Voting Station

Rufus Thomas

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Vocalist

The Resume

    (March 27, 1917-December 15, 2001)
    Born in Cayce, Mississippi
    Recorded the songs 'Bear Cat (The Answer to Hound Dog)' (1953), 'The Dog' (1963), 'Walking the Dog' (1963), 'Can Your Monkey Do the Dog?' (1964), 'Jump Back' (1964), 'Do the Funky Chicken' (1969), 'Do the Push and Pull' (1970), 'The Breakdown' (1971) and 'Do the Funky Penguin' (1971)
    Appeared in the film 'Mystery Train' (1989)
    Inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame (2001)

Why he might be annoying:

    He started performing in minstrel shows.
    He recorded love duets with his daughter.
    Like Dick Clark, he billed himself as 'The World's Oldest Teenager.'
    Most of his hits were recorded to start or cash in on dance crazes.
    He fired Jimi Hendrix from his band, saying 'Send him home. I can't use a guitar player who plays like that.'

Why he might not be annoying:

    He discovered B. B. King at a Memphis talent show.
    He was the first black deejay to play Elvis Presley records.
    He recorded his first #1 R&B hit at age 54.
    He calmed an unruly crowd at the Wattstax festival (1972), getting 40,000 people to flap their arms to 'The Funky Chicken.'
    He performed at the Atlanta Olympics (1996).

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 25.00% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 7 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 14 Votes: 42.86% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 3 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 10 Votes: 10.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 6 Votes: 16.67% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 7 Votes: 14.29% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 15 Votes: 53.33% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 21 Votes: 52.38% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 6 Votes: 83.33% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 23 Votes: 73.91% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 20 Votes: 65.00% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 20 Votes: 55.00% Annoying