Editing Ruth Brown

{{Short description|American singer-songwriter (1928–2006)}}
{{Other people}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=March 2022}}
{{Infobox musical artist
| name            = Ruth Brown
| image           = Ruth-Brown-1955.jpg
| caption         = Brown in 1955
| background      = solo_singer
| birth_name      = Ruth Alston Weston
| birth_date      = {{birth date|1928|1|12|mf=y}}<ref name="nytobit">[https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/18/arts/music/18brown.html?pagewanted=all&_r=0 Ruth Brown, 78, a Queen of R&B, Dies]. ''[[The New York Times]]'', November 18, 2006. Retrieved January 29, 2016.</ref>
| birth_place     = [[Portsmouth, Virginia]], U.S.
| death_date      = {{death date and age|2006|11|17|1928|1|12|mf=y}}
| death_place     = [[Henderson, Nevada]], U.S.
| occupation      = {{hlist|Actress|singer-songwriter}}
| instrument      = {{hlist|Vocals|piano|keyboards}}
| genre           = {{hlist|[[Rhythm and blues|R&B]]|[[Soul music|soul]]|[[jazz]]|[[blues]]|[[doo-wop]]|[[Gospel music|gospel]]|[[funk]]}}
| years_active    = 1949–2006
| label           = {{hlist|[[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]]|[[Philips Records|Philips]]|[[Fantasy Records|Fantasy]]}}}}

'''Ruth Alston Brown''' ({{née|'''Weston'''}}; January 12, 1928<ref>[http://death-records.mooseroots.com/ Dates of birth and death]. Death-records.mooseroots.com. Accessed January 29, 2016.</ref><ref>[http://www.biography.com/people/ruth-brown-17172326 Profile with dates of birth and death] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170822010738/http://www.biography.com/people/ruth-brown-17172326 |date=August 22, 2017 }}. Biography.com. Accessed January 29, 2016.</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/17/AR2006111701411.html|title=Ruth Brown, 78; R& B Singer Championed Musicians' Rights|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=November 17, 2006|access-date=January 29, 2016}}</ref> – November 17, 2006) was an American singer-songwriter and actress, sometimes referred to as the "[[Honorific nicknames in popular music|Queen of R&B]]". She was noted for bringing a [[popular music|pop music]] style to [[rhythm and blues|R&B music]] in a series of hit songs for [[Atlantic Records]] in the 1950s, such as "[[So Long (Russ Morgan Song)|So Long]]", "[[Teardrops from My Eyes]]" and "[[(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean]]".<ref name="Russell">{{cite book|first=Tony|last=Russell|year=1997|title=The Blues: From Robert Johnson to Robert Cray|publisher= Carlton Books |location=Dubai|page=96|isbn=1-85868-255-X}}</ref> For these contributions, Atlantic became known as "the house that Ruth built"<ref name=allmusic>{{cite web|last=Dahl|first=Bill|url=http://www.allmusic.com/artist/ruth-brown-p6193/biography|title=Ruth Brown: Music Biography, Credits and Discography|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref><ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=R-DpxKQ67IkC&q=%22The+house+that+Ruth+built%22+atlantic&pg=PA76|author=Gulla, Bob |title=''Icons of R&B and Soul''|publisher=ABC-CLIO|date=2008|page=76|isbn=9780313340451 |access-date=September 7, 2015}}</ref> (alluding to the popular nickname for the [[old Yankee Stadium]]).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Jv-A9t9gGxIC&dq=house+that+ruth+built+atlantic+ruth+brown+yankees&pg=PA202|title=The Complete Idiot's Guide to Music History: From Pre-Historic Africa to Classical Europe to American Popular Music|first=Michael|last=Miller|date=July 1, 2008|publisher=Penguin|isbn=9781440636370|access-date=July 22, 2021|via=Google Books}}</ref> 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]].<ref>{{cite book|title=The Definitive Illustrated Encyclopedia of Rock|last=Heatley|first=Michael|year=2007|publisher=Star Fire|location=London|isbn=978-1-84451-996-5 }}</ref> Her performances in the [[Broadway musical]] ''[[Black and Blue (musical)|Black and Blue]]'' earned Brown a [[Tony Award]], and the original cast recording won a [[Grammy Award]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/96094/tony-winner-and-rb-pioneer-ruth-brown-dies-at-age-78/|title=Tony Winner and R&B; Pioneer Ruth Brown Dies at Age 78|date=November 20, 2006|website=Broadway.com}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/artists/ruth-brown|title=Ruth Brown|website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards}}</ref> Brown was a recipient of the [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]] in 2016.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web|url=https://www.grammy.com/grammys/news/special-merit-awards-honor-2016-class|title=Special Merit Awards to honor 2016 class|last=Mcphate|first=Tim|date=May 15, 2017|website=Recording Academy Grammy Awards}}</ref> In 2017, Brown was inducted into [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame|National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame]].<ref name=":3">{{Cite web|url=https://www.rbhalloffame.com/index.php/hall-of-fame/inductees|title=Inductees|website=National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame|access-date=October 23, 2019|archive-date=October 20, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020080929/https://www.rbhalloffame.com/index.php/hall-of-fame/inductees|url-status=dead}}</ref> In 2023, ''Rolling Stone'' ranked Brown at number 146 on its list of the 200 Greatest Singers of All Time.<ref>{{cite magazine|title=The 200 Greatest Singers of All Time|magazine=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=1 January 2023|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-lists/best-singers-all-time-1234642307/ruth-brown-1234642945/|access-date=10 April 2023}}</ref>

