Ruth Brown is best remembered as a recording star in the mid-'50s, at a time when she was sharing the "Atlantic Records" spotlight with such luminaries as Joe Turner, Clyde McPhatter, LaVern Baker, and the Clovers.  The magnitude of her success is evidenced by membership in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.  Beyond that, she is a noted supper-club performer and has starred on Broadway, most recently in "Black and Blue," for which she won a Tony award.

In recent years, Ruth Brown has been known as the hostess of "Blues Stage" on National Public Radio stations.  You might also remember her as the "Motormouth" deejay in the movie "Hairspray."  Watch for her life story as an upcoming "Movie of the Week" on the Showtime cable TV network. In addition, Ruth Brown is very much alive and well and performing on a regular basis. Your humble scribe first saw her at the very show advertised by the poster that brought you to this page.  I had the pleasure of seeing her again the week of December 13-20, 1997, aboard the S.S. Norway, during the annual "Blues Cruise" and yet again on that same ship as a headliner at the "Floating Jazz Festival" the first week of November 1998.  Suffice it to say ... she is still great! Recordings by Ruth Brown are not easy to find, but the Internet's leading music shop usually has them.  Clicking on the CD NOW image will take you directly to a list of available Ruth Brown recordings.  And if you buy something, there is a small rebate to yours truly that will help defray the expense of maintaining this site. You can keep track of Miss Brown's scheduled performances at the Pollstar web site. Hey, isn't that a great picture at the top of this page?  It looks like a bubble-gum trading card.  Hmmm, this gives me an idea for a really great set of cards that someone should be producing. Speaking of pictures, let's take a look at three more shots from Miss Brown's appearance aboard the S.S. Norway, December 18, 1997.

And for those of you who have burrowed down this far, why not take a look at my handsome son and his wife proudly posing with Ruth Brown at the autograph session during the 1997 Blues Cruise.

Go back to the Rhythm & Blues Revue page.

This page created and maintained by Jim Lowe
First appearance: September 25, 1997
Last updated: November 13, 1998

© 1997 and 1998 by James R. Lowe, who reserves all rights to the content of this page not successfully claimed by others.