Editing Rudy Ray Moore (section)

==Early life==
Moore was born and raised in the Johnson House on 1400 North 12th Street in [[Fort Smith, Arkansas]],<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://arktimes.com/entertainment/ae-feature/2019/11/04/straight-outta-westark-rudy-ray-moore|title=Straight outta Westark: Rudy Ray Moore|last=Koch|first=Stephen|date=2019-11-04|website=Arkansas Times|language=en-US|access-date=2019-11-12}}</ref> and eventually moved to [[Akron, Ohio]], and then [[Milwaukee]]. In Milwaukee, he preached in churches and worked as a [[nightclub]] dancer.<ref name=dootsie>[http://www.shockingimages.com/dolemite/albums/belowthebelt.php Dootsie Williams, Liner notes for ''Below The Belt''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170518005726/http://www.shockingimages.com/dolemite/albums/belowthebelt.php |date=May 18, 2017 }}. Retrieved February 23, 2014</ref> He returned to Akron, working in clubs as a singer, dancer, and comedian, often appearing in character as '''Prince DuMarr'''.<ref>[http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/ohio/obituary.aspx?pid=119140285 Obituary, Rudolph Frank "Rudy Ray Moore" Moore, 21 October 2008]. Retrieved February 23, 2014</ref> He joined the [[US Army]] and served in an entertainment unit in [[Germany]], where he was nicknamed the Harlem Hillbilly for singing [[country music|country]] songs in an [[R&B]] style.<ref name=NYT/> He developed an interest in comedy in the Army after expanding on a singing performance for other servicemen.<ref name=bio>[http://www.shockingimages.com/dolemite/biography.php Biography by Mark Jason Murray at Rudy Ray Moore website] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829173620/http://www.shockingimages.com/dolemite/biography.php |date=August 29, 2017 }}. Retrieved February 23, 2014</ref>

After his honorable discharge he lived in [[Seattle]] and then [[Los Angeles]], where he continued to work in clubs and was discovered by record producer [[Dootsie Williams]].<ref name=dootsie/> He recorded [[rhythm and blues]] songs for the [[Federal Records|Federal]], [[Cash Records|Cash]], Ball, [[Kent Records|Kent]], and [[Imperial Records|Imperial]] labels between 1955 and 1962, and released his first comedy albums, ''Below the Belt'' (1961), ''The Beatnik Scene'' (1962), and ''A Comedian Is Born'' (1964).<ref name=bio/><ref>[http://koti.mbnet.fi/wdd/rudyraymoore.htm Discography at WangDangDula.com]. Retrieved February 23, 2014</ref>