Ruby & the Romantics
Encyclopedia
Ruby & the Romantics was an American
R&B
group
in the 1960s. They had several pop and R&B hit record
s, but are sometimes considered as a one-hit wonder
for topping the US
Billboard
Hot 100
chart
in 1963 with their first recording, "Our Day Will Come
", written by Mort Garson
and Bob Hilliard
. It sold over one million copies in the US, and peaked at #38 in the UK Singles Chart
.
Ruby Nash
, the female lead of the group, originally sang with an all-girl group
, consisting of her sister
and two friends. They sang at record hops, mixers, talent show
s and clubs in Akron and surrounding areas. Some of the male members of the Romantics sang with The Embers. Eventually, The Embers became known as The Supremes (not to be confused with Detroit's The Supremes
, of Motown Records
fame), and then The Feilos.
Since they all grew up in Akron and knew each other, Leroy Fann, a member of The Supremes, asked Ruby to sing with them on occasions. After auditioning, the group was signed to New York-based Kapp Records
; Kapp Records artist and repertoire chief Alan Stanton changed their name to "Ruby & the Romantics".
An Abraham Lincoln
quotation over the stage in the auditorium at Akron Central High School, where the group members attended may have been the inspiration for "Our Day Will Come" - "I will study and get ready, and some day my chance will come". Those who attended Akron Central High School in the early 1960s will recall hearing that song
sung between classes by members of the group. The follow-up, "My Summer Love" reached #16 on the Hot 100 and a third release, the original version of "Hey There Lonely Boy
" climbed to #27.
Several more singles were released by Kapp which generally achieved minor chart status. A short spell with ABC was unsuccessful while one single for A&M in 1969 ("Hurting Each Other
", originally recorded by Jimmy Clanton
some years earlier) proved to be their final recording before the group broke up in 1971. The group had remained intact throughout their recording career, as confirmed by Ruby in an interview in 2008 with Marv Goldberg (R&B Notebooks).
Some of the songs they recorded
went on to be hits for other artists
, such as "Hey There Lonely Boy" (which was recorded by Eddie Holman
as "Hey There Lonely Girl
" and peaked in the US at #2 in February 1970); "Hurting Each Other
" recorded for A&M in 1969 which became a #2 hit for The Carpenters three years later; and "When You're Young and in Love
" (recorded by The Marvelettes
which peaked at #23 in the US in May 1967. British a cappella
band The Flying Pickets
also took the song to #7 in the UK Singles Chart in 1984). Additionally, "Our Day Will Come" was covered
by Frankie Valli
and peaked at #11 in the US in the fall of 1975.
The names of the "Romantics" were:
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
R&B
Rhythm and blues
Rhythm and blues, often abbreviated to R&B, is a genre of popular African American music that originated in the 1940s. The term was originally used by record companies to describe recordings marketed predominantly to urban African Americans, at a time when "urbane, rocking, jazz based music with a...
group
Band (music)
In music, a musical ensemble or band is a group of musicians that works together to perform music. The following articles concern types of musical bands:* All-female band* Big band* Boy band* Christian band* Church band* Concert band* Cover band...
in the 1960s. They had several pop and R&B hit record
Hit record
A hit record is a sound recording, usually in the form of a single or album, that sells a large number of copies or otherwise becomes broadly popular or well-known, through airplay, club play, inclusion in a film or stage play soundtrack, causing it to have "hit" one of the popular chart listings...
s, but are sometimes considered as a one-hit wonder
One-hit wonder
A one-hit wonder is a person or act known mainly for only a single success. The term is most often used to describe music performers with only one hit single.-Characteristics:...
for topping the US
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
Billboard
Billboard (magazine)
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
Hot 100
Billboard Hot 100
The Billboard Hot 100 is the United States music industry standard singles popularity chart issued weekly by Billboard magazine. Chart rankings are based on radio play and sales; the tracking-week for sales begins on Monday and ends on Sunday, while the radio play tracking-week runs from Wednesday...
chart
Record chart
A record chart is a ranking of recorded music according to popularity during a given period of time. Examples of music charts are the Hit parade, Hot 100 or Top 40....
in 1963 with their first recording, "Our Day Will Come
Our Day Will Come
"Our Day Will Come" is a popular song composed by Bob Hilliard and Mort Garson which was a #1 hit in 1963 for Ruby & The Romantics.-Ruby & the Romantics:...
", written by Mort Garson
Mort Garson
Mort Garson who was born in Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada, was an electronic musician best known for his albums that predominantly feature Moog synthesizers.-Early life:...
and Bob Hilliard
Bob Hilliard
Bob Hilliard was an American lyricist. He wrote the words for the songs; "In the Wee Small Hours of the Morning", "Any Day Now", "Dear Hearts and Gentle People", "Our Day Will Come", "My Little Corner of the World", and "Seven Little Girls ".-Career:Born in New York City, New York, and after...
. It sold over one million copies in the US, and peaked at #38 in the UK Singles Chart
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
.
