The incomparable Ruth Brown, whose musical legacy was matched by her fight for royalty reform for herself and other R&B Artists, passed away on November 17, 2006 in a Las Vegas area hospital from complications following a stroke and heart attack. Howell Begle, longtime friend and legal representative made the announcement for the family.
Known as "The Girl with a Tear in her Voice", "The Original Queen of Rhythm & Blues," "Miss Rhythm & Blues," and the well-known moniker of "Miss Rhythm," the nickname given her by Mr. Rhythm, Frankie Lane, Ruth Brown was also credited as the first star made by Atlantic Records. Her regal hit-making reign from 1949 to the close of the '50s helped tremendously to establish the New York label's predominance in the R&B field, a track record for which the young label was referred to as "The House That Ruth Built."
― Jeff K (jeff k), Saturday, 18 November 2006 00:51 (nineteen years ago)
― gear (gear), Saturday, 18 November 2006 00:55 (nineteen years ago)
― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Saturday, 18 November 2006 01:05 (nineteen years ago)
― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Saturday, 18 November 2006 01:06 (nineteen years ago)
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 18 November 2006 01:18 (nineteen years ago)
Between career peaks, Ms. Brown endured a long professional slump that left her at times in dire poverty. Partly she blamed her ignorance on business matters. However, Atlantic's royalty system did not favor artists in any way, from extremely low royalties to faulty bookkeeping.
Many artists left owing the studio money for production costs, which Ms. Brown said was a way to discourage further attempts to collect payment when a studio reissued old material. By Atlantic's calculations, Ms. Brown owed Atlantic $30,000.
The matter stalled until her Tony -- as well as a Grammy for the jazz recording "Blues on Broadway" (1989) -- brought a resurgence in public attention. Working with Washington lawyer Howell Begle, she arranged an alliance of political forces, including the Rev. Jesse Jackson, to pressure Atlantic and its longtime owner, Warner Communications, for payments.
Ms. Brown received $20,000 and was forgiven all "debts." The company changed its royalty payment system to favor the pioneering artists. This was credited with inspiring a royalty reform movement among other labels, including the conglomerate MCA.Warner's Atlantic subsidiary also agreed to contribute $1.5 million to start the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, a nonprofit aid organization for needy entertainers now based in Philadelphia.
Ms. Brown was committed to having the group give money to her peers who were suffering financially and could not afford medical attention. She became critical of how the foundation evolved and went on a new publicity attack.
"It's my baby, but it's kinda jumping out of my playpen," Ms. Brown told Reuters, noting that money was spent on glitzy awards ceremonies and payments to artists far from Skid Row, including Isaac Hayes, and Nick Ashford and Valerie Simpson.
― Ned Raggett (Ned), Saturday, 18 November 2006 01:19 (nineteen years ago)
― tremendoid (tremendoid), Saturday, 18 November 2006 01:54 (nineteen years ago)
― Factory Sample Not For Sale (Rrrickey), Saturday, 18 November 2006 04:38 (nineteen years ago)
― Arthurgh! A Music War (Arthur), Saturday, 18 November 2006 04:52 (nineteen years ago)
― Eggzakly Huhh? (zachary v.), Saturday, 18 November 2006 07:42 (nineteen years ago)
― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Saturday, 18 November 2006 09:52 (nineteen years ago)
― It's the lazy and immoral way to become super hip. (Austin, Still), Saturday, 18 November 2006 15:34 (nineteen years ago)
― curmudgeon (DC Steve), Saturday, 18 November 2006 20:20 (nineteen years ago)
"Little Richard once told me he got his squeal from Ruth Brown," said Wexler, who produced dozens of her Atlantic recordings, mostly in conjunction with label founder Ahmet Ertegun.
i was thinking this exact thing as i was relistening to her the day she died. you can hear it a lot of places, but for instance on the last syllable of "ma-MA" in "mama he treats your daughter mean." you can totally hear little richard in there, and prince too for that matter.
― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Sunday, 19 November 2006 20:35 (nineteen years ago)
(continuing to bump this thread partly cuz ruth brown deserves more than "13 new answers.")
― gypsy mothra (gypsy mothra), Monday, 20 November 2006 07:30 (nineteen years ago)
― Daniel Peterson (polkaholic), Monday, 20 November 2006 15:44 (nineteen years ago)
― Factory Sample Not For Sale (Rrrickey), Tuesday, 21 November 2006 06:51 (nineteen years ago)
A co-worker's been hauling in her parents' old albums for me. Most of what's there is in poor shape and/or of no interest, but an excellent copy of this was in today's batch:
http://991.com/newGallery/Ruth-Brown-Ruth-Brown-65-374312.jpg
― clemenza, Saturday, 11 February 2012 00:33 (fourteen years ago)
Great cover
― curmudgeon, Saturday, 11 February 2012 01:29 (fourteen years ago)