Rufus Thomas - Walking The Dog (1964)

Rufus C. 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 Records and Sun Records 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."[4]
He began his career as a tap dancer, vaudeville performer, and master of ceremonies in the 1930s. He later worked as a disc jockey on radio station WDIA in Memphis, both before and after his recordings became successful. He remained active into the 1990s and as a performer and recording artist was often billed as "The World's Oldest Teenager". He was the father of the singers Carla Thomas (with whom he recorded duets) and Vaneese Thomas and the keyboard player Marvell Thomas. - Wikipedia
Shared for historical purposes. I do not own the rights.
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[@mrmaxxx94]

RUFUS Thomas had some of the funkiest and funniest songs and they are still slamming

[@TheJameskidwell]

I did 2 weeks with Rufus Thomas in San Antonio back in 1983.He was 66 at the time I believe and singing and dancing great.We hung out and ate at the Dennys every night.We had a great time.one night we played some blues and I played a nice solo that he really dug.When nobody clapped he went off on the audience and said,"What's the matter with yall, the boy can play!"..A couple of weeks after the gig I spoke to him in Memphis,which is where my folks lived as well,and found out my Dad had looked him up in the phone book and called him about me..He told me "I put you up on the top shelf".That was the only thing ever that made my Dad relent a little bit in his opposition to my music pursuits...Thanks RT

[@reelblack]

what a great memory! thanks 4 sharing.

[@TheJameskidwell]

Still doing it kzbin.info/www/bejne/q3qoqHuraM9qapo

[@TheJameskidwell]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/an2tc5iiaLR9Y9U

[@TheKyleBrust]

Funny how that works ey?! My brother has made it pretty solid in the music industry and yet no one wants to give me my deserved props....that is of course, unless my brother commends me, then my folks may ask to hear a tune or two. And I'm grateful but at the same time I'm also like," yo, my catalogue runs deep with original songs." But of course I'm happy to play them "a" song. But geez gimme a break already. Lol. I feel ya bro

[@Gunners_Mate_Guns]

Damn! Rufus was a real standup guy to chime in like that for you. RIP

[@edmundhudson]

It's amazing that Rufus was over 50 years old when he had some of his biggest hits. Never give up doing what you love!

[@rachelr3230]

Wow never knew that cool and That went straight to my ❤️ about it never being to late.!🎧❤️🎧

[@iketyson718]

This is why I'm a fan.

[@byellisjohnson]

Me too!

[@purplekief8154]

I needed to read this Thank you 30yrs I've been in bands, I still feel like I'm going to have a hit song one day Now I know I will:) Rufus, wherever you are riding the cosmos Thank you too

[@lindalocke3233]

2024 who's listening to this jam My old Auntie's used to have walking the Dog Contest. My cousin's and I would sneak and Watch them working those Big Butts.😅❤😂😮

[@brucefulper4204]

Infectious groove. So very very good. RIP Rufus. You were one cool cat.

[@gabbyokorare364]

Rufus Thomas shock the world with his iconic hit" walking the dog 1964. Top of the charts for many years..I danced to this hit...1965 when I was in form two in college... great guy. Rufus lives ON!!

[@lindapro1287]

Wow! Rufus Thomas and his band are jammin!!

[@sunrah4469]

The original Dance maven "the breakdown " "Funky Penguin" "Funky Chicken" "Push and Pull"...oh , and he was also the top black radio D.J. In Memphis & Carla Thomas' father. Rufus Thomas was No joke. 👍❤💪🔥

[@BedeYahEmmanuel]

He really wasn't, and when he wanted to, he could carry a the with the best of them. I heard him do "Trouble In Mind" Live one night & said Damn! I didn't know that. And "Talkin Bout True Love" in my JAMM!!

[@basilmarasco1975]

Great song. My favorite part is the whistle. "C'mon, boy! Come on! Come on!"

[@amberhumphreys807]

Love this ! When it first came out I was 20 and I danced to it, a lot in Soho London ! Still sounds just as good today. What a great artist.

