Vinyl Vault — Rufus Thomas, “Crown Prince of Dance”

It’s gonna be a funky good time on the next Vinyl Vault when we spin a few tunes from Rufus Thomas and his album “Crown Prince of Dance.” The album was released in 1973 on the iconic Stax Record Label. Recorded at the Stax studios in Memphis, the album features the crack Stax house band, the South Memphis Horns, and the Stax Pack.

Thomas (1917 – 2001) was an R&B, soul and funk singer from Memphis. Before landing on the Stax label, he recorded for Chess Records and Sun Records. Some of his biggest hits included “Walking the Dog” and “Do the Funky Chicken.” He was the father of soul and R&B singers Carla Thomas and Vanesse Thomas.

Many of Thomas’ tunes were about dances and “Crown Prince of Dance” has some of those including “The Funky Robot” and “The Funky Bird.” But on “I Wanna Sang,” Thomas insists he doesn’t want to dance, instead, he wants to sing!

Find out why Thomas proclaimed himself the “Funkiest Man Alive,” the next Vinyl Vault with Geoff Anderson, on Tuesday, June 25 at 8:30 p.m. on KUVO JAZZ.

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