Thomas followed him there as a disc jockey, and, with his shows House Of Happiness and Special Delivery, became a familiar broadcasting voice. Williams was also involved in WDIA, the first southern radio station that not only carried programmes for African-Americans, but was entirely staffed by them. While in high school, he had met Nat D Williams, a history teacher who staged variety shows on Beale Street, and, following his example, Thomas presented an amateur show at the Palace Theatre, exposing the nascent talents of such artists as BB King and Bobby 'Blue' Bland. It was performed live occasionally by the Grateful Dead in 1966, 1970 and the mid-eighties.Although perhaps best remembered for his 1960s novelty dance hit Walking The Dog, Rufus Thomas, who has died aged 84, was for many years a central figure on the Memphis music scene, as singer, writer, eccentric dancer and, above all, radio personality.īorn in Cayce, Mississippi, he grew up in Memphis, serving a teenage apprenticeship in vaudeville with the Rabbit Foot Minstrels, tapdancing and doing comedy routines. Many other artists have recorded the song, including Aerosmith, Johnny Rivers, John Cale, Georgie Fame and the Blue Flames, Roger Daltrey, Green Day, Hans Theessink, the Flamin' Groovies, The Kingsmen, The Sonics, The Lincolns, Ace Cannon, Jackie Shane, The Trashmen, Luv'd Ones, Bob Paisley and the Southern Grass and Ratt. Unlike most Stones' recordings, the song features harmony vocals on the chorus solely by Brian Jones (most early Stones songs feature Jones and Bill Wyman on backing vocals, with Keith Richards replacing the two not long after), which makes their recording of the song unique in their catalogue. The song was recorded several months later by the Rolling Stones in 1964.

The only hit version in the UK was by the Dennisons, whose recording reached number 36 on the UK singles chart in 1964. The lyrics make references to children's nursery rhymes, especially Miss Mary Mack. This version is noted for Rufus whistling and calling out for his dog, to go walking with him. The Rufus Thomas version begins with the quoting of the first 14 notes of Mendelssohn's Wedding March from 'Midsummer's Night's Dream'.

Rufus thomas walking the dog