Ruby Smith
Encyclopedia
Ruby Smith was an American
classic female blues
singer. She was a niece, by marriage, of the better known Bessie Smith
, who discouraged Ruby from a recording career. Nevertheless, following Bessie's death in 1937, Ruby went on to record twenty-one sides between 1938 and 1947. She is also known for her recorded explicit, and candid observations, on her own and Bessie's lifestyle.
, United States
.
She met Bessie Smith in Philadelphia, and after her aunt (by marriage) made her debut recording in February 1923, Ruby joined her on tour in 1924. Ruby assisted off-stage with costume changes, and provided entertainment in the intermissions with her dancing. Although Ruby's thoughts of a career as a singer were initially thwarted in 1926 by Bessie's insistence, Ruby continued to travel with Bessie on tour. In Atlanta, Georgia
, Ruby spent a night in the cells after being discovered bringing moonshine
for her aunt to consume. In 1927, Ruby was part of the female entourage led by Bessie to the 'buffet flats' in Detroit, Michigan
. Her lengthy recorded interview given to Chris Albertson
, contained references to this time and others, and the recording became part of Bessie Smith's The Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter box set. Of a particularly "open house" sex show, Smith said, "People used to pay good just to go in there and see him do his act."
Later Jack Gee, Bessie's then husband, once implored Ruby to take the musical stage, after her aunt had walked out in Indianapolis
, Indiana
. However, the deception did not last long, and in the event Bessie died tragically in 1937. Shortly afterwards, she adopted the stage name
of Ruby Smith, and less than a year later recorded six tracks including a cover version
of Bessie's "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair Blues." At the same session she waxed her version of the Alex Hill penned, "Draggin' My Heart Around."
In March 1939, Smith under the musical direction of James P. Johnson
, recorded "He's Mine, All Mine," and the Bessie Smith co-composition with Johnson, "Backwater Blues". In December 1941, and backed by an ensemble
led by Sammy Price
, she recorded two more tracks, "Why Don't You Love Me Anymore?" and her own song, "Harlem Gin Blues". Her final recording sessions took place in August 1946 and in January the following year, when she was backed by Gene Sedric
's band.
Smith died on March 24, 1977, in Anaheim, California
, at the age of 73.
Her recorded work has been made available on several compilation album
s, including Jazzin' the Blues (1943-1952), released by Document Records
in 2000.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
classic female blues
Classic female blues
Classic female blues was an early form of blues music, popular in the 1920s. An amalgam of traditional folk blues and urban theater music, the style is also known as vaudeville blues. Classic blues were performed by female vocalists accompanied by pianists or small jazz ensembles, and were the...
singer. She was a niece, by marriage, of the better known Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith
Bessie Smith was an American blues singer.Sometimes referred to as The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s...
, who discouraged Ruby from a recording career. Nevertheless, following Bessie's death in 1937, Ruby went on to record twenty-one sides between 1938 and 1947. She is also known for her recorded explicit, and candid observations, on her own and Bessie's lifestyle.
Biography
She was born Ruby Walker in New YorkNew York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
She met Bessie Smith in Philadelphia, and after her aunt (by marriage) made her debut recording in February 1923, Ruby joined her on tour in 1924. Ruby assisted off-stage with costume changes, and provided entertainment in the intermissions with her dancing. Although Ruby's thoughts of a career as a singer were initially thwarted in 1926 by Bessie's insistence, Ruby continued to travel with Bessie on tour. In Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta, Georgia
Atlanta is the capital and most populous city in the U.S. state of Georgia. According to the 2010 census, Atlanta's population is 420,003. Atlanta is the cultural and economic center of the Atlanta metropolitan area, which is home to 5,268,860 people and is the ninth largest metropolitan area in...
, Ruby spent a night in the cells after being discovered bringing moonshine
Moonshine
Moonshine is an illegally produced distilled beverage...
for her aunt to consume. In 1927, Ruby was part of the female entourage led by Bessie to the 'buffet flats' in Detroit, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
. Her lengthy recorded interview given to Chris Albertson
Chris Albertson
Christiern Gunnar Albertson is a New York City-based jazz journalist, writer and record producer.He was born in Reykjavík and educated in Iceland, Denmark and England before studying commercial art in Copenhagen...
, contained references to this time and others, and the recording became part of Bessie Smith's The Complete Recordings, Vol. 5: The Final Chapter box set. Of a particularly "open house" sex show, Smith said, "People used to pay good just to go in there and see him do his act."
Later Jack Gee, Bessie's then husband, once implored Ruby to take the musical stage, after her aunt had walked out in Indianapolis
Indianapolis
Indianapolis is the capital of the U.S. state of Indiana, and the county seat of Marion County, Indiana. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city's population is 839,489. It is by far Indiana's largest city and, as of the 2010 U.S...
, Indiana
Indiana
Indiana is a US state, admitted to the United States as the 19th on December 11, 1816. It is located in the Midwestern United States and Great Lakes Region. With 6,483,802 residents, the state is ranked 15th in population and 16th in population density. Indiana is ranked 38th in land area and is...
