Sam Theard

Samuel Allen Theard (New Orleans, 10 October 1904 - 7 December 1982, Los Angeles), was a singer, song-writer, actor and comedian. He also performed as Lovin' Sam Theard and a variety of other names.

His first recordings, as Lovin' Sam from Down in 'Bam, accompanied by Tampa Red^[1] and Cow Cow Davenport, date from 1929, when he recorded one of his best-known songs, "(I'll Be Glad When You're Dead) You Rascal You", for Brunswick Records^[2] in 1929 with Cow Cow Davenport,^[3] and which was covered by several artists.

He recorded for Brunswick from 1929 to 1931.^[4]

In 1930, he also recorded for the Gennett label as Sam Tarpley,^[1] and for Decca in 1934 (backed by pianist Albert Ammons).^[1] In 1936, again for Decca, he recorded "New Rubbing On That Darned Old Thing", which would later be recorded by Grateful Dead as "The Rub".^[2] In 1937, he recorded "Spo-Dee-O-Dee" for Vocalion, and a watered-down version for Decca in 1940.^[5]

His last recording as Lovin’ Sam was for the Bluebird label in 1938.^[5]

Using the name Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Theard performed as a comedian at the Apollo Theater in Harlem during the 1930s and '40s,^[1] and also recorded under that name in 1941.^[5] Another well-known song, co-written with Louis Jordan, but credited to his wife, Fleecie Moore, was "Let the Good Times Roll",^[2] written in 1942, which became a hit a few years later when Louis Jordan and his Tympany Five recorded it in 1946, one of many Theard compositions recorded by Jordan. Theard would later appear in Jordan's film Caldonia.^[1][6]

With Rudy Toombs he co-wrote “Hard Ridin’ Mama”, which was recorded by Wynonie Harris in 1947.^[5]

He also sang on records recorded by Tiny Parham and trumpeter Hot Lips Page,^[1] possibly on Page’s “The Egg or the Hen” (1949), a song Theard may also have co-written.^[5]

In 1950, he co-wrote, and recorded for Mercury Records, "Rock around the clock" with Hal Singer.^[2]

Theard co-wrote several other songs, including "I've Been Around" with Henry Glover, and with the pianist Teddy Brannon, "If you see my baby", recorded by Count Basie in 1950.^[5]

“Stormy Night Blues”, co-written with Henry Glover and Teddy Brannon was recorded by Wynonie Harris in 1950,^[5] and the following year, Eddie “Cleanhead" Vinson recorded “Home Boy”, co-written with Brannon and Roy Eldridge recorded another Heard-Brannon composition, “Baby, What’s the matter with You?”^[5]

In the last decade of his life he played in a few Hollywood television productions.^[1][7]

References