Ruth Brown Dies

By I Nov. 22, 2006

Legendary R&B singer Ruth Brown died on Friday in Las Vegas. She was 78. The cause of her death was attributed to complications from a heart attack and stroke.

Brown is best known for the hits she recorded for Atlantic Records in the 1950s, including “So Long” and “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean.” Not only did her tough delivery set the standard for a legion of r&b and rock singers, but the records’ commercial success was invaluable to building the label. In later years, Brown turned to acting and portrayed DJ Motormouth Maybelle in the 1988 film, Hairspray .

While the Virginia-born singer’s best known musical performances were those Atlantic R&B hits, she also worked in jazz. In the 1940s, Brown briefly sang with Lucky Millender’s big band. Twenty years later, she recorded with the Thad Jones-Mel Lewis Big Band. Her 1989 recording, Blues On Broadway won the Grammy for best jazz vocal performance, female.