Ruth Brown (1928–2006) was a U.S. rhythm and blues singer and actress, note… Read Full Bio ↴Ruth Brown (1928–2006) was a U.S. rhythm and blues singer and actress, noted for bringing a popular music style to rhythm and blues in a series of hit songs for fledgling Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes", and "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean".
Born Ruth Alston Weston on 30th January 1928 in Portsmouth, Virginia, she attended I. C. Norcom High School, a historically black high school. Brown's father was a dockhand who directed the local church choir, but the young Ruth showed more of an interest in singing at USO shows and nightclubs. She was inspired by Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. In 1945, Brown ran away from her home in Portsmouth along with a trumpeter, Jimmy Brown, whom she soon married, to sing in bars and clubs. She then spent a month with Lucky Millinder's orchestra, but was fired after she brought drinks to the band for free, and was left stranded in Washington, D.C.
Blanche Calloway, Cab Calloway's sister, also a bandleader, arranged a gig for Brown at a Washington nightclub called Crystal Caverns and soon became her manager. Willis Conover, a Voice of America disc jockey, caught her act and recommended her to Atlantic Records bosses, Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson. Brown was unable to audition as planned though, because of a serious car accident that resulted in a nine-month hospital stay. In 1948, however, Ertegün and Abramson drove to Washington from New York City to hear her sing in the club. Although her repertoire was mostly popular ballads, Ertegün convinced her to switch to rhythm and blues. His productions for her, however, retained her pop style, with clean, fresh arrangements and the singing spot on the beat with little of the usual blues singer's embroidery.
In her first audition, in 1949, she sang "So Long", which became a hit. This was followed by "Teardrops from My Eyes" in 1950; written by Rudy Toombs, it was the first upbeat major hit for Ruth Brown, establishing her as an important figure in R&B. Recorded for Atlantic Records in New York City in September 1950, and released in October, it was on Billboard's List of number-one R&B hits (United States) for eleven weeks. The huge hit earned her the nickname "Miss Rhythm", and within a few months Ruth Brown became the acknowledged queen of R&B.
She followed up this hit with "I'll Wait for You" (1951), "I Know" (1951), "5-10-15 Hours" (1953), "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" (1953), "Oh What a Dream" (1954), "Mambo Baby" (1954), and "Don't Deceive Me" (1960). She also became known as "Little Miss Rhythm" and "the girl with the teardrop in her voice". In all, she was on the R&B charts for 149 weeks from 1949 to 1955, with sixteen top-ten blues records including five number ones, and became Atlantic's most popular artist, earning Atlantic records the proper name of "The House that Ruth Built".
During the 1960s, Brown faded from public view to become a housewife and mother, and only returned to music in 1975 at the urging of Redd Foxx, followed by a series of comic acting gigs, including roles in the sitcom Hello, Larry and the John Waters film Hairspray as local DJ Motormouth Maybelle, as well as Broadway appearances in Amen Corner and Black and Blue, which earned her a Tony Award for her performance and a Grammy award for her album Blues on Broadway, featuring hits from the show.
Brown's fight for musicians' rights and royalties in 1987 led to the founding of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. She was inducted as a Pioneer Award recipient in its first year, 1989. In 1993, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as "The Queen Mother of the Blues".
She has become an iconic symbol to many black women for later generations, where she is also a favourite artist and inspiration for later blues artists such as Bonnie Raitt. Brown recorded and sang along with fellow rhythm and blues performer Charles Brown, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and toured with Raitt on Raitt's tour in the late 1990s, "Road Tested". Her 1995 autobiography, Miss Rhythm, won the Gleason Award for music journalism.
Brown died in a Las Vegas-area hospital on 17th November 2006, from complications following a heart attack and stroke she suffered after surgery in October 2006. A memorial concert for her was held on 22nd January 2007 at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York.
