Ruth Brewer Eisenberg
Encyclopedia
Ruth Brewer Eisenberg was "Ivory" of "Ebony and Ivory
," the inter-racial piano duo. Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick
, "Ebony," each had a stroke in 1982, which partially disabled them. Prior to the stroke, each had studied and played classical piano. Eisenberg was disabled on the left, Patrick on the right. They were introduced at a post-stroke group in Englewood, New Jersey
by the program's director, who knew of their shared love for music and thought perhaps together, they could play as one. A reporter dubbed them "Ebony and Ivory" after the song
by Paul McCartney
and Stevie Wonder
, which was then a hit.
. At the age of eight, Eisenberg had a few piano lessons, but at 25¢, her parents felt they were too expensive and she didn't have enough talent, so her lessons were discontinued. In 1923, she married Jacob Eisenberg, a pianist, teacher and author. Eisenberg pestered his new wife to let him teach her how to play, but she didn't like to practice, so he agreed to do all the housework if she would practice the piano and she accepted the offer. Eisenberg's husband wrote textbooks on piano technique and he wanted to use his wife to try out his methods. She toured the United States with him, playing at his lectures to demonstrate how adults could learn to master the piano using her husband's methods. After her husband passed on in 1964, she sold their piano, but later missed it and bought another one. The first day she had the new piano, she played for eight hours. In time, she was playing short concerts for local senior citizen groups.
In 1982, she suffered a stroke. Although she learned to walk again and was able to return to her apartment in Cliffside Park, New Jersey
, she remained unable to use her left hand. In the spring of 1983, she began visiting a post-stroke group at Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living in Englewood, New Jersey. The program director introduced her to Margaret Patrick
, a black great-grandmother who had also played classical music until 1982, when she also suffered a stroke.
The two of them began to play together, one hand each. They began practicing at the Senior Center and occasionally at Eisenberg's apartment. In May 1983, a senior citizen center in Teaneck, New Jersey asked them to play at a party. Their story appeared in local newspapers and they began getting invitations to play at other area hospitals and senior centers. A local reporter dubbed them Ebony and Ivory and the name stuck. They began to play in other senior citizen facilities, in veterans' homes and hospitals.
After being picked up by The New York Times
, which put the story of "Ebony and Ivory
" on its wire service, articles about them appeared in newspapers around the United States. They were on television both in the US and abroad and appeared with Regis Philbin
, Geraldo Rivera
and David Hartman
. Liberace
, who was a fan of Ebony and Ivory
, made his last television appearance on the Hour Magazine with Gary Collins
and made it a condition of his appearance that if they would bring Eisenberg and Patrick on the program, he would come. Newsman Morry Alter
won an award for his CBS News report on them. They were featured on PM Magazine
, CNN
and NBC Nightly News
, with Tom Brokaw.
Eisenberg and Patrick's story was included in a book by Norman Vincent Peale
and in More True Stories, an ESL reader in its third edition. It is included in sermons and religious publications in the US and other countries.
Eisenberg's daughter was the art historian Jacqueline Moss
. Her nephew is Canadian artist and musician Mendelson Joe
.
Ebony and Ivory (piano duo)
Ebony and Ivory was the name given to two elderly women in New Jersey, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Both had suffered a stroke in 1982 and become partially disabled. Ruth Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick were introduced to each other the following year and began...
," the inter-racial piano duo. Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick
Margaret Patrick
Margaret Patrick was "Ebony" in Ebony and Ivory, the name given to a pair of great-grandmothers in New Jersey, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Each had a stroke in 1982 and became partially disabled. They were introduced to each other the following year and began...
