Tommy Ridgley - I Live My Life vs Fats Domino - I Lived My Life

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Fats' "I Lived My Life" was a cover of the song with (almost) the same title, previously recorded by Tommy Ridgley.

The first recording, done by Ridgley, was written by both Ridgley and Bartholomew. Fats version was slightly re-written by Fats and Dave.
Ridgley didn't hit the charts with this one, nor did he with his other recordings (on New Orleans based labels: Imperial, Decca, Atlantic, Herald, Ric, Cinderella, Johen, Blue Jay, White Cliffs, Ronn, International City, Ronn, Hep' Me, J-Bees and River City 1949-90's).

Fats version also didn't make it into the charts. 1954 was a barren year for Fats. Maybe he was saving his energy for 1955?
"I Lived My Life" was the b-side of "You Can Pack Your Suitcase" on Imperial 5301. Released August 1954.

Tommy Ridgley's release was the b-side of "Lavina", a Ridgley/Bartholomew ditty.
Ridgley recorded "I Live My Life" on June 3, 1952 (IM-456):

Tommy Ridgley(v), Joe Harris(as), Clarence Hall, Alvin "Red" Tyler(ts), Salvador Doucette(p), Ernest McLean(g), Frank Fields(b), Earl Palmer(d).
Note: this is Bartholomew's famous band!

About Ridgley:
Thomas Herman Ridgley was a part of New Orleans Rhythm And Blues scene in the 50s. Born on October 23, 1925, he learned to play piano in the Navy during World War 2 and, after the war, easily won a talent show at the Dew Drop Inn.

Tommy Ridgley became a singer with the Bama Band in the late 40s. Then he switched over to Earl Anderson's band, and finally, in 1949, was recruited by bandleader/trumpeter Dave Bartholomew. His first recordings were for Imperial in 1949: "Shrewsbury Blues"/"Early Dawn Boogie." These were followed, in 1950, with "Boogie Woogie Mama" and "Lonely Man Blues."

In 1951, he did "Tra-La-La" for Decca, as the vocalist with Bartholomew ("Thomas Ridgley"). He also recorded "Anything But Love" for Decca under his own name. A 1952 King Records session, with Bartholomew (once again uncredited), produced "Lawdy Lawdy Lord."

Also in 1952, Tommy recorded several tracks with Dave Bartholomew that were released on Park Records. Credited to "Dave Barton [Bartholomew] & His Royal Playboys" with vocals by the "Shrewsbury Kid" [Ridgley], the sides were: "Three O'Clock", "Cry", "Cry Baby", "Got You On My Mind", "Fool, Fool, Fool", and "Twins". These were 78 RPM EPs, containing additional tracks by Barton and the Royal Playboys, as well as by Meyer Kennedy and Edgar Blanchard and the Gondoliers

Ridgley returned to Imperial in 1952 and turned out three more records, under his own name, including "Lavinia" and "Looped." In 1953, he left Bartholomew to form his own band, the Untouchables.

Then it was on to Atlantic in 1953, for a New Orleans session that produced "Ooh Lawdy My Baby" (with Ray Charles on piano). At a later session, he recorded "Jam Up," an instrumental on which he himself tickled the ivories.

Tommy Ridgley had grown up with Lloyd Price, and when Price couldn't find a company to record his "Lawdy Miss Clawdy," Ridgley almost ended up doing it (but in early 1952, Specialty Records came through at the last minute). Tommy even formed the first band for Price (with Fats Domino on piano).

In 1955, eight of the songs that had been released on Park Records in 1952 found their way onto a 10-inch LP on Enoch Light's Waldorf Music Hall label of Harrison, New Jersey. One of these was Tommy's "Got You On My Mind" (once again, the credit went to Dave Barton, the Royal Playboys, and the Shrewsbury Kid). The same tune came out on a Waldorf Music Hall 45 RPM EP, which had three other Royal Playboys songs from the LP.

1957 found Tommy Ridgley with Al Silver's Herald label, where he turned out six records over the next couple of years. "When I Meet My Girl," "Baby Do-Liddle," and "I've Heard That Story Before" were local hits; as usual, the sessions were done in New Orleans.

All through the late 50s and the 60s, Tommy Ridgley played with his band, the Untouchables, in the New Orleans area (they became the house band at the Dew Drop Inn, where he'd won that talent contest so many years before). He recorded for Ric, a small local label, from 1960 to 1963, but had no hits. In 1962, Atlantic dusted off his 1954 recording of "Jam Up" and rereleased it as "Jam Up Twist".

In time, he went into the production end of the music business. He's also credited with discovering thrush Irma Thomas (who did the original recording of the Rolling Stones' "Time Is On My Side").

Tommy Ridgley died, from lung cancer, on August 11, 1999. Although he had no real chart action to show for 50 years in the business, he never lacked for work and had a career other local artists envied.

notes from Marv Goldberg.
Special Thanks to George Moonoogian, George Korval, and Victor Pearlin