Rufus George Perryman was born 23rd October 1892 in Hampton, Georgia, the older brother of Piano Red. Their nicknames derived from both of them being Albinos (again, such a nick-name wouldn’t be allowed these days, but 1892 was a very different world). The brothers were born a generation apart, so they never performed together, although they both did versions of the same song ‘The Right String (But The Wrong Yo-Yo)’. Speckled Red in 1930 and Piano Red twenty years later.
A self-taught player, Speckled Red was playing at house parties and juke joints by his med-teens, moving to Detroit in his mid 20’s and continuing to play at clubs and brothels until he was noticed by Brunswick Records just before leaving for Memphis, Tennessee. It was here that he first recorded, including the song ‘The Dirty Dozen’. Following recordings were less successful, although he continued to play as he moved around, along with working as a labourer.
In the 1950’s Speckled Red was rediscovered and signed to ‘Delmark Records’ while playing at various concerts and festivals and even touring Europe in 1959. His age was catching up to him thought, and through the 1960’s his performances were sporadic.
Speckled Red pass away from cancer on 2nd January, 1973 in St. Lois, he was eighty years old.
| Speckled Red – The Dirty Dozens | 1961 |
| The Dirty Dozens The Right String But The Wrong Yo Yo If You’Ve Ever Been Down Wilkins Street Stomp Cow Cow Blues | Red’s Boogie Woogie Going Down Slow Highway 61 Blues After Dinner Blues Cryin’ In My Sleep |
| Speckled Red – The Barrel-House Blues Of Speckled Red | 1961 |
| Uncle Sam’s Blues Cow Cow Blues If I Could Be With You It Feels So Good Pinetops Boogie Woogie | I’ve Got A Feeling That I’m Falling How Long Blues Baby Won’t You Please Come Home If I Had A Million Dollars You Ain’t No Good |
| Speckled Red – Oh! Red | 1971 |
| Woke Up This Morning Dirty Mistreater I’ve Had My Fun Caldonia It Feels So Good Oh Red | Milk Cow Blues Bugle Call Stomp Early In The Morning Ble-Della Boogie Dad’s Piece ‘Taint Nobody’s Bizness If I Do |