I just wanted to pass this news release on because when Prince performed in concert at the Pyramid in Memphis,TN in 1997,he had an after party at "The New Daisy" on Beale Street and Rufus Thomas performed on stage with Prince during the aftershow. During Prince's aftershow his bodyguard Aaron went up to Prince who was playing the keyboards and evidently told Prince that Rufus Thomas was in the house,Prince nodded his head as though he was giving Aaron permission to bring Mr. Rufus Thomas on stage,next thing I know Prince yelled out on the mic excitedly "Ya'll giving Rufus Thomas to perform with me, I can't believe ya'll are giving Rufus Thomas to me." Rufus Thomas then came on stage and boy did he get down with Prince,according to his age at death Mr.Thomas must have been a very good looking 80 years old when he performed with Prince in 1997.

http://www.gomemphis.com/...39,00.html

Rufus Thomas dead at 84

By the Associated Press

Musician Rufus Thomas, whose "Bear Cat" helped Sun Records get its start and whose "Funky Chicken" gave a boost to the Stax Label, died Saturday. He was 84.
Thomas' son, Marvell Thomas, said his father died in St. Francis Hospital. He had been hospitalized since Thanksgiving for a short illness.

"This is the end of an era, and the world will miss him dearly," Thomas said.

Rufus Thomas was best known for novelty dance recordings like "Walking the Dog," "Do the Funky Chicken" and "Push and Pull."

He began tap dancing on the streets of Memphis for tips and performed in amateur shows in high school.

In the 1940s, Thomas ran his own Beale Street amateur show that attracted B.B. King, Bobby "Blue" Bland and many other performers who went on to become famous.

In his declining years, Thomas took on the title of "Beale Street ambassador" and liked to refer to himself as the world's oldest teen-ager.

In 1998, he underwent open-heart surgery at a Memphis hospital.

Thomas was born in Cayce, Miss., in 1917 and grew up in Memphis. In high school, he met Nat D. Williams, a history teacher who organized annual variety shows.

In the late 1940s, Williams became one of the first black radio personalities in the South.

"Then, a black man on the radio had always been taboo," Thomas once told The Associated Press. "When they heard that black voice advertising their products, most of the advertisers pulled their ads."

In 1953, Thomas recorded "Bear Cat," an answer to Big Mama Thornton's "Hound Dog," and it became Sun Record's first hit.

That was before Elvis Presley arrived on the scene to become Sun's undisputed star. Thomas complained in later years that Sun's black artists were pushed aside after Presley became a hit.

In the 1960s, Thomas became one of the founding performers for Stax Records, which created what came to be known as "the Memphis sound," with performers like Isaac Hayes, Otis Redding and Sam and Dave.

Funeral arrangements are pending.

December 15, 2001

[Dr.Wood (woodygarrett@hotmail.com) added:]
The connection to Prince is when the "Jam of the Year" tour hit Memphis. During the aftershow at the New Daisy Theatre on Beale Street. Prince brought up Rufus Thomas to perform with him. Prince acknowleged Rufus as one of his early influences, and how funky the man is. Prince got the crowd chanting "Go Rufus", as he sung, danced and busted a rap that had Prince cracking up onstage. After his short appearance, Prince said, "I don't know if I could follow the Funky Chicken Man", but he cut up anyway.
I am proud to say I knew Rufus & his family personally from my time in Memphis. He was a great person, and a very funky entertainer. He will be missed. RIP Rufus!