Rufus Thomas, musiian, 84

[Deathwatch Central <cdw@slick.org>]

Sunday December 16 4:03 PM ET 

''Funky Chicken's'' Rufus Thomas dies in Memphis

MEMPHIS, Tenn. (Reuters) - Rufus Thomas, whose ``Do the Funky Chicken''
and ``Walking the Dog'' became musical standards, has died at age 84,
his family said Sunday.

Over a 70-year career with roots in vaudeville and in radio as a disc
jockey, Thomas helped define the musical heritage of Memphis, where a
street is named after him.

He died Saturday at a local hospital of apparent heart failure, his
family said. He had been undergoing treatment at the hospital since
falling ill in November and had undergone open heart surgery in 1998.

His success was a key in growth of the two most famous record labels to
come out of Memphis, Sun and Stax. He helped launch a number of
careers, including that of B.B. King.

Funeral arrangements were pending. REUTERS 


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