Speckled Red facts for kids

Rufus George Perryman (October 23, 1892 – January 2, 1973), known as Speckled Red, was an American blues and boogie-woogie piano player and singer. He was famous for his song "The Dirty Dozens". This song used clever wordplay and was a popular part of African-American culture.

Early Life and Music

Speckled Red was born in Hampton, Georgia. He was the older brother of another famous musician, Piano Red. Both brothers had nicknames because they were albinos. This means they had very light skin and hair. Even though they were brothers, they were born many years apart and never recorded music together.

Both Speckled Red and Piano Red played a lively, fun style of boogie-woogie music. Speckled Red also played slower blues songs. They both recorded a song called "The Right String (But the Wrong Yo-Yo)". Speckled Red recorded his version in 1930. Piano Red's version became a big hit 20 years later.

Before Speckled Red was born, his family moved around a bit. They lived in Detroit, Michigan, and Atlanta, Georgia. They settled in Hampton, Georgia. His family, including seven brothers and sisters, did not have much musical background.

Speckled Red taught himself how to play the piano. He was inspired by other musicians like Fishtail and Charlie Spand. He also learned to play the organ at his church.

Becoming a Musician

By his mid-teens, Speckled Red was playing music at house parties and local clubs called juke joints. He later had his first recording sessions. These sessions produced two classic songs: "Wilkins Street Stomp" and the hit "The Dirty Dozens".

"The Dirty Dozens" was very special. The song used clever wordplay and was sung, not spoken. Many people think it was an early form of rap music.

Here are some lines from his famous song: "I want all you women to fall in line
"And shake yo shimmy like i'm shakin' mine
"You shake yo shimmy and you shake it fast
"If you can't shake the shimmy, shake yo' yas yas yas"

"You a dirty mistreater, a robber and a cheater
"Stick you in a dozens and yo pappy is yo cousin
"And yo mama do the lawdylawd"

In 1930, he recorded more songs in Chicago, Illinois. One of these was "The Dirty Dozens No. 2". However, it was not as popular as the first one. After this, he did not have a record contract. He went back to playing in clubs in Memphis and St. Louis.

In 1938, he recorded with slide guitar player Robert Nighthawk and mandolin player Willie Hatcher. These recordings were for Bluebird Records. They were steady but not very successful. In the 1940s, he moved back to St. Louis. He continued to play music in taverns. He also worked as a laborer in a market for a while.

Later Years and Legacy

In 1954, a policeman named Charlie O'Brien "rediscovered" Speckled Red. Charlie O'Brien was a blues fan who liked to find old blues musicians. Speckled Red then signed with Delmark Records. He was the first blues artist to sign with that label.

Speckled Red became popular again in the late 1950s and 1960s. He was still a very good piano player. He performed in the St. Louis jazz scene. He played at the University of Chicago Folk Festival in 1961. He also toured Europe in 1959 with Chris Barber. He made several new recordings during this time.

As he got older, he performed less often. Speckled Red passed away from cancer on January 2, 1973, in St. Louis. He was 80 years old.

Discography

• The Dirty Dozens, Delmark Records
• The Barrel-House Blues of Speckled Red, Smithsonian Folkways Recordings, 1961