Ruby Falls (January 16, 1946 - June 15, 1986)

She was Bertha Bearden Dorsey from Jackson, Tennessee. Country music fans got to know her by her stage name, Ruby Falls. It has been written in several sources that she was among the most successful black female country music singers. But from our research so far, seemingly very little was written about her. But we will at least begin to document her career from what we have been able to find.

She began singing at a young age, in church or at local events. When she was a teenager, she moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She actually became a professional entertainer at that time and worked with several local bands including Harvey Scales and the Seven Sounds as their lead singer.

By the late 1960's, Charley Pride was beginning to take the country music world by storm and providing perhaps a glimpse of opportunity for other black country music performers to be seen and heard.

In 1974, Ruby moved back to Tennessee - to Nashville. Her talents were recognized and soon found herself touring with Justin Tubb. Her ability to entertain audiences was well received, even in Las Vegas. She was discovered by Johnny Howard who signed her to a recording contract with the 50 States record label.

She was nominated as country music's most promising female vocalist in 1975.

In 1977, Ruby released "Do The Buck Dance", written by Charlie Fields and Donald Riis and produced by Johnny Howard and Chuck Fields. In October of 1977, her tune "You've Got To Mend This Heartache" was number 40. On the same chart, Charley Pride was No. 3 with "More To Me".

Billboard magazine reported that on July 14, 1979, Ruby and her band entertained at the Nashville 420 Grand National where she performed the Star Spangled Banner before a crowd of 18,000. Waylon Jennings was also on the bill. The race was broadcast on the Performance Racing Network.

In October 1980, she released "Bringing Home That Feeling", written by Ray Griff and produced by Johnny Howard and Charlie Fields.

She was managed by the Atlas Talent Agency in Nashville; Haze Jones was its president at the time. Around 1981 or so, they were booking what was termed "mini packages" that would feature a Grand Ole Opry or Hee! Haw! star accompanied by two other lesser known acts. Ruby toured with Justin Tubb and Doyle Holly and the Vanishing Breed during this time. She also worked with other country stars such as Faron Young, Jeannie Pruett, Del Reeves, Narvel Felts and Dave and Sugar.

According to Pamela Foster, her television appearances included such shows as The Ralph Emery Show, Nashville Today, Good Ol' Nashville Music and Music Hall America.

Ruby died suddenly at the age of 40 of a brain hemorrhage in Nashville. She was survived by her mother, Lillian Hightower and two daughters. No mention was made of whether she was or had married.

Linda Martell

Born in South Carolina in 1941, Linda Martell began singing in church at age 5. She first recorded in 1962 as a member of a R&B girl group called Linda Martell and The Anglos. Drawn to country music at a young age, in addition to blues, jazz and R&B, Martell caught her big break in 1969, when a stunning performance at the Charleston Air Force Base landed her a meeting with producer/label owner Shelby Singleton. He signed her to his Plantation label soon after. That same year, Martell made the Top 25 with "Color Him Father" and became the first African-American woman to appear on the Grand Ole Opry.

Early Life and Career

Famed country/blues singer Linda Martell was born on June 4, 1941, in Leesville, South Carolina, one of five children. Her father was a minister. Growing up in nearby Columbia, Martell developed an appreciation for many different musical genres—most notably country, blues, jazz and R&B—at a young age. She began singing in the choir at St. Mark's Baptist Church at the age of 5, and began performing R&B tunes with a small group in clubs around Columbia, including numerous stints at the Charleston Air Force Base, in her late teens.

During one of her performances at the Air Force Base, Martell was harassed by officers in the crowd, who insisted that she sing a country song. She quieted the crowd when she finally gave in, and blew them away with her performance. Martell caught her big break when a serviceman who'd been in the audience that day told a friend, Duke Rayner, from Nashville, Tennessee, about the singer. Knowing only her name and town of residence, Rayner, a businessman, contacted Martell and persuaded her to fly to Nashville for a demo recording session. The resulting demo tape was taken to American record producer/label owner Shelby Singleton, who was highly impressed with the singer. Shortly thereafter, Martell signed with Singleton's Plantation label—the home of country star Jeannie C. Riley ("Harper Valley PTA") fame.

