Singer Ruth Brown dies at age 78

[MrScorpio]

One of the pioneering rhythm and blues singers, Ruth Brown, has died aged 78.

Known as "the girl with a tear in her voice" for emotion-laden singing, Brown died on Friday after a stroke and heart attack in Las Vegas.

She was a best-selling black female artist of the early 1950s with songs including (Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean, So Long, and Mambo Lips.

Despite a career slump in the 1960s, she was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in 1993.

Her hits for Atlantic Records were so huge that the record company became known as "The House that Ruth Built."

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/entertainment/6160900.stm

[Jade Fox]

1. She was great....

Though her hey-day was before my time, I discovered her about 10 years ago and bought a multiple CD collection. I'm glad she's in the R&R Hall of Fame.

[jonnyblitz]

2. awww. she was great in John Waters' "Hairspray".

R.I.P. :(

[Flaxbee]

3. she was wonderful... I first heard her on Blues Summit with

B B King, where they sing together on "You're the Boss"... loved her voice.

RIP, Ruth Brown.

[Ann Arbor Dem]

4. this is a tremendous loss.

[kwassa]

5. Rest in Peace, Miss Ruth