Rufus Thomas (March 26 1917 ? December 15 2001) was a rhythm and blues and soul singer fromMemphis, Tennessee, who recorded on Sun Records in the1950s and on Stax Records in the 1960s and 1970s. He was the father of soul singer Carla Thomas ("B-A-B-Y") and keyboard player Marvell Thomas. A third child, Vaneese, a former French teacher, has a recording studio in upstate New York and she sings for television commercials. Early life and education Born a sharecropper's son in the rural community of Cayce, Mississippi, Thomas moved to Memphis with his family at age 2. His mother was ?a church woman.? Thomas made his artistic debut at the age of 6 playing a frog in a school theatrical production. Much later in life, he would impersonate all kinds of animals: screeching cats, funky chickens and penguins, and mournful dogs. By age 10, he was a tap dancer, performing in amateur productions at Memphis' Booker T. Washington High School.

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