Ruth Brown Biography (1928-)

Original name, Ruth Alston Watson; born January 31, 1928, in Portsmouth, VA;daughter of Leonard (a dock worker) and Martha Jane Alston Weston; married Jimmy Earle Brown (a trumpeter and vocalist; marriage annulled); common law wife of Wilis Jackson (relationship ended, 1955); married Earl Swanson (a saxophone player), 1957 (divorced); married Bill Blunt (a police officer), 1963 (divorced); children: (with Drew "Bundini" Brown, a boxing trainer) Ronald DavidJackson; (with Swanson) Earl Swanson, Jr. Addresses: Office: c/o Bullseye Blues/Rounder, 1 Camp St., Cambridge, MA 01240-1103.

Nationality
American
Gender
Female
Occupation
Actress, singer
Birth Details
January 31, 1928
Portsmouth, Virginia, United States

Famous Works

  • CREDITS
  • Film Appearances
  • Rock 'n' Roll Revue (also known as Harlem Rock 'n' Roll), 1955
  • Herself, Rhythm and Blues Revue, 1955
  • Cleaning lady, Under the Rainbow, 1981
  • Motormouth Maybell, Hairspray, New Line, 1988
  • Martha, True Identity, Buean Vista, 1991
  • (In archive footage) Herself, Standing in the Shadows of Motown (also known as Standing in the Shadows of Motown: The Story of the Funk Brothers), Artisan Entertainment, 2002
  • Television Appearances
  • Series
  • Leona Wilson, Hello, Larry, NBC, 1979-1981
  • Betty, Checking In, CBS, 1981
  • Movies
  • Mrs. Sherman, Hallelujah, PBS, 1993
  • Ella, Shake, Rattle and Rock!, Showtime, 1994
  • Specials
  • "That Rhythm Those Blues," The American Experience, PBS, 1988
  • The 43rd Annual Tony Awards, CBS, 1989
  • The Dancing Man--Peg Leg Bates, PBS, 1992
  • Black and Blue, PBS, 1993
  • Herself, Abbey Lincoln: You Gotta Pay the Band, PBS, 1993
  • Herself, B.B. King: The Blues Summit, Arts and Entertainment, 1995
  • Let's Make Sure Everybody Eats '95, Food Network, 1995
  • Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested, PBS, 1995
  • Herself, The History of Rock 'N' Roll, Vol. 1 (also known as Rock 'n' Roll Explodes), syndicated, 1995
  • Herself, Ira Gershwin at 100: A Celebration at Carnegie Hall, PBS,1997
  • Little Jimmy Scott, Bravo, 1999
  • The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize Celebrating the Humor of Richard Pryor, Comedy Central, 1999
  • I'll Make Me a World: A Century of African-American Arts, PBS, 1999
  • Voices of Ant and Tortoise, Aesop's Fables: A Whodunit Musical: An Animated Special from the "Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child" Series (animated), HBO, 2000
  • Herself, 22nd Annual W. C. Handy Blues Awards, 2001
  • Words and Music by Leiber & Stoller, Arts and Entertainment, 2001
  • Hitmakers: The Teens Who Stole Pop Music, Arts and Entertainment,2001
  • Episodic
  • Sanford and Son, 1974
  • Betty, "Florence's New Job: Part 2," The Jeffersons, 1981
  • Guest, Late Night with David Letterman, 1989
  • Guest, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, NBC, 1990
  • Also appeared in episodes of American Bandstand; Austin City Limits, PBS.
  • Stage Appearances
  • Woman number three, Blues in the Night, Rialto Theatre, New York City, 1982
  • Lilly, Champeen!, Harry DeJur Playhouse, New York City, 1983
  • (Broadway debut) Odessa, Amen Corner, Nederlander Theatre, New York City, 1983
  • Black and Blue (musical revue), Paris, 1984
  • Staggerlee, Le Petit Theatre du Vieux Carre, New Orleans, LA, 1985, then Second Avenue Theatre, New York City, 1987
  • Singer, Black and Blue, Minskoff Theatre, New York City, 1989
  • Also appeared in Guys and Dolls, Aladdin Theatre, Las Vegas, NV.
  • Radio Appearances
  • Bluesstage, National Public Radio, 1989
  • Also apperaed as host, Harlem Hit Parade, syndicated.
  • RECORDINGS
  • Albums
  • Ruth Brown Sings Favorites, 1956
  • Ruth Brown, 1957
  • Late Date with Ruth Brown, 1959
  • Along Comes Ruth, 1962
  • Gospel Time, 1962
  • Ruth Brown '65, 1964
  • Fine Brown Frame, 1968
  • The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones and Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth, 1968
  • Black Is Brown and Brown Is Beautiful, 1969
  • Takin' Care of Business, 1980
  • The Soul Survives, 1982
  • Atlantic Rhythm and Blues: 1947-74, 1986
  • Have a Good Time, Fantasy, 1989
  • Blues on Broadway, 1989
  • Brown, Black & Beautiful, 1990
  • Fine and Mellow, 1992
  • Songs of My Life, 1993
  • Live in London, 1996
  • R+B=Ruth Brown, 1997
  • Good Day for the Blues, 1999
  • WRITINGS
  • Autobiography
  • (With Andrew Yule) Miss Rhythm: The Autobiography of Ruth Brown, Rhythm & Blues Legend, 1996

Further Reference

OTHER SOURCES

    Periodicals
    • American Visions, October, 1999, p. 48
    • People, March 6, 1989, p. 261
    • Rolling Stone, April 19, 1990, p. 79

    User Contributions:

    Comment about this article, ask questions, or add new information about this topic:

    CAPTCHA


    forum