Brown is the aunt of rapper [[Rakim]].

==Early life==
Born in [[Portsmouth, Virginia]], Brown was the eldest of seven siblings.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/11/17/AR2006111701411_2.html|title=Ruth Brown, 78; R&B Singer Championed Musicians' Rights|date=November 18, 2006|last=Bernstein|first=Adam|newspaper=The Washington Post|access-date=March 9, 2013}}</ref> She attended [[I. C. Norcom High School]]. Brown's father was a [[stevedore|dockhand]]. He also directed the local [[church choir]] at Emmanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church, but the young Ruth showed more interest in singing at [[United Service Organizations|USO]] shows and [[nightclub]]s, rebelling against her father.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.biography.com/people/ruth-brown-17172326|title=Ruth Brown – Singer, Theater Actress|access-date=February 10, 2019|archive-date=January 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190108211443/https://www.biography.com/people/ruth-brown-17172326|url-status=dead}}</ref> She was inspired by [[Sarah Vaughan]], [[Billie Holiday]], and [[Dinah Washington]].<ref>Bogdanov, et al. ''All Music Guide to the Blues: The Definitive Guide to the Blues'' p. 79. Backbeat Books. {{ISBN|0-87930-736-6}}.</ref>

In 1945, aged 17, Brown ran away from her home in Portsmouth along with the trumpeter [[Jimmy Brown (musician)|Jimmy Brown]], whom she soon married, to sing in bars and clubs. She then spent a month with [[Lucky Millinder]]'s orchestra.<ref name="Russell"/>

==Early career==
[[File: Ruth Brown performs at Mambo Club, Wichita, Kansas, 1957.jpg|thumb|Ruth Brown performs at the Mambo Club in [[Wichita, Kansas]], 1957]]
[[Blanche Calloway]], [[Cab Calloway]]'s sister, also a bandleader, arranged a gig for Brown at the [[Bohemian Caverns|Crystal Caverns]], a [[nightclub]] in Washington, D.C., and soon became her manager. [[Willis Conover]], the future [[Voice of America]] disc jockey, caught her act with [[Duke Ellington]] and recommended her to [[Atlantic Records]] bosses [[Ahmet Ertegun]] and [[Herb Abramson]]. Brown was unable to audition as planned because of a car crash, which resulted in a nine-month stay in the hospital. She signed with Atlantic Records from her hospital bed.<ref name=Quatro>{{cite web|url=http://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/b01b4jhw|title=Suzi Quatro's Pioneers of Rock: Ruth Brown|publisher=[[BBC Radio 2]]|date=February 9, 2012|access-date=March 17, 2013}}</ref>

In 1948, Ertegun and Abramson drove from New York City to Washington, D.C., to hear Brown sing. Her repertoire was mostly popular ballads, but Ertegun convinced her to switch to rhythm and blues.<ref name=pc3>{{Gilliland|url=https://digital.library.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metadc19748/m1|title=Show 3 – The Tribal Drum: The Rise of Rhythm and Blues. [Part 1&#93;}}</ref>

