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224:. In a musical career lasting half a century Ridgley was a stalwart of the New Orleans rhythm and blues scene. Although he never had a national hit, unlike several of his contemporaries, he made numerous, popular recordings that sold mainly in New Orleans and Louisiana beginning in 1949 with a final release in 1995. His voice was variously described as similar to
248:. In the late 1950s, he became bandleader of The Untouchables with whom he held residencies at important night venues often backing visiting artists. His recording career consisted of over forty singles and three albums. Most of his recordings have been anthologised on compilations in vinyl and CDs.
269:, the eldest of seventeen brothers and sisters, of which eight survived He had an impoverished upbringing and was a breadwinner for his family before his teens. His social life and that of his family centred on the local church where Ridgley began singing in harmony groups He served with the
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Throughout this period
Ridgley continued to perform around New Orleans whilst accepting occasional European dates.The Untouchables maintained their residency at the Dew Drop Inn until it closed in 1972 and Ridgley kept performing at the
525:. As the decade progressed Tommy Ridgley continued to gig regularly in New Orleans and Louisiana releasing further one-off soul 45s on small labels: Blue Jay, White Cliffs and Ronn. Ridgley also cut a number of tracks at a studio in
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proved one of the most successful records of his career and he later cut it again on the
Shreveport based label Ronn label. Joe Ruffino's death in 1962 left the label in limbo and Ridgley's final two Ric 45s, both of which featured
397:, a sax-led instrumental dance record that narrowly missed the national charts when re-cut in 1961. A regular presence by 1957 on the thriving R&B scene in New Orleans, he was offered a recording contract with
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During the 1970s and 1980s, there were fewer recording opportunities for
Ridgley, however, he intermittently continued to record for a plethora of local New Orleans and Louisiana record labels.These included
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Jeff
Hanusch, The Soul Of New Orleans: A Legacy of Rhythm and Blues, Chapter four on Tommy Ridgley: The New Orleans King Of The Stroll, Swallow publications, Ville Platte, Louisiana, USA (2001).
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The
Starlight Hotel and Lounge opened in 1946 and managed by Odile Clark Washington (1909 - 2020) was a major venue for black musicians during the 50's through to the 80s.
281:, that provided World War II veterans with funds for college education Ridgley studied at the Grunewald School of Music. In 1946 he entered a talent contest at the
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The Best of
International City, Rare New Orleans, Baton Rouge and Muscle Shoals Recordings 1964-1970, Soul-Tay-Shus records, sleeve notes Neil Pelligrin
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In 1992 and nearly 50 years into his music career
Ridgley released his first album of new recordings. Appearing on Modern Blues Recordings and titled
342:. It was another New Orleans hit and thereafter a staple of Tommy Ridgley's repertoire. A Dave Bartholomew Orchestra single with Ridgley on lead
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Ridgley's recordings for Herald and Ric have been frequently anthologised as have his releases as a lead singer with the Dave
Bartholomew Orchestra
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it was a varied mix of Jump blues, New
Orleans funk and sweet, soulful ballads. It included re-cuts of a number of Ridgley favourites including,
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401:, by which time Ridgley had formed his own band The Untouchables. Herald released six singles by The Untouchables of which the first release
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where they opened for and sometimes backed visiting acts. These included a number of major R&B artists of the late 50's and early 60's:
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whilst his reputation as a major New
Orleans artist was enhanced by Dave Bartholomew's band that featured outstanding musicians: drummer
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In the 1980s there were a number of cassette only recordings of new material on the Du Bat label and The Sound of New Orleans label.
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The success of Shrewsbury Blues led to Ridgley being billed as the 'Shrewsbury Kid' for a number of releases on Park and Imperial.
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appeared in 1995. In recognition of his long career in New Orleans he was supported by established musicians that included
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on production duties, were released with little in the way of promotion and consequently were not successful. However,
285:, one of New Orleans premier nightclubs which he won and more significantly gained a profile as an up-coming performer.
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Tony Rounce, Tommy Ridgley 'In The Same Old Way': The Complete Ric, Ron and Sho-Biz recordings, Ace records UK (2015).