Commercial Success

In the summer of 1969, Linda Martell's song "Color Him Father"—from her debut album, Color Me Country (released by Plantation Records in 1970)—was an instant hit, making the Top 25. After being introduced to American country musician/promoter Roy Acuff, in August 1969, Martell made history as the first African-American woman to appear on the Grand Ole Opry; she shared the stage with Acuff for her debut Opry performance. (She would make 11 more appearances on the internationally aired, legendary radio program throughout her career.)

Martell went on to make many local television appearances, including on widely aired syndicates such as Country Carnival, 16th Avenue South, Midwestern Hayride and the Bill Anderson Show, and on major network programs like Hee Haw.

In 1970, two singles released by Martell, "Before the Next Teardrop Falls" and "Bad Case of the Blues," made the Top 60. Martell did not appear on the country music charts again during her career. Following her 12th appearance on the Grand Ole Opry, the singer retired in 1974.

Read March 1970 Ebony article here

Ray Charles, Johnny Cash, Kenny Rogers

Did you ever see the PBS documentary Rhythm, Country & Blues? It is from March 1994 and looks at the dichotomy between the genres.



I have been listening to the companion CD of soul/country collaborations produced by Don Was:
1. "Ain't Nothing Like The Real Thing" (Valerie Simpson, Nickolas Ashford) Vince Gill, Gladys Knight
2. "Funny How Time Slips Away" (Willie Nelson) Al Green, Lyle Lovett
3. "I Fall To Pieces" (Hank Cochran, Harlan Howard) Aaron Neville, Trisha Yearwood
4. "Somethin' Else" (Bob Cochran, Sharon Sheeley) Little Richard, Tanya Tucker
5. "When Something Is Wrong With My Baby" (Isaac Hayes, David Porter) Patti LaBelle, Travis Tritt
6. "Rainy Night In Georgia" (Tony Joe White) Sam Moore, Conway Twitty
7. "Chain Of Fools" (Don Covay) Clint Black, The Pointer Sisters
8. "Since I Fell for You" (Buddy Johnson) Natalie Cole, Reba McEntire
9. "Southern Nights" (Allen Toussaint) Chet Atkins, Allen Toussaint
10. "The Weight" (Robbie Robertson) The Staple Singers, Marty Stuart
11. "Patches" (Ronald Dunbar, General Johnson) George Jones, B. B. King

Great listen for the open-minded orgers!

^^You must haven't looked at the thread, because that's been posted already

MickyDolenz said:

^^You must haven't looked at the thread, because that's been posted already

I see now, Reply #50! Well, I'm glad it wasn't missed. That cover of "The Weight" with Staple Singers and Marty Stuart is my favourite.

Darius Rucker

Joan Baez is half Mexican, half Scottish, if I remember correctly.

Cleve Francis & Patti Austin

Samantha Lai

Swamp Dogg

Stephen Pride (Charley's younger brother)

Dion Pride (Charley's son)

Dororthy Moore's famous 1976 recording of "Misty Blue" was actually a ten-years-later cover of this C&W Wilma Burgess song:

Jermaine Jackson

Bobby Brown

Sheila E

Sisqo

Commodores

Charley Pride interviews in 2015 & 2012

Darius Rucker 2014 interview

Cinny said:

Dororthy Moore's famous 1976 recording of "Misty Blue" was actually a ten-years-later cover of this C&W Wilma Burgess song:

Cyndi Lauper covered it on her new country album

Emilio

Vince Mira

Rick Trevino

Prince

Trini Triggs

Cuba Gooding (Main Ingredient) speaking on Charley Pride

Nelly

Dusty and Stones