In her first audition, in 1949, she sang "So Long," which became a hit. This was followed by "[[Teardrops from My Eyes]]" in 1950. Written by [[Rudy Toombs]], it was the first upbeat major hit for Brown. Recorded for [[Atlantic Records]] in New York City in September 1950 and released in October, it was ''[[Billboard (magazine)|Billboard]]'''s [[List of number-one R&B hits (United States)|R&B number one]] for 11 weeks. The hit earned her the nickname "Miss Rhythm", and within a few months, she became the acknowledged queen of R&B.<ref>{{cite book |author1-last=Dawson |author1-first=Jim |author2-link=Steve Propes |author2-last=Propes |author2-first=Steve |year=1992 |title=What Was the First Rock'n'Roll Record |publisher=Faber & Faber |location= Boston & London |isbn=0-571-12939-0 }}</ref>

She followed up this hit with "I'll Wait for You" (1951), "I Know" (1951), "[[5-10-15 Hours]]" (1953), "[[(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean]]" (1953), "[[Oh What a Dream]]" (1954),<ref name=pc3/> "[[Mambo Baby]]" (1954), and "Don't Deceive Me" (1960), some of which were credited to Ruth Brown and the Rhythm Makers. Between 1949 and 1955, her records stayed on the [[R&B chart]] for a total of 149 weeks; she would go on to score 21 Top 10 hits all together, including five that landed at number one. Brown ranked No. 1 on The ''Billboard'' 1954 Disk Jockey Poll for Favorite R&B Artists.<ref>{{Cite magazine|date=November 13, 1954|title=The Billboard 1954 Disk Jockey Poll: R&B Favorites...Artists|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/Archive-Billboard/50s/1954/Billboard%201954-11-13.pdf|magazine=Billboard|pages=96}}</ref>

Brown played many [[Racial segregation in the United States|racially segregated]] dances in the [[Southern United States|southern states]], where she toured extensively and was immensely popular. She claimed that a writer had once summed up her popularity by saying, "In the South, Ruth Brown is better known than [[Coca-Cola]]."<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/47234086 |title="What'd I say?" : the Atlantic story : 50 years of music |publisher=Welcome Rain Publishers |year=2001 |isbn=1-56649-048-0 |editor-last=Richardson |editor-first=Perry |edition= |location=New York |page=59 |oclc=47234086}}</ref>

Brown performed at the famed tenth Cavalcade of Jazz concert held at [[Wrigley Field (Los Angeles)|Wrigley Field]] in Los Angeles, which was produced by [[Leon Hefflin, Sr.]] on June 20, 1954. She performed along with [[The Flairs]], [[Count Basie and his Orchestra]], Lamp Lighters, [[Louis Jordan and His Tympany Five]], [[Christine Kittrell]], and [[Perez Prado]] and his Orchestra.<ref>"Tenth Annual Cavalcade Offering Finest Variety At Wrigley Field June 20" Article The California Eagle June 2, 1954.
</ref>

Her first pop hit came with "[[Lucky Lips]]", a song written by [[Jerry Leiber]] and [[Mike Stoller]] and recorded in 1957. The single reached number 6 on the R&B chart and number 25 on the U.S. [[Hot 100|pop chart]].<ref name="whitburnr&b">{{cite book|title=Top R&B/Hip-Hop Singles: 1942–2004|last=Whitburn|first=Joel|author-link=Joel Whitburn |year=2004 |publisher=Record Research|page=54}}</ref> The 1958 follow-up was "[[This Little Girl's Gone Rockin']]", written by [[Bobby Darin]] and [[Mann Curtis]]. It reached number 7 on the R&B chart and number 24 on the pop chart.<ref>Rockin' with Ruth by Ruth Brown. ''Popular Music'', Vol. 5, Continuity and Change (1985), pp. 225–234.</ref>

She had further hits with "I Don't Know" in 1959 and "Don't Deceive Me" in 1960, which were more successful on the R&B chart than on the pop chart. In 1965 she appeared as a guest on [[TV Gospel Time]]. During the 1960s, Brown faded from public view and lived as a housewife and mother.