, "Ebony," each had a stroke in 1982, which partially disabled them. Prior to the stroke, each had studied and played classical piano. Eisenberg was disabled on the left, Patrick on the right. They were introduced at a post-stroke group in Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood, New Jersey
Englewood is a city located in Bergen County, New Jersey. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city had a total population of 27,147.Englewood was incorporated as a city by an Act of the New Jersey Legislature on March 17, 1899, from portions of Ridgefield Township and the remaining portions of...
by the program's director, who knew of their shared love for music and thought perhaps together, they could play as one. A reporter dubbed them "Ebony and Ivory" after the song
Ebony and Ivory
"Ebony and Ivory" is a 1982 number-one single by Paul McCartney and Stevie Wonder. It was released on March 29 of that year. The song is featured on McCartney's album Tug of War. The song reached number one on both the UK and the U.S. charts...
by Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney
Sir James Paul McCartney, MBE, Hon RAM, FRCM is an English musician, singer-songwriter and composer. Formerly of The Beatles and Wings , McCartney is listed in Guinness World Records as the "most successful musician and composer in popular music history", with 60 gold discs and sales of 100...
and Stevie Wonder
Stevie Wonder
Stevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
, which was then a hit.
Biography
Eisenberg was born in New York in 1902 and grew up in West New York, New JerseyWest New York, New Jersey
West New York is a town in Hudson County, New Jersey, United States, situated upon the New Jersey Palisades. As of the 2010 United States Census, the town population was 49,708.-Geography:...
. At the age of eight, Eisenberg had a few piano lessons, but at 25¢, her parents felt they were too expensive and she didn't have enough talent, so her lessons were discontinued. In 1923, she married Jacob Eisenberg, a pianist, teacher and author. Eisenberg pestered his new wife to let him teach her how to play, but she didn't like to practice, so he agreed to do all the housework if she would practice the piano and she accepted the offer. Eisenberg's husband wrote textbooks on piano technique and he wanted to use his wife to try out his methods. She toured the United States with him, playing at his lectures to demonstrate how adults could learn to master the piano using her husband's methods. After her husband passed on in 1964, she sold their piano, but later missed it and bought another one. The first day she had the new piano, she played for eight hours. In time, she was playing short concerts for local senior citizen groups.
In 1982, she suffered a stroke. Although she learned to walk again and was able to return to her apartment in Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Cliffside Park, New Jersey
Cliffside Park is a borough in Bergen County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 23,594....
, she remained unable to use her left hand. In the spring of 1983, she began visiting a post-stroke group at Southeast Senior Center for Independent Living in Englewood, New Jersey. The program director introduced her to Margaret Patrick
Margaret Patrick
Margaret Patrick was "Ebony" in Ebony and Ivory, the name given to a pair of great-grandmothers in New Jersey, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Each had a stroke in 1982 and became partially disabled. They were introduced to each other the following year and began...
, a black great-grandmother who had also played classical music until 1982, when she also suffered a stroke.
The two of them began to play together, one hand each. They began practicing at the Senior Center and occasionally at Eisenberg's apartment. In May 1983, a senior citizen center in Teaneck, New Jersey asked them to play at a party. Their story appeared in local newspapers and they began getting invitations to play at other area hospitals and senior centers. A local reporter dubbed them Ebony and Ivory and the name stuck. They began to play in other senior citizen facilities, in veterans' homes and hospitals.
After being picked up by The New York Times
The New York Times
The New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
, which put the story of "Ebony and Ivory
Ebony and Ivory (piano duo)
Ebony and Ivory was the name given to two elderly women in New Jersey, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Both had suffered a stroke in 1982 and become partially disabled. Ruth Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick were introduced to each other the following year and began...
" on its wire service, articles about them appeared in newspapers around the United States. They were on television both in the US and abroad and appeared with Regis Philbin
Regis Philbin
Regis Francis Xavier Philbin is an American media personality, actor and singer, known for hosting talk and game shows since the 1960s. Philbin is often called "the hardest working man in show business" and holds the Guinness World Record for the most time spent in front of a television camera...
, Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera
Geraldo Rivera is an American attorney, journalist, author, reporter, and former talk show host...
and David Hartman
David Hartman (TV personality)
David Downs Hartman is an American journalist and media host who began his media career as an actor. He currently anchors and hosts documentary programs on cable TV's History and on PBS. Hartman is best known as the first host of ABC's Good Morning America, from 1975 to 1987. As an actor, he...
. Liberace
Liberace
Wladziu Valentino Liberace , best known simply as Liberace, was a famous American pianist and vocalist.In a career that spanned four decades of concerts, recordings, motion pictures, television and endorsements, Liberace became world-renowned...
, who was a fan of Ebony and Ivory
Ebony and Ivory (piano duo)
Ebony and Ivory was the name given to two elderly women in New Jersey, one white and one black, who played classical piano together. Both had suffered a stroke in 1982 and become partially disabled. Ruth Eisenberg and Margaret Patrick were introduced to each other the following year and began...
, made his last television appearance on the Hour Magazine with Gary Collins
Gary Collins (actor)
Gary Ennis Collins is an American film and television performer.-Early life and career:Collins was born in Venice, California, to a waitress/factory worker mother. After attending Santa Monica City College, he enlisted in the U.S...
and made it a condition of his appearance that if they would bring Eisenberg and Patrick on the program, he would come. Newsman Morry Alter
Morry Alter
Morry Alter is a freelance video reporter, having left WCBS New York in 2005. Originally joining WCBS in September 1983, he has won more than 20 Emmy awards and the Quill Award for professional achievement in the field of journalism.-History:...
won an award for his CBS News report on them. They were featured on PM Magazine
PM Magazine
PM/Evening Magazine was a television series with a news and entertainment format. It was syndicated to stations throughout the United States...
, CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
and NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News
NBC Nightly News is the flagship daily evening television news program for NBC News and broadcasts. NBC Nightly News has aired from Studio 3B, located on floors 3 of the NBC Studios is the headquarters of the GE Building forms the centerpiece of 30th Rockefeller Center it is located in the center...
, with Tom Brokaw.
Eisenberg and Patrick's story was included in a book by Norman Vincent Peale
Norman Vincent Peale
Dr. Norman Vincent Peale was a minister and author and a progenitor of the theory of "positive thinking".-Early life and education:...
and in More True Stories, an ESL reader in its third edition. It is included in sermons and religious publications in the US and other countries.
Eisenberg's daughter was the art historian Jacqueline Moss
Jacqueline Moss
Jacqueline Moss was an American art historian, lecturer, writer and art critic. She was the curator of education at the Aldrich Museum of Contemporary Art and lectured widely on modern and 20th century art. Her articles and seminars often had a focus on women artists...
. Her nephew is Canadian artist and musician Mendelson Joe
Mendelson Joe
Mendelson Joe is a Canadian singer-songwriter, guitarist, painter and outspoken political activist and uses his art to express political themes. His most famous painting depicted Prime Minister Brian Mulroney with his face superimposed on a pair of human buttocks...
.
Television
- "New Jersey and You" WOR-TV (December 1983) Interview and performance
- "PM Magazine" (May 24, 1984) Performance
- "CBS News" (October 21, 1985) Interview with Morry Alter (won an award)
- "Good Morning America" with David Hartman, ABC (September 9, 1986) Interview
- *The Morning Show" with Regis Philbin, ABC (October 1986) Interview
- "Hour Magazine" with Gary Collins, (December 8, 1986) Interview and performance (Liberace's last television appearance)
- "NBC Evening News" with Tom Brokaw, "Assignment American: Ebony and Ivory" reported by Bill Schechner (May 6, 1988) News feature
Radio
- "The American Character" with Norman Vincent Peale, WOR (February 24, 1985) Feature in a special radio narration
- "Rambling with Gambling" with John Gambling, WOR (October 15, 1985) Interview
- "Morning Edition" with Karen Michel, NPR/WNYC (March 9, 1987) Interview