The lively story of the rise of R&B in Memphis through the eyes of one of its powerhouses

Matthew Ruddick is cofounder and editor of the jazz website Kind of Jazz (www.kindofjazz.com) and has worked as a music critic for a variety of publications, including Beats magazine in Hong Kong. He is author of Funny Valentine: The Story of Chet Baker, published to widespread acclaim in 2012.

Matthew Ruddick's profile page

Rob Bowman is a Grammy Award?winning professor of music at York University who has been writing professionally about music for over forty-five years. His book Soulsville U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records was inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame in 2013. He lives in Toronto.

Rob Bowman's profile page

• Commended, ARSC Award for Best Historical Research in Recorded Blues, R&B, Gospel, Hip Hop, or Soul Music

. . . B&W photos throughout documenting various phases of the singer's life. Ruddick's extensive research includes numerous testimonials from Thomas contemporaries highlighting his influence on the Memphis music community. In the end, the biography is a fitting tribute to a man who, for many, has faded into the mists of time. Thanks to Ruddick, Thomas lives on in a book well worth reading. Just make sure you crank up some of Thomas” classic songs, and rejoice in the joy his music brings!

Blues Blast Magazine

By any measuring stick, Rufus Thomas made a gigantic contribution to American music. He has long deserved a full biography. Thanks to Matthew Ruddick, that biography is now in your hands.

Rob Bowman, Grammy Award-winning author of Soulsville, U.S.A.: The Story of Stax Records