==Later career==
[[File:Ruth Brown 1996.jpg|thumb|Brown in 1996]]
She returned to music in 1975 at the urging of the comedian [[Redd Foxx]], followed by a series of comedic acting jobs. This launched her career in TV, film, and stage. She had a recurring role during the second season of the sitcom ''[[Hello, Larry]]'' as the neighbor, Leona Wilson. She starred as Motormouth Maybelle Stubbs, a friendly and strong-willed record promoter and mother of Seaweed and L'il Inez, in the [[John Waters (filmmaker)|John Waters]] cult classic film ''[[Hairspray (1988 film)|Hairspray]]''. On [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]], she starred in productions of ''[[Amen Corner (musical)|Amen Corner]]'' and ''[[Black and Blue (musical)|Black and Blue]]''. The latter earned her a [[Tony Award]] for Best Actress in a Musical in 1989.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.broadway.com/buzz/96094/tony-winner-and-rb-pioneer-ruth-brown-dies-at-age-78/|title=Tony Winner and R&B; Pioneer Ruth Brown Dies at Age 78|website=Broadway.com|access-date=July 22, 2021}}</ref> ''[[The New York Times]]'' theater critic [[Frank Rich]] wrote, "Ruth Brown, the rhythm-and-blues chanteuse, applies sarcastic varnish and two-a-day burlesque timing to the ribald Andy Razaf lyrics of 'If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' on It.'"<ref name=":6">{{Cite web|title=Playbill|url=https://www.playbill.com/article/ruth-brown-tony-winner-for-black-and-blue-is-dead-at-78-com-136512|last=Simonson|first=Robert|date=November 20, 2006|website=Playbill.com}}</ref>

Brown's fight for musicians' rights and [[royalties]] in 1987 led to the founding of the [[Rhythm and Blues Foundation]] in 1988.<ref name=":4">{{Cite web|title=Forebears: Ruth Brown, The Fabulous Miss Rhythm|url=https://www.npr.org/2017/10/23/559070707/forebears-ruth-brown-the-fabulous-miss-rhythm|last=Selke|first=Lori|date=October 23, 2017|website=NPR}}</ref> She was one of the first recipients of the Pioneer Award in 1989.<ref name=":5">{{Cite news|last=Morris|first=Chris|date=November 20, 2006|title='Miss Rhythm' Ruth Brown dies|work=The Hollywood Reporter|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/miss-rhythm-ruth-brown-dies-143775}}</ref> In 1989, she released an album, "Blues and Broadway," which won a Grammy for best jazz vocal performance, female.<ref name=":6" /> She was inducted into the [[Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame]] in 1992 and the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame]] in 1993.<ref>{{cite web|title=Inductees|url=http://www.okjazz.org/index.cfm?id=5|website=Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame|access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Ruth Brown|url=https://www.rockhall.com/inductees/ruth-brown|year=1993|website=rockhall.com|publisher=Rock & Roll Hall of Fame|access-date=May 20, 2020}}</ref>

Brown recorded and sang with the rhythm-and-blues singer [[Charles Brown (musician)|Charles Brown]]. She also toured with [[Bonnie Raitt]] in the late 1990s. Her 1995 autobiography, ''Miss Rhythm'',<ref>Brown, Ruth; Yule, Andrew (1996). ''Miss Rhythm''.</ref> won the Gleason Award for music journalism.<ref name=":4" /> She also appeared on [[Bonnie Raitt]]'s 1995 live DVD ''Road Tested'', singing "Never Make Your Move Too Soon".<ref>{{cite web|title=Road Tested&nbsp;– Bonnie Raitt: Songs, Reviews, Credits, Awards|url=http://www.allmusic.com/album/road-tested-mw0000173671|last=Ruhlmann|first=William|date=November 7, 1995|website=AllMusic|access-date=March 18, 2013}}</ref> She was nominated for another Grammy in the Traditional Blues category for her 1997 album, ''R&nbsp;+ B&nbsp;= Ruth Brown''. In the 2000 television miniseries ''[[Little Richard (film)|Little Richard]]'', she was portrayed by singer Tressa Thomas.

