus Thomas / William Bell / Booker T & The MG's1973Single
Baby It's Real / Steal A LittleRufus Thomas1973Single
Armony (Harmony) / Itch And Scratch (Part 1)Pier Michele Bozzetti / Rufus Thomas1973Single
Do The Funky Chicken / Gee Whiz (Look At His Eyes)Rufus Thomas / Carla Thomas1972Single
Did You Heard Me?Rufus Thomas1972Album
Itch And ScratchRufus Thomas1972Single
¡Funky!Rufus Thomas1972Album
6-3-8 / Love TrapRufus Thomas1972Single
Good Love 6-9969 / Do The Funky Penguin Part 1Isaac Hayes / Rufus Thomas1972Single
This Is... Rufus ThomasRufus Thomas1972Album
The BreakdownRufus Thomas1971Single
Do The Funky ChickenRufus Thomas1971Single
The World Is Round / (I Love You) For Sentimental ReasonsRufus Thomas1971Single
The BreakdownRufus Thomas1971Single
Rufus Thomas Live Doing The Push & Pull At P.J.'sRufus Thomas1971Album
Do The Funky PenguinRufus Thomas1971Single
Hombre De 60 Minutos (Sixty Minute Man)Rufus Thomas1970Single
Old McDonald Had A Farm Part 2 / The Preacher And The BearRufus Thomas1970Single
Do The Funky Chicken / Turn Your Damper DownRufus Thomas1970Single
Do The Funky ChickenRufus Thomas1970Album
The Preacher And The BearRufus Thomas1970Single
(Do The) Push And PullRufus Thomas1970Single
Funky WayRufus Thomas1969Single
Do The Funky ChickenRufus Thomas1969Single
Funky Mississippi / So Hard To Get Along WithRufus Thomas1968Single
Down Ta My House / Steady Holding OnRufus Thomas1968Single
The Memphis TrainRufus Thomas1968Single
Talkin' Bout True Love / Sister's Got A BoyfriendRufus Thomas1967Single
Jump Back / Walking The DogRufus Thomas1967Single
Sophisticated SissyRufus Thomas1967Single
Birds & Bees / Never Let You GoRufus Thomas & Carla Thomas1966Single
The World Is Round / Chicken ScratchRufus Thomas1965Single
Willy Nilly / Sho' Gonna Mess Him UpRufus Thomas1965Single
When You Move You LoseRufus Thomas & Carla Thomas1965Single
Baby WalkRufus Thomas1965Single
Jump BackRufus Thomas1965Single
Can Your Monkey Do The DogRufus Thomas1964Single
Jump Back / All Night WorkerRufus Thomas1964Single
That's Really Some GoodRufus Thomas & Carla Thomas1964Single
Do The DogRufus Thomas1964Single
That's Really Some Good / Night Time Is The Right TimeRufus Thomas & Carla Thomas1964Single
Boom BoomRufus Thomas1964Single
Somebody Stole My DogRufus Thomas1964Single
The DogRufus Thomas1963Single
Walking The DogRufus Thomas1963Album
Walking The Dog / You SaidRufus Thomas1963Single
Walking The Dog / The DogRufus Thomas1963Single
Walking The Dog / The DogRufus Thomas1963Single
The Dog / Did You Ever Love A WomanRufus Thomas1963Single
Can't Ever Let You Go / It's Aw'riteRufus Thomas1962Single
I Didn't BelieveRufus Thomas And Carla Thomas1961Single
Deep Down InsideCarla Thomas And Rufus Thomas1960Single
The Easy Livin' Plan / I'm Steady Holdin' OnRufus Thomas1956Single
Bear Cat / Walking In The RainRufus Thomas1953Album
Tiger Man (King Of The Jungle) / Save That MoneyRufus Thomas1953Album
The Breakdown (Part 2) / Funky ManRufus Thomas / Kool & The Gang1953Single
Bear Cat / Walkin' In The Rain / Tiger Man / Save That MoneyRufus Thomas1953Single
I'll Be A Good Boy / I'm So WorriedRufus Thomas1950Album
High Time We Went / Black Eyed BluesJoe Cocker / Rufus Thomas / The PioneersSingle
El Baile De La GallinaRufus ThomasSingle
Do The Funky Chicken / Turn Your Damper DownRufus ThomasSingle
Baby, It's Real / Steal A LittleRufus ThomasSingle
Cause I Love You / Deep Down InsideCarla Thomas & Rufus ThomasSingle
Night Time Is The Right TimeRufus Thomas & Carla ThomasSingle
Govinda / (Do The) Push And Pull (Part 1 & 2)The Radha Krsna Temple / Rufus ThomasSingle
External Links
Homepage Logo Home Page  Wikipedia Logo Wikipedia  MusicBrainz Logo MusicBrainz  Discogs Logo Discogs  iTunes Logo iTunes  Spotify Logo Spotify  
ArtistInfo App
ArtistInfo for iOS and ArtistInfo for Mac are presenting musicians, composers and producers that are envolved in the musical work that you are listening to in Apple Music, iTunes, or Spotify. Discover new music via the network among artists. Manage your favorite musicians and albums via iCloud and share recommendations with your friends via email, AirDrop, or Social Media.

App Store Logo     Mac App Store Logo

Acknowledgements
To all the music fans that are contributing on Discogs, MusicBrainz and Wikipedia. Thanks to Franz Flückiger for providing Storygram used to visualize band membership.
Other Search Results
Rufus Thomas & His Orchestra Blues
Universal Link: https://music.metason.net/artistinfo?name=Rufus%20Thomas
ArtistInfo Community
Most seen topics within ArtistInfo:

Top 10 Artists    Top 20 Albums
 
What others are currently looking for:

Recent Artists    Recent Albums

ArtistInfo Logo ArtistInfo by Metason © 2015-2020 Metason Logo