Four Classic Albums (Rock & Roll / Miss Rhythm / Late Date With Ruth Brown / Along Comes Ruth)

The Queen of R&B, otherwise known as Miss Ruth Brown had a classic, storybook adventure musical beginning when in 1945 she ran away from home at the age of 17 with musician Jimmy Brown to sing in bars and clubs, before joining Lucky Millinders orchestra for a short spell and, oh, let's not forget, marrying the aforementioned Mr Brown! Later she was managed by the sister of Cab Calloway, Blanche, who was also a bandleader who secured her gigs which would ultimately lead her to being spotted playing with Duke Ellington by a local DJ who recommended her to head of Atlantic Records Ahmet Ertegun. Following a devastating car crash Ruth was unable to attend the audition with Atlantic but was nevertheless signed to them from her hospital bed where she has been for nine months! By 1948, having heard Ruth singing mainly pop ballads of the day, Ertegun suggested that Ruth should change her style and sing R&B. From here Ruth's career really began to take off and before long she became known as Miss Rhythm and later the Queen of R&B. Between 1949 and 1955 she spent 149 weeks in the charts, had 16 top 10 hits and 5 number 1's. Her first pop crossover hit was Lucky Lips in 1957 but she primarily stayed within the R&B musical universe.