Rudy Ray Moore
by Daniel Robert Epstein for SuicideGirls (http://suicidegirls.com/)

Rudy Ray Moore is Dolemite. When those five words came across movie screens back in 1975 it made history. Film history, black history, everyone’s history! Dolemite was a seminal film in the blaxploitation genre because it was one of the first films in the genre to actually be created by African-Americans. Before Moore cast himself as Dolemite he was already famous for his outrageous comedy and singing albums. Since Dolemite’s release Moore has put out a number of Dolemite sequels and been involved in a number of different projects. But all must be celebrated for the long out of print Dolemite soundtrack is finally being released on CD by Relapse Records.

Buy the soundtrack to Dolemite

Daniel Robert Epstein: I didn’t realize that the Dolemite soundtrack had never been out on CD. How did Relapse Records end up putting it out?

Rudy Ray Moore: I didn’t decide. My webmaster, Mark [Jason Murray] found the deal.

DRE: How come you felt it was time to get the soundtrack out there?

Rudy:: I never thought about it. They just said they wanted to put it out. So I let it go.

DRE: I didn’t realize that James Ingram was a on it.

Rudy:: He sang lead with a group called Revelation’s Song in the movie.

DRE: Are you surprised that Dolemite is still as popular as it is?

Rudy:: To a degree, I am.

DRE: At what point did you know it was going to be a movie that people were going to be talking about for a long time?

Rudy:: I knew that at first because people used to ask, “Is Dolemite in the movie like he is on the record?” That were the words people would say. Dolemite is folklore material so he will be spoken of forever.

DRE: What was Dolemite’s original purpose in the stories?

Rudy:: I have read several synopses of it. Dolemite was a man with strength and is able to move almost anything. I felt it would be proper for me to be Dolemite.

DRE: Was it a difficult movie to shoot?

Rudy:: It was difficult. The first thing is that I had no money. You can’t do movies with no money. I took what money I had and shot what we could. I ran out of money so I went back on the road doing shows. I’d throw my interest back into it and on and on and on and after 13 months I had it ready to go.

DRE: Did you know martial arts at the time?

Rudy:: I don’t know it now. You don’t got to know these things being an actor. You act a role. I’ve been acting for a long time. I know how to act like I know martial arts and put different choreography in it. It was different than doing regular martial arts.

DRE: How was doing the choreography with the girls?

Rudy:: They didn’t know martial arts just like me. They worked and rehearsed for as much time as we could put into it because people had to have jobs in those years because they didn’t have no money.

DRE: When was the last time you saw the film?

Rudy:: I don’t know. I don’t go back and look at my work.

DRE: I know you did a few sequels. Would you be up for another sequel?

Rudy:: I’ve got one coming soon. It’s called The Dolemite Explosion. I am in Africa at this time and I have two sons that want to see America. I have to come here to help my sister with these gangbangers that are bothering her. So I give my boys a trip here and they help me take care of them.

DRE: Has anyone talked about remaking the film?

Rudy:: Many times. I would like to see a remake and have Wesley Snipes play Dolemite.

DRE: I know that you were recently in the hospital.

Rudy:: I’m still here.

DRE: Are you working on anything else besides the Dolemite sequel?

Rudy:: I’m working on another singing album. Let Me Sing to You Before I Drift Away is the name of the album.

DRE: I know that you said some things recently about the four comedians that call themselves the original kings of comedy. Have you heard from any of those guys?

Rudy:: No. I felt that what they said was derogatory. From that period I came up in I am probably the only one original comedian left standing. The rest of them are dead.

DRE: What do you attribute to your longevity?

Rudy:: I was great in the beginning. I remain great and controversial. That is why that I am great and different and something that our generation would want to see.

DRE: Do you like a lot of the comedians that cite you as an influence?

Rudy:: I don’t like none of them that much but I like Chris Rock.

by Daniel Robert Epstein

SG Username: AndersWolleck

web address: http://suicidegirls.com/interviews/Rudy+Ray+Moore/