Birth name    Alexander Randolph
Also known as    Mr. Wiggles, Little Red, Dickie Diamond, Donald Ruffin, Diamond Duxx Dixie[1]
Born    August 7, 1937
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.
Died    July 12, 2023 (aged 85)
Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A.
Genres    R&B
Occupation(s)    musician, producer, songwriter, record label owner
Years active    c.1960s – c.2020s
Labels    Golden Triangle, Fat Back, Sound of Soul, Soul International, Style, Urban Beat

Early years
August Moon was born Alexander Randolph[4] in a two-room shack[5] in the Blackwell neighborhood on the Southside of Richmond, Virginia.[6] His father was Freddie Price and his mother was Gladys Randolph Crawley. Moon was one of five siblings.[2] He was raised for the most part by his great-grandmother. As a child he danced for tips on the streets of Richmond, where he got the nickname Mr. Wiggles.[6] He said it was all about the moves, claiming no one could outdance him.[7] Asked by interviewer Nick Spitzer in 2004 if he could dance, Mr. Wiggles told him, "I can do more tricks with my body than a monkey does with a peanut."[8] Moon recalled how as a ten-year-old he "used to carry groceries, shine shoes, (and) carry newspapers" to make money. He and his friends formed a washboard band, and "I'd sing and dance and play a little plastic saxophone." Moon got into minor scrapes, and was made a ward of the state because he didn't have a father. He was put into the Hanover Juvenile Correctional Center for three years. After his release in 1954, he joined the U.S. Navy and served four years on the aircraft carrier USS Midway.

Later years
Virginia governor Douglas Wilder restored Moon's voting rights in 1993. Four years later then-governor George Allen proclaimed August 7, 1997 as August Moon Day for his "remarkable and adventurous life" and "the many contributions he made to the people of the Commonwealth."[12] His lifelong support of his Blackwell neighborhood gained him the sobriquet "Mayor of Hull Street".[3] "He wasn't afraid to say it like it was, and people didn't boss him around," former governor Wilder said of August Moon. J.J. Minor, president of the Richmond branch of the NAACP, called Moon “an icon, a legend, a mentor, a man who was not afraid to stand up for what's right.” He hosted a public access TV program called "Tell It Like It Is", dealing with community and political issues, reminding his audience that “if you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything.” Moon told writer Vernal Coleman, “All my life I wanted to be an activist. I didn't want to be a politician. I didn't want to be a preacher. I just want to be what I am, in show business and an activist.”

Moon died at age 85 on July 12, 2023, after a long illness. He was survived by his wife and six daughter's and one son A.Max.Smith CEO Publisher @ Sound of Soul Records Music Trust

The Sound of Mr.Wiggles Collectors Album

Mr.Wiggles

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The Sound of Mr. Wiggles - Vinyl Album Download

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We Are Proud To Release "The Sound of Mr. Wiggles" Collector's Album This Never Before 9Track Vinyl Album Release of Mr. Wiggles Classic 1964 Sound "Fat Back Soul Funk. "We have placed all of Wiggles Classic Hits From Read more

We Are Proud To Release "The Sound of Mr. Wiggles" Collector's Album This Never Before 9Track Vinyl Album Release of Mr. Wiggles Classic 1964 Sound "Fat Back Soul Funk. "We have placed all of Wiggles Classic Hits From 1964 Homeboy to 84 Grand Daddy Rap all on one Special Gold Collectors Album. True Mr. Wiggles fans know that he released all of his music on 45rpm vinyl records. You Get 12 remastered tracks optimized for wax 10 Track List + Two Bonus Tracks on Wax a % of Proceeds From this album sales to benefit the August Moon Richmond Public School Endowment Fund.

