Tommy Ridgley

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Tommy Ridgley 1996.jpg

Tommy Ridgley (born October 30, 1925 as Thomas Herman Ridgley , † August 11, 1999 ) was an American R&B singer and band leader in New Orleans . His musical career spanned half a century.

biography

Ridgley's debut single Shrewsbury Blues was released on Imperial Records in 1949 , recorded with Dave Bartholomew's band. The success of the play gave him the nickname "Shrewsbury Kid". In the 1950s he made recordings for Decca , Atlantic and Herald Records . His 1952 Decca track Tra-La-La was later a hit for Pat Boone . In 1957 he founded his band "The Untouchables", with which he accompanied the likes of Little Richard , Solomon Burke , Ray Charles and Sam Cooke and appeared as the opening act for James Brown .

In the decades that followed, there were fewer recordings at smaller local record labels. Live, however, Ridgley remained present; from 1972 until his death he performed at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival every year .

In the 1990s, Ridgley released three new albums. On his last album Since The Blues Began , released in 1995 on Black Top Records , Snooks Eaglin was one of his guest musicians.

Tommy Ridgley died of lung cancer in 1999. The singer Sammy Ridgley is his younger brother.

Discography

  • 1990: How Long? (Sound of New Orleans)
  • 1992: She Turns Me On (Modern Blues Recordings)
  • 1995: Since The Blues Began (Black Top)

Compilations

  • 1988: The New Orleans King of the Stroll (Rounder)
  • 1992: The Herald Recordings (Collectables)
  • 2006: Tommy Ridgley 1949-1954 (Classics)
  • Mardi Gras Jam / Tommy Ridgley & His Orchestra (Blue City)
  • Through The Years (Sound of New Orleans)

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c d biography on "The Official Tommy Ridgley Website" , see web links
personal data
SURNAME Ridgley, Tommy
ALTERNATIVE NAMES Ridgley, Thomas Herman (real name)
BRIEF DESCRIPTION African American R&B singer and band leader
DATE OF BIRTH October 30, 1925
DATE OF DEATH August 11, 1999