Friday, November 24, 2006
THE WORLD NOW HAS A TEAR IN IT'S VOICE. Just wanted to take a (belated) moment to mark the passing of an R&B great. The legendary Ruth Brown died Nov. 17th at the age of 78. Often called "Miss Rhythm" and "The Girl with the Tear in Her Voice", Ruth Brown practically MADE Atlantic Records; in fact, Atlantic Records was often known in the 50's as "The House That Ruth Built" because of the lady's amazing string of hits including the towering "Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean". After her particular type of R&B went out of fashion, Ruth Brown was criminally reduced to taking menial jobs until THANKFULLY in the last couple decades she was able to record once again (as well as justly being inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame). Sadly, Ruth Brown's voice has now been silenced but she has left us an incredible legacy of recordings.
And she WAS Motormouth Maybelle in John Water's Hairspray, something that made her known to a whole new generation. I remember that just after her appearing in that picture, Carson had her on and she sang that great little dirty song, "If I Can't Sell It, I'm Gonna' Keep It".
ReplyDeleteRIP Ruth!
Now see. . .that's ANOTHER one I haven't seen.
ReplyDelete