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He was a fierce advocate for social justice. He remained committed to his community in the Southside and was nicknamed the "Mayor of Hull Street". As a Christian, he understood the importance of service through his membership in the U.S. Navy, Crusade for Voters, Hull Street Merchants Association, Rainbow Coalition, United Struggle Movement, and Stop The Violence Campaign. He also enjoyed success as an entrepreneur and entertainer - releasing albums as "Mr. Wiggles," operating recording studios and record labels such as Sound of Soul, Urban Beat and Golden Triangle, owning venues such as Soul on Ice, Taste of Honey, and Mr. Wiggles Restaurant, and producing hits such as "Seven Minutes of Funk" with The Whole Darn Family. He also hosted a radio show and TV show called "Tell It Like It Is". As a lover of hats, he wore many, as expressed through his many monikers, which also included "Little Red," "Dickie Diamond" and "Mouth of the South." He lived his life fully and his family finds peace in knowing that his rest was well-earned. He will be remembered as a loving and committed son, brother, husband, father, grandfather, great- grandfather, uncle, friend, mentor, dog lover of his adored poodle, "Fluffy" and grandpup, "Benji" - and so much more.

He Was Put to Rest and Celebrated on:

Friday, July 28, Viewing (9 a.m. to 5 p.m.) and Wake (5 to 7 p.m.) at Mimms Funeral Home (1827 Hull Street).

Saturday, July 29, Viewing (11 a.m. to 12 p.m.) and Service (12 to 2 p.m.) at Saint Paul's Baptist Church South (700 E. Belt Blvd), Interment (3 to 3:30 p.m.) at Maury Street Cemetery (2700 Maury Street).

Upon returning to Richmond, Moon had success in talent shows hosted by disc jockey Allen Knight at the Hippodrome Theater. Knight helped guide Moon into a career as a singer, which led to performing on package tours with Ruth Brown, Chuck Berry and Fats Domino.[9] He moved to New Jersey and performed in the New York area. Besides being known as Mr. Wiggles, Moon worked using other names including Little Red and Dickie Diamond.[10] He later recounted how he was scheduled to appear on Alan Freed's TV show "The Big Beat" the day Freed's payola scandal broke, but never got his chance. In the mid-1960s he recorded a series of singles at Bell Sound Studios in New York City as Mr. Wiggles, including his signature song "Home Boy", a paean to his hometown. He also laid down tracks in Philadelphia and Muscle Shoals. Moon had a few regional hits, including "Fat Back" and "Wash My Back".[6] He taught himself about studio production and learned to operate sound equipment, releasing his own music as well as recordings of his protegees.[10] The first time he worked in a studio was on tracks by the Upsetters, formerly Little Richard's backup band. Moon said of his own trademark "Fatback" sound, "Fatback ain't nothing but bottom- baritone and bass."[8] He started several record labels in the 1960s, including Sound of Soul, Soul International, and Golden Triangle, releasing his own discs as Mr. Wiggles and others for such R&B artists as Little Tommy, Larry Saunders, Dickie Wonder, and Sebastian Williams.[6]

Moon is best known for the 1976 album by The Whole Darn Family, a group he managed, recorded, and produced. At the height of their fame the band toured the U.S. and appeared on the music program "Soul Train". Their album "The Whole Darn Family Has Arrived" featured an integrated funk band playing original material. Bassist Woudy Hughes composed and played the funky bass part on track four "Seven Minutes Of Funk",[5] a song sampled in 51 subsequent recordings by artists such as Jay-Z, Grandmaster Flash and The Furious Five, Busta Rhymes, Public Enemy, and Wu-Tang Clan.[11] The band, led by Tyrone "Little Tommy" Thomas (drums), also included Joel Smither (sax and flute), Odis Hamlin (sax), Girard "Giz" Bowe (trumpet and flugelhorn),Tommy "T-Bar" Bryant (guitar), and Clifton Smith (keyboards).

In the 1980s Moon started Urban Beat and Style Records, among Richmond's first rap labels.[6] He released recordings by acts including Cool Carl, American Express, and M.C. Rockwale, Black Heart, Roderick, Next Millennium, Freak, LaRich, Tonya Frye,  Tomorrows People , Scotty and Chief