Born Ruth Alston Weston on 30th January 1928 in Portsmouth, Virginia, she attended I. C. Norcom High School, a historically black high school. Brown's father was a dockhand who directed the local church choir, but the young Ruth showed more of an interest in singing at USO shows and nightclubs. She was inspired by Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. In 1945, Brown ran away from her home in Portsmouth along with a trumpeter, Jimmy Brown, whom she soon married, to sing in bars and clubs. She then spent a month with Lucky Millinder's orchestra, but was fired after she brought drinks to the band for free, and was left stranded in Washington, D.C.
Blanche Calloway, Cab Calloway's sister, also a bandleader, arranged a gig for Brown at a Washington nightclub called Crystal Caverns and soon became her manager. Willis Conover, a Voice of America disc jockey, caught her act and recommended her to Atlantic Records bosses, Ahmet Ertegün and Herb Abramson. Brown was unable to audition as planned though, because of a serious car accident that resulted in a nine-month hospital stay. In 1948, however, Ertegün and Abramson drove to Washington from New York City to hear her sing in the club. Although her repertoire was mostly popular ballads, Ertegün convinced her to switch to rhythm and blues. His productions for her, however, retained her pop style, with clean, fresh arrangements and the singing spot on the beat with little of the usual blues singer's embroidery.
In her first audition, in 1949, she sang "So Long", which became a hit. This was followed by "Teardrops from My Eyes" in 1950; written by Rudy Toombs, it was the first upbeat major hit for Ruth Brown, establishing her as an important figure in R&B. Recorded for Atlantic Records in New York City in September 1950, and released in October, it was on Billboard's List of number-one R&B hits (United States) for eleven weeks. The huge hit earned her the nickname "Miss Rhythm", and within a few months Ruth Brown became the acknowledged queen of R&B.
She followed up this hit with "I'll Wait for You" (1951), "I Know" (1951), "5-10-15 Hours" (1953), "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean" (1953), "Oh What a Dream" (1954), "Mambo Baby" (1954), and "Don't Deceive Me" (1960). She also became known as "Little Miss Rhythm" and "the girl with the teardrop in her voice". In all, she was on the R&B charts for 149 weeks from 1949 to 1955, with sixteen top-ten blues records including five number ones, and became Atlantic's most popular artist, earning Atlantic records the proper name of "The House that Ruth Built".
During the 1960s, Brown faded from public view to become a housewife and mother, and only returned to music in 1975 at the urging of Redd Foxx, followed by a series of comic acting gigs, including roles in the sitcom Hello, Larry and the John Waters film Hairspray as local DJ Motormouth Maybelle, as well as Broadway appearances in Amen Corner and Black and Blue, which earned her a Tony Award for her performance and a Grammy award for her album Blues on Broadway, featuring hits from the show.
Brown's fight for musicians' rights and royalties in 1987 led to the founding of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. She was inducted as a Pioneer Award recipient in its first year, 1989. In 1993, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, as "The Queen Mother of the Blues".
She has become an iconic symbol to many black women for later generations, where she is also a favourite artist and inspiration for later blues artists such as Bonnie Raitt. Brown recorded and sang along with fellow rhythm and blues performer Charles Brown, a member of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, and toured with Raitt on Raitt's tour in the late 1990s, "Road Tested". Her 1995 autobiography, Miss Rhythm, won the Gleason Award for music journalism.
Brown died in a Las Vegas-area hospital on 17th November 2006, from complications following a heart attack and stroke she suffered after surgery in October 2006. A memorial concert for her was held on 22nd January 2007 at the Abyssinian Baptist Church in Harlem, New York.
