Samuel Allen Theard (October 10, 1904 â€" December 7, 1982) was an
American singer, songwriter, actor, and comedian. He performed under
the names Lovin' Sam Theard, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, and others.Theard was born
in New Orleans, Louisiana. He started working with a circus in 1923,
and began performing in theatres and nightclubs. His first recordings,
as Lovin' Sam from Down in 'Bam, accompanied by Tampa Red 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. The song was covered by several artists.He recorded for
Brunswick from 1929 to 1931. In 1930, he also recorded for the Gennett
label as Sam Tarpley, and for Decca in 1934 (backed by pianist Albert
Ammons). 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". In 1937, he recorded "Spo-Dee-O-Dee" for Vocalion, and a
watered-down version for Decca in 1940. His last recording as Lovin'
Sam was for the Bluebird label in 1938.Using the name Spo-Dee-O-Dee,
Theard performed as a comedian at the Apollo Theater in Harlem during
the 1930s and 1940s, and also recorded under that name in 1941.
Another well-known song, co-written with Louis Jordan but credited to
Jordan's wife Fleecie Moore, was "Let the Good Times Roll", 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.
American singer, songwriter, actor, and comedian. He performed under
the names Lovin' Sam Theard, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, and others.Theard was born
in New Orleans, Louisiana. He started working with a circus in 1923,
and began performing in theatres and nightclubs. His first recordings,
as Lovin' Sam from Down in 'Bam, accompanied by Tampa Red 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. The song was covered by several artists.He recorded for
Brunswick from 1929 to 1931. In 1930, he also recorded for the Gennett
label as Sam Tarpley, and for Decca in 1934 (backed by pianist Albert
Ammons). 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". In 1937, he recorded "Spo-Dee-O-Dee" for Vocalion, and a
watered-down version for Decca in 1940. His last recording as Lovin'
Sam was for the Bluebird label in 1938.Using the name Spo-Dee-O-Dee,
Theard performed as a comedian at the Apollo Theater in Harlem during
the 1930s and 1940s, and also recorded under that name in 1941.
Another well-known song, co-written with Louis Jordan but credited to
Jordan's wife Fleecie Moore, was "Let the Good Times Roll", 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.
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