Tommy Ridgley
Tommy Ridgley (* October 30, 1925 when Thomas Herman Ridgley; † August 11, 1999 ) was an African-American R & B singer and bandleader in New Orleans. His musical career spanned half a century.
Biography
Ridgleys debut single Shrewsbury Blues appeared in 1949 on Imperial Records, recorded with Dave Bartholomew's band. Due to the success of the play he came to the nickname " Shrewsbury Kid". In the 1950s he recorded for Decca, Atlantic and Herald Records. His 1952 volume published by Decca Title Tra -La -La was later a hit for Pat Boone. In 1957 he formed his band "The Untouchables", with which he accompanied greats like Little Richard, Solomon Burke, Ray Charles and Sam Cooke and appeared as the opening act for James Brown.
In the following decades there were fewer shots at smaller local record labels. But remained Live Ridgley present; as he stepped from 1972 until his death every year at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.
In the 1990s Ridgley brought out three new albums. On his last album Since The Blues Began, 1995 published by Black Top Records, Snooks Eaglin was one of his guest musicians.
Tommy Ridgley died in 1999 from lung cancer. The singer Sammy Ridgley is his younger brother.