R. B. Blues
Ruth Brown Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Ruth Brown:
(I'll Come Back) Someday When you're alone I want you to know I'll be back some…
(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean Mama, he treats your daughter mean Mama, he treats your daug…
5 Baby baby baby, I've got to have you for my…
A New Love Love′s the only thing I know in this life That's cut…
After The Lovin' So I sing you to sleep After the lovin' With a song…
Almost Like Being in Love What a day this has been! What a rare mood I'm…
Am I Blue I'm just a woman, a lonely woman Waiting on the weary…
Anyone but You There'll never be anyone else But you for me Never ever be J…
As Long As I M Moving You're crazy 'bout lovin', I'm crazy 'bout love myself You'r…
Bewitched She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Bewitched Bothered and Bewildered She's a fool and don't I know it But a fool…
Bewitched, Bothered and Bewildered After one whole quart of brandy Like a daisy, I'm awake With…
Bite My Tongue It′s getting hard to bite my tongue Making me feel so…
Black Coffee She smelled like flowers, she Tastes like toffee She kissed …
Break It To Me Gently Break it to me gently, let me down that easy…
Brown Sugar Gold coast slave ship bound for cotton fields Sold in a…
Bye Bye Blackbird Blackbird, blackbird singing the blues all day Right outside…
Can't Get Excited Every single feeling now Would take my life into a year…
Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Oh listen, sister I love my mister man and I can't…
Can't Help Lovin' That Man Oh listen, sister I love my mister man and I can't…
Can't Stand a Broke Man I can't stand no no broke man don't need to know a…
Come Sunday Lord, dear Lord above, God almighty, God of love, Please lo…
Daddy Daddy Daddy, Daddy, Daddy love me strong I don't mind if it's…
Dear Little Boy Of Mine (Boy of mine, boy of mine, dear little boy of…
Destination Heartbreak One more night, all alone Sittin' here by the telephone TV l…
Don't Cry Everything is my fault. Don't cry Even if I opened my…
Don't Deceive Me People are talking all over town They say you're tired of…
Don't Get Around Much Anymore Missed the Saturday dance Heard they crowded the floor Could…
Ever Since My Baby's Been Gone I woke up this morning, my baby was gone Woke up…
Everybody's Talkin' Everybody's talkin' at me I don't hear a word they're sayin'…
Fine and Mellow My man don't love me Treats me oh, so mean My man…
Fine Brown Frame Oh, he's got a fine brown frame I wonder what could…
Gee Baby Ain't I Good to You What makes me treat you the way I do Gee,…
God Bless The Child Them that's got shall have Them that's not shall lose…
Good Day for the Blues I got up early this morning so I could walk the…
Good Morning Heartache Good morning heartache, you old gloomy sight Good morning he…
Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe It seems like happiness is just a thing called Joe He's…
Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas Have yourself a merry little Christmas Let your heart be lig…
He Treats Your Daughter Mean Mama he treats your daughter mean Mama he treats your daught…
Hello Little Boy Well, hello little boy, don't you remember me Well, hello li…
Here's That Rainy Day Maybe I should have saved those leftover dreams, Funny, but…
Hey Pretty Baby Everybody loves a baby That's why I'm in love with you Prett…
I Believe I Can Fly I used to think that I could not go on And…
I Can Dream, Can't I I can see No matter how near you'll be You'll never belong…
I Cried a Tear I cried a tear because of you I cried a tear…
I Don't Know Why do robins sing in December Long before the Springtime is…
I Gotta Have You Gray, quiet and tired and mean Picking at a worried seam I…
I Hope We Meet (On the Road Some Day) We'll meet again, Don't know where, don't know when, But I k…
I Know Should I let myself go In his direction Is his love strong…
I Know - Single Version Well I Know, Yes I Know, Well I Know, Yes…
I Know Why Why do robins sing in December Long before the Springtime is…
I Love My Man Lord, I love my man, tell the world I do I…
I Loves You Porgy I loves you, Porgy Don′t let him take me Don't let him…
