Ruth Brown preserved her new surname even though the marriage didn’t work out since she had begun to establish herself in the music industry.
Brown’s performance at the Crystal Caverns nightclub in Washington, D.C. was coordinated by fellow musician Blanche Calloway. Brown was soon managed by Calloway. After being rapidly brought to Atlantic Records’ attention, they agreed to work with her.
A debut performance for Brown at the Apollo Theater in New York City was planned by Atlantic, but on the way there, Brown was involved in a horrific car accident that kept her in the hospital for nine months.
Ahmet Ertegun and Herb Abramson, the Atlantic Records managers, drove to Washington, D.C. in 1948 to hear Brown perform. Ertegun persuaded Brown to switch to the rhythm and blues genre. So Long was her debut single in 1949. In 1950, Brown followed up with a smash song titled Teardrops from My Eyes.
How many times was Ruth Brown married?
Earl Swanson, another musician, was Ruth Brown’s second husband, but they were only together for a very little period.
She wed police officer Bill Blunt in 1963; however, their marriage ended in divorce in 1966. From her marriage to Clyde McPhatter, Brown had a son named Ronnie McPhatter in 1954.
Due to Brown’s efforts to defend musicians’ rights and the payment of royalties, the Rhythm and Blues Foundation was founded in 1987.