She hosted the radio program ''Blues Stage'', carried by more than 200 [[NPR]] affiliates, for six years, starting in 1989.<ref>{{cite web|title=Felix Hernandez|url=http://www.wbgo.org/profile/fhernandez|publisher=Wbgo.org|access-date=September 7, 2015|archive-date=September 7, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150907184406/https://www.wbgo.org/profile/fhernandez|url-status=dead}}</ref>

Brown was still touring at the age of 78.<ref name=" Quatro" /> She had completed preproduction work on the [[John Sayles]] film, ''[[Honeydripper (film)|Honeydripper]]'', which she did not live to finish. Still, her recording of "Things About Comin' My Way" was released posthumously on the soundtrack CD. Her last interview was in August 2006.<ref>{{cite web|title=Interview: Miss Ruth Brown: Better Late, Than Never|url=http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/Interview-Miss-Ruth-Brown-Better-Late-Than-Never-20060829|author=Rice, Randy|date=August 29, 2006|publisher=broadwayworld.com|access-date=August 20, 2013}}</ref>

==Death==
Brown died in a Las Vegas–area hospital on November 17, 2006, from complications following a heart attack and stroke she suffered after surgery in the previous month. She was 78 years old.<ref name="broadway world">[http://www.broadwayworld.com/article/RB-Legend-and-Black-and-Blue-Star-Ruth-Brown-Dies-20061120#.U6DIrrWsjTo Notice of death of Ruth Brown], broadwayworld.com; accessed June 17, 2014.</ref> A memorial concert for her was held on January 22, 2007, at the [[Abyssinian Baptist Church]] in [[Harlem]], New York.<ref>{{Cite news |date=January 23, 2007 |title=Tribute to a Blueswoman |work=The New York Times |url=https://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A0DEFDA1F30F930A15752C0A9619C8B63 |access-date=March 29, 2022}}</ref>

Brown is buried at Roosevelt Memorial Park, [[Chesapeake, Virginia|Chesapeake City, Virginia]].<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=FOHgDAAAQBAJ&q=ruth+brown+roosevelt+memorial&pg=PA95|title=Resting Places: The Burial Sites of More Than 14,000 Famous Persons, 3d ed.|first=Scott|last=Wilson|date=August 19, 2016|page=95|publisher=McFarland|isbn=9781476625997|access-date= April 29, 2019|via=Google Books}}</ref>

== Accolades ==
{| class="wikitable"
!Year
!Award
!Category
!Work
!Result
!Ref.
|-
|1969
|[[12th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]
|[[Grammy Award for Best Female R&B Vocal Performance|Best Female R&B Vocal Performance]]
|"Yesterday"
|{{nom}}
|Rowspan=3|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|rowspan=3|1989
|rowspan=2|[[32nd Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]
|[[Grammy Award for Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female|Best Jazz Vocal Performance, Female]]
|[[Blues on Broadway]]
|{{won}}
|-
|[[Grammy Award for Best Traditional Blues Album|Best Traditional Blues Album]]
|"If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' on It"
|{{nom}}
|-
|[[43rd Tony Awards|Tony Award]]
|[[Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical|Best Actress in a Musical]]
|[[Black and Blue (musical)|Black and Blue]]
|{{win}}
|<ref name=":0" />
|-
|1990
|[[33rd Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]
|rowspan=3|Best Traditional Blues Album
|"[[Ain't Nobody's Business|T'ain't Nobody's Bizness If I Do]]"
|{{nom}}
|rowspan=3|<ref name=":1" />
|-
|1997
|[[40th Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]
|R + B = Ruth Brown
|{{nom}}
|-
|1999
|[[42nd Annual Grammy Awards|Grammy Award]]
|[[A Good Day for the Blues]]
|{{nom}}
|}

She also received the following honors:

* 1989: [[Rhythm and Blues Foundation|Rhythm & Blues Foundation]] Pioneer Award<ref name=":5" />
* 1992: Inducted into the [[Oklahoma Jazz Hall of Fame]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.okjazz.org/index.cfm?id=104|title=Ruth Brown|website=Oklahoma Jazz Music Hall of Fame|date=June 13, 2022 }}</ref>
* 1993: Inducted into the [[Rock and Roll Hall of Fame|Rock & Roll Hall of Fame]]<ref name=":5" />
* 1996: Ralph Gleason Award for Music Journalism<ref name=":4" />
* 2013: Inducted into the [[Virginia Musical Museum]]'s Virginia Music Hall of Fame<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virginiamusicalmuseum.com/ |title=Virginia Music Hall of Fame Inductees |website=Virginia Musical Museum |access-date=October 20, 2020 }}</ref>
* 2016: [[Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award]]<ref name=":2" />
* 2017: Inducted into [[Rhythm and Blues Music Hall of Fame|National Rhythm & Blues Hall of Fame]]<ref name=":3" />