I Still Love You oooh, oooh, yeah, yeah ain't it strange how i call out your…
I Wanna Do More I want to do more and more for my baby I…
I Want to Do More I want to do more and more for my baby I…
I'll Be Satisfied Just a kiss Just a smile Hold my hand baby Once in a…
I'll Be Seeing You I'll be seeing you in all the old familiar places That…
I'll Come Back Someday When you′re alone I want you to know I'll be back some…
I'll Get Along Somehow Many months have come and gone Since you called me…
I'll Never Fall in Love Again What do you get when you fall in love? A…
I'll Wait for You Along about the evening I feel so blue And though my heart…
I'm Beginning To See The Light I never cared much for moonlit skies I never wink back…
I'm Gonna Move to the Outskirts of Town I'm gonna move baby, way out on the outskirts of…
I've Got Shoes I got shoes, you got shoes, all God's children got…
I've Got the World on a String I've got the world on a string I'm sitting on a…
Ice Water In Your Veins Like I heard her backwards saying "I can take one thousand…
If I Can't Sell It (I'll Keep Sittin' on It) I own a secondhand furniture store and I think my…
if i had any sense I can feel the darkness reaching in As I touch the…
If I Were a Bell Ask me how do I feel, Now that we're cosy and…
In Another World Sun stuck high in the air Destination anywhere this road dec…
It Could Happen to You Hide your heart from sight, Lock your dreams at night, It co…
It's All in Your Mind Well it's all in your mind Well it's all in your…
It's Raining Every time it rains, I think of you And that's the…
Itty Bitty Girl All I want, itty, bitty boy All I want, itty, bitty…
Ive Got Shoes I've got the world on a string I'm sitting on a…
I’ll Get Along Somehow Many months have come and gone Since you called me…
Jack O Diamonds Jack O'Diamonds, on the move Jack O'Diamonds, one-eyed knav…
Jim Dandy Jim Dandy to the rescue! Jim Dandy to the rescue! Jim Dand…
Just A Closer Walk With Thee Just a closer walk with Thee I am weak but Thou…
Just Too Much Your lips that once thrilled me Now frown and disagree Your …
Knock Me a Kiss I like cake, and no mistake But baby if you insist I'll…
Let's Face The Music And Dance There may be trouble ahead, But while there's music and moo…
Looking Back Looking back over my life I can see where I caused…
Love Letters Love letters straight from your heart Keep us so near while…
Love Love Love Once I had a secret love, That lived within the heart…
Love Me Baby You glance away and my heart misfires Something is burning i…
Lucky Lips When I was just a little girl with long silky…
Lucky Lips (Digitally Remastered) When I was just a baby, I didn't have many…
Mama Mama he treats your daughter mean Mama he treats your daught…
Mama (He Treats Your Daughter Mean) Mama, he treats your daughter mean Mama, he treats your daug…
Mama He Treat You Daughter Mean Mama he treats your daughter mean Mama he treats your daught…
Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mama he treats your daughter mean Mama he treats your daugh…
Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean Mama he treats your daughter mean Mama he treats your daught…
Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean - Single/ Mama, he treats your daughter mean Mama, he treats your daug…
Mama Treats Your Daughter Mean Mama he treats your daughter mean Mama he treats your daugh…
Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean Mama, he treats your daughter mean Mama, he treats your daug…
Mama. He Treats Your Daughter Mean Mama he treats your daughter mean Mama he treats your daught…
Mambo Baby All my baby wants to do is the mambo All my…
Mend Your Ways I think there's something, you should know Time to hit the…
Milky White Way Yes I'm gonna walk on the milky white way Oh Lord…
Morning Train I wake up every morning, I stumble out of bed Stretching…
Oh What a Dream Woke up this morning and I looked around So disappointed, I…
Ol' Man River Here we all work 'long the Mississippi Here we all…
Old Fashioned Good Time Lovin You When did chivalry become such a crime? When you take her…
Old Man River Here we all work 'long the Mississippi Here we all…
