Rhythm & Blues Foundation: Memorial Evening to Honor the Legendary Ruth Brown Set for Monday, January 22 at 6:00 PM in New York City
Memorial Evening to Honor the Legendary Ruth Brown Set for Monday, January 22 at 6:00 PM in New York City
PHILADELPHIA, PA — (MARKET WIRE) — January 18, 2007 — The
life of the incomparable Ruth Brown,whose musical legacy was matched by her fight for royalty reform forherself and other artists, will be celebrated in a memorial service held onJanuary 22, 2007, at 6:00 PM at the Abyssinian Baptist Church, 132 OdellClark Place, New York, NY, it was announced by Kendall Minter, Chair of TheRhythm & Blues Foundation.
The evening event will feature tributes from Brown’s musical peers,including Little Jimmy Scott, Mabel John and Chuck Jackson. In addition,Little Richard will attend as well as other contemporaries and well-knownfans.
Known internationally as “Miss Rhythm,” Ruth Brown’s long and celebratedmusic career began in the late 1940s. In the early 1950s she was AtlanticRecords’ best-selling female performer and the record label became known as”the house that Ruth built.” Some of her enduring hits were “5-10-15Hours,” “Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean,” “Teardrops From My Eyes,” “SoLong” and “Don’t Deceive Me.” Ruth Brown had sixteen Top Ten blues recordsthat included five Number 1 hits.
Brown’s musical career was resurrected in the mid-70s when she earnedaccolades for her theatrical performances. Her stage career began when sheplayed gospel singer Mahalia Jackson in the civil rights musical “Selma.”She also appeared in Allen Toussaint’s Off-Broadway musical “Stagger Lee.”Three years later she appeared in the hit musical “Black & Blue” in Paris.”Black & Blue” moved to Broadway where Ms. Brown won the Tony award for”Best Actress in a Musical.” Director John Waters gave Brown the chance tocreate the role “Motormouth Mable” in the cult classic film “Hairspray.”She was inducted into the Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame in 1993.
Brown is remembered for her ardent fight for royalty reform, as well as forher musical contributions. By testifying before Congress, Brown broughtpublic attention to the practices of record companies that left many earlyrhythm and blues artists impoverished. Her efforts resulted inremuneration for herself and other artists, and to the formation of theRhythm and Blues Foundation.
Ruth Weston Brown, who died on November 17, 2006 from complicationsfollowing a heart attack and stroke she suffered after surgery, was born inPortsmouth, Virginia on January 12, 1928. She was 78 years old. Ms. Brownlearned to sing at the Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church whereher father directed the choir. At 17 she ran away from home to begin hercareer as a singer and later married trumpeter Jimmy Brown.
The Rhythm and Blues Foundation, part of the legacy of Ruth Brown, is anonprofit organization dedicated to the historical and culturalpreservation of Rhythm and Blues music. Founded in 1988, the Rhythm andBlues Foundation provides archival, educational and performance programs tobuild appreciation of the contribution of Rhythm and Blues to the world’smusical heritage. The provision of financial and medical assistance todistressed artists is also a cornerstone of the Foundation’s services. As aFounding Director and a champion for artists’ rights, Ruth Brown played acentral role in shaping the Foundation’s mission, programs and services.
“OFFICIAL WEBSITE: www.RuthBrown.net”
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