. However, the deception did not last long, and in the event Bessie died tragically in 1937. Shortly afterwards, she adopted the stage name
Stage name
A stage name, also called a showbiz name or screen name, is a pseudonym used by performers and entertainers such as actors, wrestlers, comedians, and musicians.-Motivation to use a stage name:...
of Ruby Smith, and less than a year later recorded six tracks including a cover version
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
of Bessie's "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair Blues." At the same session she waxed her version of the Alex Hill penned, "Draggin' My Heart Around."
In March 1939, Smith under the musical direction of James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson
James P. Johnson was an American pianist and composer...
, recorded "He's Mine, All Mine," and the Bessie Smith co-composition with Johnson, "Backwater Blues". In December 1941, and backed by an ensemble
Musical ensemble
A musical ensemble is a group of people who perform instrumental or vocal music. In classical music, trios or quartets either blend the sounds of musical instrument families or group together instruments from the same instrument family, such as string ensembles or wind ensembles...
led by Sammy Price
Sammy Price
Sammy Price was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. He was born Samuel Blythe Price, in Honey Grove, Texas, United States. Price was most noteworthy for his work on Decca Records with his own band, known as the Texas Bluesicians, that included fellow musicians...
, she recorded two more tracks, "Why Don't You Love Me Anymore?" and her own song, "Harlem Gin Blues". Her final recording sessions took place in August 1946 and in January the following year, when she was backed by Gene Sedric
Gene Sedric
Gene Sedric was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He acquired the nickname "Honey Bear" in the 1930s because of his large camelhair coat....
's band.
Smith died on March 24, 1977, in Anaheim, California
Anaheim, California
Anaheim is a city in Orange County, California. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was about 365,463, making it the most populated city in Orange County, the 10th most-populated city in California, and ranked 54th in the United States...
, at the age of 73.
Her recorded work has been made available on several compilation album
Compilation album
A compilation album is an album featuring tracks from one or more performers, often culled from a variety of sources The tracks are usually collected according to a common characteristic, such as popularity, genre, source or subject matter...
s, including Jazzin' the Blues (1943-1952), released by Document Records
Document Records
Document Records is a British record label that specializes in early American blues, bluegrass, gospel, spirituals jazz, and other rural American genres , generally made between 1900 and 1945...
in 2000.
Recordings
| Month/year | Track | Songwriter | Musical direction | Record label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1938 | "Hard Up Blues" | Bluebird Bluebird Records Bluebird Records is a sub-label of RCA Victor Records originally created in 1932 to counter the American Record Company in the "3 records for a dollar" market. Along with ARC's Perfect Records, Melotone Records and Romeo Records, and the independent US Decca label, Bluebird became one of the best... |
||
| 1938 | "Dream Man Blues" | Bluebird | ||
| 1938 | "Selfish Blues" | Bluebird | ||
| 1938 | "Send Me to the 'Lectric Chair Blues" | Bluebird | ||
| 1938 | "Flyin' Mosquito Blues" | Bluebird | ||
| 1938 | "Draggin' My Heart Around" | Alex Hill | Bluebird | |
| March 1939 | "Backwater Blues" | Bessie Smith Bessie Smith Bessie Smith was an American blues singer.Sometimes referred to as The Empress of the Blues, Smith was the most popular female blues singer of the 1920s and 1930s... / James P. Johnson James P. Johnson James P. Johnson was an American pianist and composer... |
James P. Johnson | |
| March 1939 | "He's Mine All Mine" | Porter Grainger Porter Grainger Porter Grainger was an African-American pianist, songwriter, playwright, and music publisher.-Biography:... |
James P. Johnson | |
| 1941 | "Make Me Love You" | Porter Grainger | ||
| 1941 | "Fruit Cakin' Mama" | Porter Grainger | ||
| 1941 | "Black Gal" | Porter Grainger | ||
| 1941 | "Thinkin' Blues" | Bessie Smith | ||
| December 1941 | "Why Don't You Love Me Anymore?" | Walmsley | Sammy Price Sammy Price Sammy Price was an American jazz, boogie-woogie and jump blues pianist and bandleader. He was born Samuel Blythe Price, in Honey Grove, Texas, United States. Price was most noteworthy for his work on Decca Records with his own band, known as the Texas Bluesicians, that included fellow musicians... |
|
| December 1941 | "Harlem Gin Blues" | Ruby Smith | Sammy Price | |
| August 1946 | "Chicago Woman Blues" | Lawrence | Gene Sedric Gene Sedric Gene Sedric was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He acquired the nickname "Honey Bear" in the 1930s because of his large camelhair coat.... |
|
| August 1946 | "Baby, Baby, Baby Blues" | Lawrence | Gene Sedric | |
| August 1946 | "Sedric's Blues" | Lawrence / Gene Sedric Gene Sedric Gene Sedric was an American jazz clarinetist and tenor saxophonist. He acquired the nickname "Honey Bear" in the 1930s because of his large camelhair coat.... |
Gene Sedric | |
| January 1947 | "You Satisfy" | Les Baxter Les Baxter Les Baxter was an American musician and composer.Baxter studied piano at the Detroit Conservatory before moving to Los Angeles for further studies at Pepperdine College. Abandoning a concert career as a pianist, he turned to popular music as a singer... |
Gene Sedric | |
| January 1947 | "Hot Sauce Susie" | Demboe | Gene Sedric | |
| January 1947 | "I'm Scared of That Woman" | Gene Sedric | ||
| January 1947 | "Port Wine Blues" | Gene Sedric | ||