[@falldinounclez]

I'm an Italian Portuguese, 27 years old and listening trying to imagine this scene inside Soho. Very good!!! Lovely sound.

[@stephenbrooks6174]

Was that you in The Flamingo? We danced together.

[@jeffreybarkin3177]

Heard this while I was REALLY Young, and every Time that I walked my Dog I would try to remember the words... Did a Mash-Up many years later, as I remembered THIS COOL Tune, and the Band played the Real Deal beautifully, but it was "Very Funky" as I couldn't remember the REAL Lyrics! LOVE This Tune!!! ❤ 😂

[@shyratolbert7371]

My grandfather use 2 sing this song 2 me in his own way when I was little. I can still hear him singing it sometimes. (R.I.P. I miss you everyday.👼❤😢)

[@wakeupidiotsnow2611]

In 1963 I was a Boy of 11yrs old and my older sister was a 14yr old BOBBIE SOXER, her and friends would clear the floor in the living room and adjoining dining room and “Walk The Dog”. She knew all of the latest songs and dances, releases were choreographed with a new dance 💃! So cool back then like mashed potato, the jerk, the swim, locomotion, the pony, hand jive and the twist.

[@zaysensationalvibes2120]

A customer told me to search this up and all I can say is I'm impressed 😁

[@souljazzrb]

Rufus was the Man back in the early 70s when I was a kid. "Do the Push and Pull" was one of the first records I ever owned. RIP Mr. Thomas.

[@141sharon270]

And in the 60's, great R 'n' B, songs like this started the R 'n' B revolution.

[@leebowens2631]

Don't forget the Break down !

[@drewmo007]

I danced to Rufus at the Rum Boogie. Doesn't get any better!

[@jeffcory1056]

As much as I have always liked the Rolling Stones cover of this, they pale in comparison to the originator.... powerful, rocking and funky at the same time... Wow. Love this!

[@pauldickinson6943]

lots of bands like the rolling stones and the Beatles covered songs, even though they great in their own write, I've never heard either of them do a classic cover better than the original. I can't think of one example of someone who covered a great song and improved it, apart from one, ken booth, everything I own ( a david gates song) that's the only one.

[@pauldickinson6943]

oh, and the hollies ' air that I breath' and David Bowies version of ' where have all the good times gone by the kinks' what did the Roman's ever do for us anyway?

[@jeffcory1056]

@@pauldickinson6943 Yes, even the Beatles muffed a few - I am thinking of their less than mediocre rendition of Chuck Berry's Roll Over Beethoven - but their Words of Love is divine.... much better than Buddy Holly's.

[@pauldickinson6943]

@@jeffcory1056 obviously they were the most successful band of all time and we'll never see anything like them again, incredible, and im a musician fanatical Beatles fan but I didn't rate any of the covers they did, but then started writing their own songs, they were pretty good at that.

[@pauldickinson6943]

one of my favourite songs is ' baby its you'' the Beatles obviously loved it and covered it, it was about as appealing as an unflushed toilet.

[@hildibildibaldi]

Introduced by Keith Fordyce this programme was on ITV (Rediffusion) every Friday - Ready, Steady, Go!

[@biualblessed]

He wasn't the only one singing this song. Look up Jackie Shane.. She sung this song too.

[@mrstacyj9496]

Thanks for sharing. I gotta go walk my dog. Cmon Now

[@MiTmite9]

This is every dog's favorite song.

[@jennamercury7625]

I swear this makes me so happy! Its 6am and my house is dancing!❤️

[@gussiewilliams7712]

Walk it Rufus; Rest in Paradise🤔☺

[@kyaksich7076]

I was listening to a list of songs turning 60 this year, when this song played and Rufus whistled my puppy went nuts, he is still barking lol. 😅

[@earlgoodlett7593]

thats my favorite song

[@KC-gy5xw]

Perfection!!

[@maryrandolph7751]

Memphis loved Rufus, always an honor to bump into him.