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In The Basement magazine # 16 , November 1999 -January 2000, obituary by Greg Burgess, Astrascope, Brighton, UK
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in 1958. By the end of 1950s, Tommy Ridgley and The Untouchables were the resident band at the iconic
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Modern Blues recordings, Tommy Ridgley: She Turns Me On, sleeve notes by Jeff Hannusch (June 1992)
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Ridgley started his professional career in the late 40's as a band singer with a New Orleans
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every year from 1972 until his death in 1999, a continuous appearance of twenty eight years.
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In 1953 Ridgley left Bartholomew's band and signed a contract with Atlantic records. He cut
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and during his rest-time learnt to play the piano. At demobilization under the terms of the
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Tommy Ridgley:Since The Blues Began, Black Top Records (1995) sleeve notes by Hammond Scott
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John Broven, Rhythm And Blues in New Orleans , Pelican, Gretna, Louisianna revised 2016.
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group and after a brief stint with Earl Anderson's band playing at The Starlight Hotel in
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Hammond Scott, Tommy Ridgley: Standing The Test Of Time , Wavelength magazine (July 1981)
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and blues ballads. A competent songwriter Ridgley wrote both sides of the follow-up
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in New Orleans in 1949. Produced by Bartholomew and released on the new imprint
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released in the winter of 1963. In February 1964 Cash Box reviewed favourably
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magazine's annual Lifetime Achievement Award Ridgley who suffered from
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was the most successful. As a marketing ploy Herald used the nickname
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the record established Ridgley within New Orleans as a progenitor of
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Jeff Hannusch, King Of The Stroll, Discoveries Magazine. (Sept 1994)
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Mardi Gras Jam / Tommy Ridgley & His Orchestra (Blue City) (USA)
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I Hear You Knockin : The Sound of New Orleans Rhythm and Blues
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In The Same Old Way: The Complete Ric, Ron and Sho-Biz Recordings
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on the Johen label, a R&B dance record from the pen of
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demonstrated that Ridgley could adapt his voice to the new
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Associated Press, Obituaries in the News, August 13, 1999.
966:"The rise and fall of New Orleans' legendary Dew Drop Inn"
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was a strong seller in spring 1961, the latter covered by
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I was born in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, February 18, 1941
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Tommy Ridgley at the Dream Palace in New Orleans (1996)
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for Bob Robin's International City imprint including
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as one of his girl singers, later recommending her to
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A one-record deal with the tiny Cinderella label saw
216:(October 30, 1925 – August 11, 1999) was an American
916:"Marv Goldberg's R&B Notebooks - TOMMY RIDGLEY"
606:all of whom turned out on his last recorded album.
549:Sansu label in 1976 and a remake of Ridgley's own
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1088:Juke Blues magazine # 45, obituary , (2000)
409:following the death of the original 'king'
1284:20th-century African-American male singers
1033:Jeff Hannusch, "Obituary: Ernest McLean",
808:Rock Obituaries: Knocking On Heaven's Door
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29:
877:, Mardi Gras Records, sleeve notes (2000)
564:New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival
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310:. Ridgley, released his debut single,
875:New Orleans Soul 60s: The Watch Label
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602:, Raymond Weber and guest guitarist
498:, the latter covered by his brother
1229:American rhythm and blues musicians
477:in 1966 His fifth release on Ric
27:American R&B singer (1925–1999)
1289:20th-century American male singers
941:"The Tommy Ridgley Biography Page"
684:The New Orleans King of the Stroll
609:In January 1999, Ridgley received
453:In 1960, Ridgley also signed with
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1142:"January 1999 - OffBeat Magazine"
619:in his last few years, died from
437:. Ridgley also employed a young
805:Talevski, Nick (7 April 2010).
1299:20th-century American pianists
1189:Tommy Ridgley official website
261:Tommy Ridgley was born in the
1:
1294:20th-century American singers
1264:African-American male singers
1274:African-American songwriters
668:(Sound of New Orleans) (USA)
537:scene in the 1970s and 80s.
496:I’ve Heard That Story Before
888:"Tommy Ridgley discography"
551:I Can't Make It Any Longer
531:My Love is Getting Stronger
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1199:Biography by Marv Goldberg
1038:. Retrieved 28 August 2015
515:All My Love Belongs To You
407:The New King of The Stroll
379:I'm Gonna Cross That River
294:Dave Bartholomew Orchestra
1234:African-American pianists
1007:Washington, Odile Clark.
828:– via Google Books.
