Ruth Brown: Biography, Facts and Career
Who is Ruth Brown? An evergreen, sourced profile: biography, key facts and career.
Ruth Alston Brown (née Weston; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the "Queen of R&B". She was noted for bringing a pop music style to R&B music in a series of hit songs for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, such as "So Long", "Teardrops from My Eyes" and "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean". For these contributions, Atlantic became known as "the house that Ruth built" (alluding to the popular nickname for the old Yankee Stadium). Brown was a 1993 inductee into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Following a resurgence that began in the mid-1970s and peaked in the 1980s, Brown used her influence to press for musicians' rights regarding royalties and contracts; these efforts led to the founding of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. Her performances in the Broadway musical Black and Blue earned Brown a Tony Award, and the original cast recording won a Grammy Award. Brown was a recipient of the Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016. In 2017, Brown was inducted into National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame. In 2023, Rolling Stone ranked Brown at number 146 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time. Brown was an "aunt" (a close family friend) of emcee Rakim.
Quick facts about Ruth Brown
- Full name: Ruth Brown
- Born: 1928-01-12
- Nationality: United States
- Known as: Musician
- Wikidata ID: Q144669
Profile compiled from public Wikipedia and Wikidata data. Details can change over time.
Frequently asked questions
Who is Ruth Brown?
Ruth Alston Brown (née Weston; January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the "Queen of R&B".
What nationality is Ruth Brown?
Ruth Brown is United States.
When was Ruth Brown born?
Ruth Brown was born on 1928-01-12.
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