[@icewaterslim7260]

Unlike most of the TV performances in that small a venue back then . . . No lip sync . . . the way to play it real and the band sounds good.

[@sarinaflowers8540]

Im 11, and i adore this song! lol, mostly from my grand parents.

[@procopiojrpalacios9702]

The mighty Rufus Thomas gettin' down and funky, with a nice little backup band helpin' him walk that dog...!

[@randyelliott9152]

Named my last dog Rufus because of this song...

[@quoV11]

Yessssssss BACK IN THE DAY❤

[@maurice8607]

A great clip from British tv show, Ready Steady Go.

[@charlescurry2222]

Don't cha just wish you were there? Man,that look like they were having a good time. Them horns brought the party.

[@ashleywilliams4149]

When I heard his voice it reminded me of home, looked him up and lo and behold, he's from Mississippi/Memphis. Memphis Magic. American music architects.

[@jermainejackson2708]

WHERE RUFUS FROM

[@erica3muttsdragon]

I named one of my favorite dogs after him, in tribute♥️

[@basilmarasco1975]

Best possible tribute ...

[@jerryblair61]

What a great classic one of my 45s when I was a kid Ablums and 45s then

[@SegaSiah777]

Legendary asf

[@bobwatson1162]

The Memphis bulldog Rufus Thomas made some funky dance music especially in the 70s

[@141sharon270]

My God this takes me back a few years.

[@b8akaratn]

Walking these dawgs is where i'm headed after i loop this song indefinitely... 😂

[@markjackson5665]

On “Ready Steady Go” TV show in London

[@churbah3151]

1964 though.. timeless 🤙🤙

[@pauldickinson6943]

he constantly looks like hes trying to laugh, a brilliant singer and a brilliant song.

[@pauldickinson6943]

great voice and whistle.

[@rickjohnson9191]

64’, that’s got to be England. Mr. Rufus

[@seankolednik8860]

Just the ‘Funkiest man alive’. Thanks Rufus.

[@billwells2922]

I sing it karaoke....and I can tear it up. Being white with Blacks in the audience has saying where did that come from. I was in a garage band in 1966...so that’s my kind music...still.

[@alanmurr6562]

He sang that just as good as he did on the original recording! That is rare for even the best rock-pop singers!

[@emilystevens6335]

That was my jam. Love it!

[@appledoreman]

Great live performance!!

[@vivianlang5269]

Great walking the dog music for real💕

[@AR-pm9nv]

Always loved this song.👍

[@hrwatchinpuff6551]

And to this day Europeans have remained fans of Black music. Our kids today have reinvented the music industry, but channels like Reel Black✊🏿will always keep it real✊🏿✊🏿

[@larrywoolridge5359]

Young black Americans have thrown r&b away for rap and hip hop white Europeans have and still love r&b

[@coreyhall1266]

You don’t listen to r&b then

[@pauldickinson6943]

brilliant record.

[@colinhalliley111]

The dance , Walking The Dog , could be danced to nice or real naughty . Use your imagination if you don't know 😁

[@JohnKorvell]

The Thomas family are legends and all need to be in the rock n roll HoF~

[@sangredelic]

Rufus was so handsome 😍

[@michaelstucker6739]

Better'n the Stones! Better'n Aerosmith! The man, the myth, the legend! Rufus Thomas!!!!!!!

[@rollerchickable]

I Love This Song Thank You For Sharing.

[@michaele.]

It's still great

[@sandratogneri9982]

Love It XXX

[@claudiakatz-palme9708]

Hello from Berlin, Germany - this is so wonderful, 😍👍🌹

[@sheristewart2770]

The ONLY rendition of Walking the Dog! Perfect! Wish I'd been there!

[@maximumrnb66]

Absolutely fantastic..Mr Cool 😎

[@kokolanza7543]

Thanks for posting, and for the background on Rufus Thomas. What a career!

[@carolmiles2351]

Ya can't beat old school....😆👀

[@shyratolbert5878]

my grandfather use to sing this song 2 me and my sister when we were little. (His own version I think.) it takes me back R.I.P Grandaddy I love & miss u.