647:(Modern Blues Recordings)
449:Joe Ruffino's Ric records
385:, a record that featured
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1254:Imperial Records artists
1249:Atlantic Records artists
1065:. Swallow Publications.
467:Should I Ever Love Again
389:on piano as a member of
1239:American soul musicians
698:Tommy Ridgley 1949-1954
659:Compilations (selected)
1259:Singers from Louisiana
1057:Jeff Hannusch (1985).
640:(Sound of New Orleans)
222:New Orleans, Louisiana
52:Background information
1269:American male singers
1194:Biography on Allmusic
892:Soulfulkindamusic.net
691:The Herald Recordings
652:Since The Blues Began
592:Since The Blues Began
543:Sometimes You Get It
350:was later covered by
214:Thomas Herman Ridgley
62:Thomas Herman Ridgley
693:(Collectables) (USA)
527:Clinton, Mississippi
1204:singles discography
700:(Classics) (France)
625:asbestos inhalation
557:, a label owned by
479:In The Same Old Way
403:When I Meet My Girl
393:'s Gondoliers and
101:Metairie, Louisiana
519:I Want Some Money,
506:that was evolving
471:Double-Eyed Whammy
431:Little Willie John
374:and Ernest Allen
271:United States Navy
230:Bull Moose Jackson
811:. Omnibus Press.
666:Through The Years
631:Discography (LPs)
600:George Porter Jr.
596:Black Top Records
580:I Want Some Money
547:Allen Toussaint's
383:Ooh Lawdy My Baby
362:and saxophonists
316:Early Dawn Boogie
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203:Tommyridgley.com/
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283:Dew Drop Inn
265:district of
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148:Years active
96:(1999-08-11)
1224:1999 deaths
1219:1925 births
1146:Offbeat.com
1035:Offbeat.com
654:(Black Top)
621:lung cancer
492:Honest I Do
475:Freddy King
463:Wynona Carr
459:Ric Records
455:Joe Ruffino
443:Ric Records
439:Irma Thomas
419:James Brown
387:Ray Charles
360:Earl Palmer
273:during the
267:New Orleans
80:New Orleans
1213:Categories
1009:"obituary"
861:0961424583
768:References
679:) (France)
346:issued on
334:. In 1952
324:jump blues
263:Shrewsbury
257:Early life
238:jump blues
185:River City
73:1925-10-30
58:Birth name
638:How Long?
427:Sam Cooke
372:Red Tyler
364:Lee Allen
356:Roy Brown
352:Pat Boone
344:Tra La La
336:Lew Chudd
304:Gert Town
300:Dixieland
279:G.I. Bill
252:Biography
226:Roy Brown
189:Black Top
152:1949–1999
84:Louisiana
1152:22 March
1018:30 March
976:22 March
970:Nola.com
950:22 March
925:22 March
897:22 March
588:How Long
523:Eddie Bo
488:Heavenly
173:Atlantic
161:Imperial
125:Musician
824:June 9,
612:OffBeat
484:Dr.John
332:Lavinia
218:R&B
199:Website
142:, piano
115:R&B
1101:
1069:
859:
815:
703:2015
584:Jam Up
395:Jam Up
340:Looped
289:Career
169:Herald
157:Labels
140:Vocals
129:singer
107:Genres
721:Notes
696:2005
689:1992
682:1988
671:1986
664:1977
650:1995
643:1992
636:1992
348:Decca
234:blues
165:Decca
111:Blues
1154:2023
1099:ISBN
1067:ISBN
1020:2023
978:2023
952:2023
927:2023
899:2023
857:ISBN
826:2022
813:ISBN
582:and
553:on
545:for
517:c/w
494:and
490:c/w
469:c/w
433:and
381:c/w
330:c/w
314:c/w
246:soul
244:and
228:and
181:Ronn
91:Died
67:Born
594:on
465:'s
177:Ric
1215::
1144:.
1075:.
1011:.
986:^
968:.
943:.
918:.
907:^
890:.
867:^
834:^
776:^
429:,
425:,
421:,
370:,
366:,
240:,
236:,
187:,
183:,
179:,
175:,
171:,
167:,
163:,
127:,
113:,
82:,
1156:.
1022:.
980:.
954:.
929:.
901:.
675:(
75:)
71:(
20:)
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