==Discography==
===Studio albums===
* ''[[Ruth Brown (album)|Ruth Brown]]'' ([[Atlantic Records|Atlantic]], 1957)
* ''[[Miss Rhythm]]'' (Atlantic, 1959)
* ''[[Late Date with Ruth Brown]]'' (Atlantic, 1959)
* ''Along Comes Ruth'' ([[Philips Records|Philips]], 1962)
* ''Gospel Time'' (Philips, 1962)
* ''[[Ruth Brown '65]]'' ([[Mainstream Records|Mainstream]], 1965)
* ''Black Is Brown and Brown Is Beautiful'' ([[Skye Records|Skye]], 1969)
* ''The Real Ruth Brown'' ([[Cobblestone Records|Cobblestone]]/Buddah, 1972)
* ''Sugar Babe'' (President, 1976), re-issued in 1985 as ''Brown Sugar''
* ''You Don't Know Me'' (Dobre, 1978)
* ''[[Blues on Broadway]]'' (Fantasy, 1989)
* ''Help a Good Girl Go Bad'' (MMS Classix, 1989)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.allmusic.com/album/help-a-good-girl-go-bad-mw0000202597 |title=Ruth Brown: Help a Good Girl Go Bad |website=[[AllMusic]] |access-date=June 2, 2022 }}</ref>
* ''Brown, Black & Beautiful'' (SDEG/Ichiban, 1990)
* ''[[Fine and Mellow (Ruth Brown album)|Fine and Mellow]]'' (Fantasy, 1991)
* ''The Songs of My Life'' (Fantasy, 1993)
* ''R + B = Ruth Brown'' (Bullseye Blues, 1997)
* ''[[A Good Day for the Blues]]'' (Bullseye Blues, 1999)

===Live albums===
* ''The Soul Survives'' (Flair, 1982)
* ''Takin' Care of Business'' ([[Jonas Bernholm|Stockholm]], 1983)
* ''[[Have a Good Time (Ruth Brown album)|Have a Good Time]]'' ([[Fantasy Records|Fantasy]], 1988)
* ''Live in London'' (Jazz House, 1995)

===Compilations===
* ''The Best of Ruth Brown'' (Atlantic, 1962) 
* ''Miss Rhythm (Greatest Hits and More)'' (Atlantic, 1989)

===As guest===
'''With [[Thad Jones]] and [[Mel Lewis]]''' 
*''[[The Big Band Sound of Thad Jones/Mel Lewis Featuring Miss Ruth Brown]]'' ([[Solid State Records (jazz label)|Solid State]], 1968)
'''With [[Benny Carter]]'''
*''[[Benny Carter Songbook]]'' (MusicMasters, 1996)
*''[[Benny Carter Songbook Volume II]]'' (MusicMasters, 1997)