[@carpadelpitu3523]

Me encontré con disco mientras andaba con mis primas caminando,había una montaña de discos y basura a una orilla de la calle ,nos acercamos y sacamos los que pudimos y busqué la canción que salía en uno de esos discos, y apareció esto.

[@mocksock69]

I had always thought this was originally an Aerosmith song! This is great though. These black singers created rocknroll and deserve more credit!

[@marcobechere4452]

Too much artists recorded this song before the Aerosmiths to be considered an Aerosmiths' song.

[@reimaginethesounds6694]

@@marcobechere4452 but very few own it as Aerosmith does

[@kennyguitarallen5662]

just brilliant,rufus was the man,great old video footage

[@TheSpikehere]

Classic!

[@splatgang7127]

bro im only here cuz my grandpa told me bout this song

[@randy464]

The band is getting it done.

[@kemetdebgibson2875]

Wow I was four years old when this came out. My mother asked me to do the dog for her friends

[@bootreese1]

I was nine........bad ass jam!

[@tyronescott2730]

Rufus Thomas on "Ready Steady Go".

[@josecorreia2518]

Como e bom! Que ritmo!

[@bootreese1]

Rufus my man!

[@patriciakimbrell3734]

Love the Music ♥️🎸

[@ruyjose6015]

Uhuuuuu🎵🎶Olha o balanço, vai, vai, deixa cair...Uhuuuu🎶🎵😉✌🏽🇧🇷

[@rollingfog1]

Absolutely excellent

[@TheNobbynoonar]

Yeah man!

[@richardbanker3910]

It’s interesting to see how white British rock groups like the Beatles and Stones covered songs from groups they admired and worked in guitars in place of horns, keyboards etc and did their adaptation. This is a case in point. Love both versions of this song. I’m glad Rufus Thomas got a look in and got success finally.

[@mercyhowls2688]

LOVE IT!

[@profoundja9598]

This is my favorite song on Mafia 3, something about that Whistle.lol

[@peterfraser5704]

And, by a strange coincidence, the saxophone player is "Lol". Lol Coxhill.

[@gabrieldimasyazbek]

Beautiful man

[@SerpentLord]

He must have made a good living off just this one song. Think of the royalties! There were so many remakes of this.

[@ramonwolfkamp5724]

Derksen bedankt

[@floydpattersonii4996]

:28 - love that drummer = coolness of cool...the glasses, plaid jacket...kinda Buddy Holly ish and has the "too bad if you dont like it" feel

[@softyme63]

Reminds me of “Barefootin”

[@JoePadovano]

Check out Pete Townsend Live at Deep End. Bare Footin.

[@MustangMach1696.0]

Forget the dog Rufus was one kool kat.😊

[@bangna5]

Understand from user comments and DJBobbyJay who worked the radio with Rufus.that Rufus wrote Gee Whiz in 1958 for Carla but held the song back because he didn't think her voice was developed sufficiently for the power of the song

[@marSLaZZ66]

GROOOVY !!! 🤩

[@veronicasawyer77]

901🖤

[@torbenlarsen331]

The band got it..........awesome

[@MiTmite9]

I can whistle with or without using my fingers (really REALLY loud, too), but I cannot, for the life of me, whistle the way Rufus does.

[@25447carepear]

Great voice. They used us alot back then. I bet he doesn't have royalties for his family after him.

[@ninja5672]

He had a very long and successful career until he died in 2001. Why would you assume he wasn't compensated fairly? I'm sure he agreed to all his contracts.

[@joycesmith53]

Actually he does his daughter is still alive

[@rachelr3230]

💃🔥💃!! Dance with me y'all!

[@paulzimmerman6182]

Abe and the Houserockers, Daytona Beach, CIty Island Rec ..1964

[@stevedahlberg8680]

Oh yeah

[@shipdog6]

😎 thanks

[@lapislazuli30001]

This dance was so raunchy back then. Notice how you see 0 kids dancing to this song until the end, and then it's just their heads?