Rosco N. Gordon III (April 10, 1928 – July 11, 2002) was an American blues singer, pianist, and songwriter. He is best known for his hit songs “Booted,” (1952), “No More Doggin'” (1952), and “Just a Little Bit” (1960). Gordon was a pioneer of the Memphis blues style. He played piano in a style known as the “Rosco rhythm,” with the emphasis on the off-beat. This rhythm was an influence on the Jamaican pianist Theophilus Beckfordand hence on reggae music as a whole.

Gordon was born in Memphis, Tennessee on April 10, 1928, the youngest of eight children. He learned to play piano from his sister who took lessons. Gordon became associated with Johnny Ace, Bobby Bland and B.B. King, sometimes referred to as the “Beale Streeters.” In 1946, Gordon moved to Chicago “after getting in trouble in Memphis.” He returned to Memphis in 1949, and won first place at an amateur show at the Palace Theatre on Beale Street in 1950. Emcee of the show Rufus Thomas invited Gordon to play on his radio show at WDIA. Soon after, Gordon had his own show as well.

In 1951, WDIA manager, David Mattis, introduced Gordon to producer Sam Phillips. Around this time, Gordon was scouted by Ike Turner, talent scout for the Bihari brothers, to record for Modern Records. His first hit single, “Saddled the Cow (and Milk the Horse),” released on RPM Records(subsidiary of Modern) reached #9 on the Billboard R&B chart.

Gordon’s next single “Booted” was recorded at Phillips’ Memphis Recording Service. Phillips licensed the record to the Chess brothers at Chess Records, which was released as a single in December 1951.