Miss Rhythm passes on

November 19, 2006 10:30 AM

The Rhythm & Blues Review is a one+ hour Google video clip of a 1955 Apollo show featuring Lionel Hampton, Sarah Vaughn, Count Basie, Nat King Cole, Cab Calloway -- and at 1.05, Miss Rhythm herself, blues diva Ruth Brown singing her signature song, Teardrops From My Eyes. Ruth Brown sadly passed away on Friday. [More on Ruth Brown]
posted by madamjujujive (15 comments total)

Ruth Brown - January 12, 1928 to November 17, 2006
The Washington Post article in the main post has a great gallery of photos.
Brown was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame in 1993. In addition to being an R&B pacesetter, she was a tireless crusader, ultimately succeeding in getting Atlantic Records to pay back royalties to blues and R&B artists who were living in poverty. She was a founder and driving force of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation.
Here are two biographies and a music video clip:
Wikipedia entry on Ruth Brown
VH1 biography and discography
You Tube: Mamma he treats your daughter mean
posted by madamjujujive at 10:33 AM on November 19, 2006 [1 favorite]

Approximate times of show perormers for those who might only want to view selected clips:
Willie Bryant, host
Freddie Robinson 1.50
Lionel Hampton 4.50
Faye Adams 7.40
Bill Bailey 11.0
Herb Jeffries 13.15
Count Baise
Freddie & Flo 16.10
Amos Mullburn 20.20
The Larks 24.0
Freddie & Flo 25.50
Lionel Hampton 27.50
Sarah Vaughn at 34.28
Nipsy Russel 37.10
Count Basie 39.05
Big Joe Turner 42:45
Delta Rhythm Boys 46.30
Martha Davis 49.50
Little Buck 53.10
Nat King Cole 55.30
Mantan Moreland 58.55
Cab Calloway 1.02.30
Ruth Brown 1.05.20
Count Basie 1.08.15
posted by madamjujujive at 11:20 AM on November 19, 2006

WOW, thanks for the great post MJJJ and the listing of who preforms when. Thats very helpful for me. RIP Miss Brown.
posted by wheelieman at 11:51 AM on November 19, 2006

wonderful stuff--thanks!

for those who didn't know Ruth's songs, they might have seen her as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray (the first movie version)-- RIP
posted by amberglow at 12:15 PM on November 19, 2006

You take such good care of us, madamjujujive.
posted by owhydididoit at 12:51 PM on November 19, 2006

Great post, thanks.
posted by Kraftmatic Adjustable Cheese at 2:09 PM on November 19, 2006

Thanks mjj, this is a great find!

Love that fireworks loop during the opening credits. Maybe Jackie Gleason borrowed that for the Honeymooners opener?
posted by flapjax at midnite at 4:12 PM on November 19, 2006

Wow, you are right on target with the similarity of that opening sequence to that of the Honeymooners, flapjax at midnite - good call.

In searching, I also found this gem with a young (and I mean young) Frankie Avalon doing a sketch with the theme for The Jackie Gleason show.

And amberglow, thanks for the info! I never realized that at the time - I didn't get serious about following the blues until about 10 or 12 years ago. But I was lucky enough to have seen Ruth Brown with Bonnie Raitt once at an R&B festival.
posted by madamjujujive at 5:49 PM on November 19, 2006

this post made my sunday. cheers!
posted by waxboy at 6:03 PM on November 19, 2006

Nat King Cole's "Trinidad" was my favorite of the bunch.
posted by stbalbach at 9:34 PM on November 19, 2006

Here are a few Prairie Home Companion shows featuring Ruth Brown
posted by wheelieman at 12:26 PM on November 20, 2006

OK, I love you very much now, wheelieman - thanks for those!
posted by madamjujujive at 12:53 PM on November 20, 2006

This is the posting equivalent of a New Orleans funeral parade; it makes a joyous noise and celebrates Brown's life (and those of her peers) as we mourn her passing. Thanks mjjj!
posted by squasha at 4:20 PM on November 20, 2006

for those who didn't know Ruth's songs, they might have seen her as Motormouth Maybelle in Hairspray (the first movie version)-- RIP

I hope Ruth Brown and Divine are both dancing the Twist in that great, big Corny Collins Show in the sky.
posted by jonp72 at 12:55 PM on November 21, 2006

they are, jon : >
posted by amberglow at 1:52 PM on November 21, 2006