On the Good Ship Lollipop I've thrown away my toys, even my drum and train. I…
On What A Dream Woke up this morning and I looked around So disappointed, I…
Papa Daddy Daddy, Daddy, Daddy love me strong I don't mind if it's…
Please Don't Freeze You tell me that you love me baby Then you say…
Please Send Me Someone To Love Heaven please send to all mankind, Understanding and peace …
R.B. Blues (Single Version) Ooooh, it's over All over Don't have to cry no more Cause th…
Salty Papa Blues I've got a man He treats me like the rest I said…
Satisfied Just a kiss Just a smile Hold my hand baby Once in a…
Sea of Love I hate to see that evening sun go down, I hate…
Secret Love Once I had a secret love, That lived within the heart…
Sentimental Journey Gonna take a sentimental journey Gonna set my heart at ease…
Shake a Hand Just leave it to me Don't ever be ashamed Just give me…
Shine On Are they calling for our last dance? I see it in…
Show Me Oh, yeah, oh, yeah baby, here we are again I can…
Since I Fell For You You made me leave my happy home You took my love…
Skylark Skylark Have you anything to say to me? Won't you tell me…
So Little Time Took a while to drag me out of bed, Aim some…
So Long So long, Hope we'll meet again some day. Hope that maybe the…
Sold My Heart To The Junkman I gave my heart to you, the one that I…
Somebody Touched Me (Bop-ba-do, bop-ba-do-be-do) (Bop-by-do, bop-ba-do-be-do) …
Someday In many ways, they'll miss the good old days Someday, someda…
Sonny Boy Climb upon my knee, Sonny Boy, Though you're only three, Son…
St. Louis Blues I hate to see that evening sun go down, I…
Standing On the Corner Standing on a corner watching all the girls go by Standing…
Stop Knockin I hate to see that evening sun go down, I hate…
Stop Knocking I hate to see that evening sun go down, I…
Stormy Weather Don't know why There's no sun up in the sky Stormy weather S…
Sugar Baby I've got my back to the sun 'cause the light…
Sure 'nuff I was born in the dessert came up from New…
Sweet Baby of Mine I'm going home to see my baby Big sweet baby of…
Tain There ain't nothin' I can do, or nothin' I can…
Takin' Care of Business You get up every morning From your ′larm clock's warning Tak…
Teardrops from My Eyes Down in Mexicali There's a crazy little place that I know Wh…
That Train Don't Stop Here Looking out my window I see my world has changed The sun…
The Best Thing that Ever Happened I've had my share Of life's ups and down But fate's been…
The Treasure of Love The treasure of love is easy to find It's waiting for…
The Way You Look Tonight Someday, when I'm awfully low And the world is cold I will…
They Say People are talking all over town They say you're tired of…
This Little Girl I WROTE MY MOM A LETTER AND THIS IS WHAT…
This Little Girls Gone Rockin I wrote my mom a letter And this is what I…
Too Little Too Late It's 4am baby And you've been out all night But you got…
Touch Me in the Morning Touch me in the morning Then just walk away We don't have…
Try and See Me Come over Come over Try me See what I got Come over Come ov…
We'll Be Together Again Here in a moment of darkness remember the sun has…
What Do You Know Why do robins sing in December Long before the Springtime is…
what'd i say Hey mama, don′t you treat me wrong Come and love me…
What'll I Do Why do robins sing in December Long before the Springtime is…
When I Get You Baby Oooh... Eah! Baby girl, where you at? Got no strings, got m…
Whispering Grass You promised me, green grass, not to tell what you…
Why You had plenty money, Nineteen-Twenty-Two You let other wome…
Why Don't You Do Right You had plenty money, Nineteen-Twenty-Two You let other wom…
Why Don’t You Write Me Why don't you write me, I'm out in the jungle, I'm hungry…
Why Me Why me Lord what have I ever done To deserve even…
Wild Wild Young Boys Wild wild young men they like to have a good…
Will the Circle Be Broken I was standing by the window On one cold and cloudy…
Yes Sir That's My Baby Yes sir, that's my baby No sir, I don't mean…
Yesterday Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away Now it…
and many more tracks by Ruth Brown.
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