THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, February 11, 1996 TAG: 9602090181
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 02 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: Ida Kay's Portsmouth
SOURCE: Ida Kay Jordan
LENGTH: Medium: 77 lines
When Mayor Gloria Webb and her husband, Dr. Tom, were in New York City in December, they tried for three nights to get into Rainbow and Stars at Rockefeller Plaza. But the place was sold out for all shows.
Why? Because Portsmouth-born Ruth Weston Brown was the big attraction - at $40 per head!
So when Ruth called the mayor about having a book-signing party at City Hall for her new autobiography, ``Miss Rhythm,'' the mayor said OK.
Then, thinking quickly, Gloria asked, ``Why don't you do a concert while you're here?''
Ruth said OK.
As a result of that conversation, the legendary blues singer is coming home, and all the people in Portsmouth who didn't get into the Rainbow Room in December - including the Webbs - will get to hear the same show right in Portsmouth on Saturday at Willett Hall.
Ruth is bringing along Freddy Cole, Nat ``King'' Cole's younger brother who has made it on his own as a jazz singer and pianist. In addition, she'll have her regular seven-piece band that backs her up wherever she sings.
You can bet it will be a show to remember.
Ruth is calling it ``A Song for Goldie'' in honor of her sister, who recently suffered a stroke. I have the feeling this may be the best performance she ever has given.
Last time she sang at Willett, the placed was packed. That concert was a highlight of Ruth Brown Day several years ago after she received a Tony Award for her Broadway performance in ``Black and Blue'' and a Grammy Award for her album ``Blues on Broadway.''
Since that time, Ruth has soared to even greater popularity across the country and around the world. The sold-out two-week gig at Rainbow and Stars in December is testimony to the broad appeal of her energetic performances.
She must be about 68 years old now, and she hasn't lived in Portsmouth for half a century, but Ruth Weston Brown never stopped being a Portsmouth person. When she's headed this way, she's headed ``home.''
Her performances here always reflect the warmth she feels in her heart for Portsmouth, where she got her first singing experience at Emanuel AME Church and later at a local USO during World War II.
Actually, my first encounter with Ruth Brown was as a teenager and via 78 rpm records. Her first hit was a 1949 recording of ``So Long'' with an all-star jazz band assembled by Eddie Condon. It was for Atlantic records, a new label that had caught the ear of teenage beach dancers with its first hit, Stick McGhee's ``Drinkin' Wine, Spo-Dee-O-Dee, Drinkin' Wine Bop-Bop.'' Naturally the kids bought the next release, which happened to be a song by a singer named Ruth Brown.
Imagine my surprise when I moved to Portsmouth and heard somebody talking about Ruth Brown. That was in 1979 or '80 when she was starting the big comeback that led to Hollywood and Broadway.
I met her when she came home to be honored as a Portsmouth Notable and graciously sang at the dinner. Then I heard her at Willett on Ruth Brown Day and more recently at an outdoor concert in Riverfront Park.
She's always the same warm human being, generous with her great musical talent. She's never a disappointment.
Some performers get jaded with success, half-hearted as they go through the motions of a concert. Not Ruth Brown.
I can hardly wait for Saturday night. ILLUSTRATION: SEEING RUTH BROWN
Blues singer Ruth Brown will appear with Freddy Cole and a
seven-piece band at Willett Hall at 8 p.m. Feb. 17. Tickets are
$13.50 and available at Willett box office or through all
Ticketmaster locations.
Brown will autograph her autobiography, ``Miss Rhythm,'' from 2
to 5 p.m. Sunday in the City Council Chambers on the sixth floor of
City Hall. The book, written with Andrew Yule, will be released this
month by Dutton.
by CNB