===Singles===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center;"
|-
! rowspan="2"| Year
! rowspan="2"| Titles (A-side, B-side)<br><small>Both sides from same album except where indicated</small>
! colspan="2"| Peak chart positions
! rowspan="2"| Album
|-
! [[Hot R&B/Hip-Hop Songs|US R&B]]
! [[Billboard Hot 100|US Pop]]
|-
| rowspan="2"|1949 ||align="left"| "So Long"<br><small>b/w "It's Raining" (non-album track</small>) || style="text-align:center;"|4 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''Rock & Roll''
|-
| align="left"| "I'll Get Along Somehow" (Part 1)<br><small>b/w Part 2</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="3"|Non-album tracks
|-
| rowspan="6"|1950 || align="left"| "Happiness Is a Thing Called Joe"<br><small>b/w "Love Me Baby"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
| align="left"|"Why"<br><small>b/w "(I'll Come Back) Someday"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"Sentimental Journey"<br><small>b/w "I Can Dream Can't I" (from ''Late Date with Ruth Brown'')</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''Rock & Roll''
|-
| colspan="4"|<small>The two preceding singles are with the [[The Delta Rhythm Boys|Delta Rhythm Boys]].</small>
|-
| align="left"|"Where Can I Go"<br><small>b/w "Dear Little Boy of Mine"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|Non-album tracks
|-
| align="left"|"[[Teardrops from My Eyes]]"<br><small>b/w "Am I Making the Same Mistake Again" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|1 || style="text-align:center;"|— ||align="left"| ''Rock & Roll''
|-
|rowspan="3"|1951 || align="left"|"I'll Wait for You"<br><small>b/w "Standing on the Corner"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|3 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="2"|Non-album tracks
|-
| align="left"|"I Know"<br><small>b/w "Don't Want Nobody (If I Can't Have You)"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|7 || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
| align="left"| "Shine On (Big Bright Moon, Shine On)"<br><small>b/w "Without My Love" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''The Best of Ruth Brown''
|-
|rowspan="3"|1952 || align="left"|"[[5-10-15 Hours]]"<br><small>b/w "Be Anything (But Be Mine)" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|1 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="2"|''Rock & Roll''
|-
| align="left"|"Daddy Daddy"<br><small>b/w "Have a Good Time" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|3 || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
| align="left"| "Good for Nothin' Joe"<br><small>b/w "Three Letters"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|Non-album tracks
|-
|rowspan="4"|1953 ||align="left"| "[[(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean]]"<br><small>b/w "R.B. Blues" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|1 || style="text-align:center;"|23 ||align="left" rowspan="2"|''Rock & Roll''
|-
| align="left"|"Wild, Wild Young Men" / || style="text-align:center;"|3 || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"| "Mend Your Ways" || style="text-align:center;"|7 || style="text-align:center;"|— ||align="left" rowspan="5"|Non-album tracks
|-
| align="left"| "The Tears Keep Tumbling Down"<br><small>b/w "I Would If I Could"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
| rowspan="5"|1954 ||align="left"| "Love Contest"<br><small>b/w "If You Don't Want Me"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
| align="left"|"Sentimental Journey"<br><small>b/w "It's All in Your Mind"<br>(both sides with the Delta Rhythm Boys)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"| "Hello Little Boy"<br><small>b/w "If I Had Any Sense"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
| align="left"| "[[Oh What a Dream]]"<br><small>b/w "Please Don't Freeze" (from ''The Best of Ruth Brown'')</small> || style="text-align:center;"|1 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="3"|''Rock & Roll''
|-
| align="left"| "[[Mambo Baby]]"<br><small>b/w "Somebody Touched Me" (from ''Miss Rhythm'')</small> || style="text-align:center;"|1 || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
|rowspan="6"|1955 || align="left"| "As Long As I'm Moving" / || style="text-align:center;"|4 || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"I Can See Everybody's Baby" || style="text-align:center;"|7 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''Miss Rhythm''
|-
| align="left"| "Bye Bye Young Men"<br><small>b/w "Ever Since My Baby's Been Gone" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|13 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''The Best of Ruth Brown''
|-
| colspan="4"|<small>The preceding five singles are with the Rhythmakers (the [[The Drifters|Drifters]]).</small>
|-
| align="left"|"[[It's Love Baby (24 Hours a Day)]]"<br><small>b/w "What'd I Say" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|4 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''Rock & Roll''
|-
| align="left"| "Love Has Joined Us Together"<br><small>b/w "I Gotta Have You"<br>(both sides with Clyde McPhatter)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|8 || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="5"|Non-album tracks
|-
|rowspan="4"|1956 || align="left"| "I Want to Do More"<br><small>b/w "Old Man River" (from ''Rock & Roll'')<br>(both sides with the Rhythmakers [the Drifters])</small> || style="text-align:center;"|3 || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"Sweet Baby of Mine"<br><small>b/w "I'm Getting Right"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|10 || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"Mom Oh Mom"<br><small>b/w "I Want to Be Loved"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"I Still Love You"<br><small>b/w "Smooth Operator"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| rowspan="4"| 1957 || align="left"|"[[Lucky Lips]]"<br><small>b/w "My Heart Is Breaking Over You" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|6 || style="text-align:center;"|25 || align="left"|''Rock & Roll''
