Rufus Thomas, Jr.- 4E 119 - Memphis, Tennessee
Posted by: BruceS
N 35° 08.367 W 090° 03.030
15S E 768729 N 3892490
Historical marker commemorating an music promoter in Memphis.
Waymark Code: WM35JC
Location: Tennessee, United States
Date Posted: 02/13/2008
Views: 30
Rufus Thomas, Jr.
Born March 26, 1917, in Cayce, Mississippi, this legendary entertainer
known worldwide, began his career in the 1930's with the Rabbit Foot Minstrel
Shows. He was the organizer and master of ceremonies of the amateur shows
in the 1940s and 1950s at the Palace Theatre, which stood at this site.
From these shows began the careers of many great performers, including B. B.
King and Bobby "Blue" Bland.
He had the first hit records for both the Sun and Stax labels. As a
popular personality on WDIA, he was the first disc jockey to play Elvis Presley
records on a Black radio station. He was the creator of two of the biggest
dance crazes of the 1960s--"The Dog" and "The Funky Chicken." ~ text of
marker