Rudy Toombs facts for kids

Rudolph Toombs (born in 1914, passed away on November 28, 1962) was a talented American performer and songwriter. He created many popular songs, especially in the R&B style.

Rudy Toombs wrote "Teardrops from My Eyes", which was Ruth Brown's very first song to reach number one on the R&B charts. He also wrote other popular songs for her, like "5-10-15 Hours". Another famous song he wrote was "One Mint Julep" for the group The Clovers.

Early Life and Career

Rudolph Toombs was born in Monroe, Louisiana, in the United States. He started his career as a performer in vaudeville shows. Vaudeville was a popular type of entertainment with many different acts, like singing, dancing, and comedy.

Later, Rudy Toombs became a very successful lyricist (someone who writes song words) and composer (someone who writes song music). He was especially known for his doo-wop and R&B songs during the 1950s and 1960s. He worked with famous music companies like Atlantic Records, where he wrote and arranged songs for Ahmet Ertegun. Rudy Toombs' life ended in 1962 in Harlem, New York.

Ruth Brown, a famous singer, said that Rudy Toombs was a big reason for her success. She remembered him as a joyful and energetic person. He taught her how to turn a sad blues song into a lively jump blues tune.

Famous Songs by Rudy Toombs

Rudy Toombs wrote many well-known songs that became hits for different artists. Here are some of his most famous creations:

• "Teardrops from My Eyes" – This was a huge hit for Ruth Brown.
• "One Mint Julep" – Sung by The Clovers, this song reached number one on the R&B charts in 1951. It was also covered as an instrumental song by Ray Charles, which also hit number one on the R&B charts in 1961.
• "5-10-15 Hours" – Another number one R&B hit for Ruth Brown in 1951.
• "One Scotch, One Bourbon, One Beer" – This song was recorded by Amos Milburn in 1953.
• "Thinking and Drinking"
• "Gum Drop" – A popular song for Otis Williams, later covered by The Crew-Cuts in 1955.
• "I'm Shakin'" – A hit for Little Willie John in 1960. It has been covered by many artists, including The Blasters and Jack White.
• "That's Your Mistake" – Performed by Otis Williams in 1955 and also covered by The Crew-Cuts.
• "Lonesome Whistle Blues" – Covered by Freddie King in 1961 and Chicken Shack in 1968.
• "I Cried and Cried"
• "I Get a Thrill"
• "It Hurts to Be in Love" – Co-written with Julius Dixson for Annie Laurie in 1957.

Artists Who Sang His Songs

Many talented artists have performed songs written by Rudy Toombs. Besides the original recordings, his songs have been sung by:

• Amos Milburn
• Hank Ballard
• Freddie King
• Ella Mae Morse
• Otis Williams and the Charms
• The Orioles
• James Brown
• Big Joe Turner
• Louis Jordan
• Pat Boone
• Wynonie Harris
• Hank Snow
• Johnny "Guitar" Watson
• Betty Everett
• Frankie Laine
• The Five Keys
• Albert King
• Bill Haley & His Comets
• Chicken Shack
• The Blasters
• Jack White
• The Honeydrippers

See also

In Spanish: Rudy Toombs para niños