|-
| align="left"|"One More Time"<br><small>b/w "When I Get You Baby"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="2"|''Miss Rhythm''
|-
| align="left"|"Show Me"<br><small>b/w "I Hope We Meet (On the Road Someday)"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"A New Love"<br><small>b/w "Look Me Up"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|Non-album tracks
|-
| rowspan="5"|1958 || align="left"|"Just Too Much<br><small>b/w "Book of Lies"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="3"|''Miss Rhythm''
|-
| align="left"| "[[This Little Girl's Gone Rockin']]" / || style="text-align:center;"|7 || style="text-align:center;"|24 
|-
| align="left"| "Why Me" || style="text-align:center;"|17 || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
| align="left"|"(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean"<br><small>b/w "I'll Step Aside" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="2"|(these are re-makes)
|-
| align="left"|"5-10-15 Hours"<br><small>b/w "Itty Bitty Girl" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— 
|-
|rowspan="4"|1959 || align="left"|"[[I Don't Know (Ruth Brown song)|I Don't Know]]"<br><small>b/w "Papa Daddy" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|5 || style="text-align:center;"|64 || align="left"|''The Best of Ruth Brown''
|-
| align="left"| "[[Jack of Diamonds (song)|Jack O'Diamonds]]"<br><small>b/w "I Can't Hear a Word You Say"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|23 || style="text-align:center;"|96 || align="left"|''Miss Rhythm''
|-
| align="left"| "Don't Deceive Me"<br><small>b/w "I Burned Your Letter"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|10 || style="text-align:center;"|62 || align="left" rowspan="2"|Non-album tracks
|-
| align="left"|"What I Wouldn't Give"<br><small>b/w "The Door Is Still Open"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| rowspan="2"|1960 || align="left"| "Taking Care of Business"<br><small>b/w "Honey Boy" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''The Best of Ruth Brown''
|-
| align="left"|"Sure 'Nuff"<br><small>b/w "Here He Comes"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="3"|Non-album tracks
|-
| rowspan="2"| 1961 || align="left"|"Anyone But You"<br><small>b/w "It Tears Me All to Pieces"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"Walkin' and Talkin'"<br><small>b/w "Hoopa-Loopa-Doopa"<br>(shown as by "Venus")</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
|rowspan="3"|1962 || align="left"|"Shake a Hand"<br><small>b/w "Say It Again" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|97 || align="left" rowspan="2"|''Along Comes Ruth''
|-
| align="left"|"Mama, He Treats Your Daughter Mean"<br><small>b/w "Hold My Hand" (non-album track)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|99
|-
| align="left"|"He Tells Me with His Eyes"<br><small>b/w "If You Don't Tell Nobody"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left" rowspan="4"|Non-album tracks
|-
| 1963 || align="left"|"Secret Love"<br><small>b/w "Time After Time"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| rowspan="3"|1964 || align="left"|"What Happened to You"<br><small>b/w "Yes Sir That's My Baby"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"I Love Him and I Know It"<br><small>b/w "Come a Little Closer"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|—
|-
| align="left"|"Hurry On Down"<br><small>b/w "On the Good Ship Lollipop"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''Ruth Brown '65''
|-
| 1968 || align="left"|"You're a Stone Groovy Thing"<br><small>b/w "Someday (I Know, I Know)</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|Non-album tracks
|-
| 1969 || align="left"|"Yesterday"<br><small>b/w "Try Me and See"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''Black Is Brown and Brown Is Beautiful''
|-
| 1989 || align="left"|"If I Can't Sell It, I'll Keep Sittin' on It"<br><small>b/w "Good Morning Heartache"</small> || style="text-align:center;"|— || style="text-align:center;"|— || align="left"|''Blues on Broadway''
|}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* {{AllMusic}}
* {{Discogs artist}}
* {{IBDB name}}
* {{IMDb name|0114616}}
* {{MusicBrainz artist}}

{{Ruth Brown|state=expanded}}
{{Navboxes
| title = Awards for Ruth Brown
| list =
{{1993 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame}}
{{TonyAward MusicalLeadActress 1976–2000}}
}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Brown, Ruth}}
[[Category:1928 births]]
[[Category:2006 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American women singers]]
[[Category:American blues singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:American rhythm and blues singers]]
[[Category:People from Hampton Roads]]
[[Category:Tony Award winners]]
[[Category:Singer-songwriters from Virginia]]
[[Category:Musicians from Portsmouth, Virginia]]
[[Category:Atlantic Records artists]]
[[Category:Cobblestone Records artists]]
[[Category:Skye Records artists]]
[[Category:Jump blues musicians]]
[[Category:Actresses from Virginia]]
[[Category:20th-century African-American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American actresses]]
[[Category:20th-century American singer-songwriters]]
[[Category:Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winners]]
[[Category:20th-century American women singers]]
[[Category:20th-century American singers]]
[[Category:African-American songwriters]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American musicians]]
[[Category:21st-century African-American women singers]]