Ruby Nash
Ruby Nash Curtis
Ruby Nash Garnett , is an American singer who led the rhythm and blues group Ruby & The Romantics.-Career:...
, the female lead of the group, originally sang with an all-girl group
Girl group
A girl group is a popular music act featuring several young female singers who generally harmonise together.Girl groups emerged in the late 1950s as groups of young singers teamed up with behind-the-scenes songwriters and music producers to create hit singles, often featuring glossy production...
, consisting of her sister
Sibling
Siblings are people who share at least one parent. A male sibling is called a brother; and a female sibling is called a sister. In most societies throughout the world, siblings usually grow up together and spend a good deal of their childhood socializing with one another...
and two friends. They sang at record hops, mixers, talent show
Talent show
A talent show is an event where participants perform their talent or talents of acting, singing, dancing, acrobatics, drumming, martial arts, playing an instrument, and other activities to showcase a unique form of talent, sometimes for a reward, trophy or prize...
s and clubs in Akron and surrounding areas. Some of the male members of the Romantics sang with The Embers. Eventually, The Embers became known as The Supremes (not to be confused with Detroit's The Supremes
The Supremes
The Supremes, an American female singing group, were the premier act of Motown Records during the 1960s.Originally founded as The Primettes in Detroit, Michigan, in 1959, The Supremes' repertoire included doo-wop, pop, soul, Broadway show tunes, psychedelic soul, and disco...
, of Motown Records
Motown Records
Motown is a record label originally founded by Berry Gordy, Jr. and incorporated as Motown Record Corporation in Detroit, Michigan, United States, on April 14, 1960. The name, a portmanteau of motor and town, is also a nickname for Detroit...
fame), and then The Feilos.
Since they all grew up in Akron and knew each other, Leroy Fann, a member of The Supremes, asked Ruby to sing with them on occasions. After auditioning, the group was signed to New York-based Kapp Records
Kapp Records
Kapp Records was an independent record label started in 1954 by David Kapp, brother of Jack Kapp . David Kapp founded his own label after stints with Decca Records and RCA Victor Records. Kapp licensed its records to London Records for release in the UK.In 1967, David Kapp sold his label to MCA Inc...
; Kapp Records artist and repertoire chief Alan Stanton changed their name to "Ruby & the Romantics".
An Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln
Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States, serving from March 1861 until his assassination in April 1865. He successfully led his country through a great constitutional, military and moral crisis – the American Civil War – preserving the Union, while ending slavery, and...
quotation over the stage in the auditorium at Akron Central High School, where the group members attended may have been the inspiration for "Our Day Will Come" - "I will study and get ready, and some day my chance will come". Those who attended Akron Central High School in the early 1960s will recall hearing that song
Song
In music, a song is a composition for voice or voices, performed by singing.A song may be accompanied by musical instruments, or it may be unaccompanied, as in the case of a cappella songs...
sung between classes by members of the group. The follow-up, "My Summer Love" reached #16 on the Hot 100 and a third release, the original version of "Hey There Lonely Boy
Hey There Lonely Girl
"Hey There Lonely Girl" is a song by R&B singer Eddie Holman. Recorded and released in 1969, it charted in 1970. An original version by Ruby and the Romantics was entitled, "Hey There Lonely Boy" in 1963. Holman's song hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" climbed to #27.
Several more singles were released by Kapp which generally achieved minor chart status. A short spell with ABC was unsuccessful while one single for A&M in 1969 ("Hurting Each Other
Hurting Each Other
"Hurting Each Other" is a song popularized by the Carpenters in 1972. It was originally written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell in 1965, and was recorded multiple times by artists from Ruby and the Romantics to Rosemary Clooney.-Previous versions:...
", originally recorded by Jimmy Clanton
Jimmy Clanton
Jimmy Clanton is an American singer who became known as the "swamp pop R&B teenage idol". His band recorded a hit song "Just A Dream" which Clanton had written in 1958 for the Ace Records label. It reached number four on the Billboard chart and sold a million copies...
some years earlier) proved to be their final recording before the group broke up in 1971. The group had remained intact throughout their recording career, as confirmed by Ruby in an interview in 2008 with Marv Goldberg (R&B Notebooks).
Some of the songs they recorded
Sound recording and reproduction
Sound recording and reproduction is an electrical or mechanical inscription and re-creation of sound waves, such as spoken voice, singing, instrumental music, or sound effects. The two main classes of sound recording technology are analog recording and digital recording...
went on to be hits for other artists
Musician
A musician is an artist who plays a musical instrument. It may or may not be the person's profession. Musicians can be classified by their roles in performing music and writing music.Also....* A person who makes music a profession....
, such as "Hey There Lonely Boy" (which was recorded by Eddie Holman
Eddie Holman
Eddie Holman is an American singer and recording artist. He is best known for his 1970 hit song "Hey There Lonely Girl".-Biography:...
as "Hey There Lonely Girl
Hey There Lonely Girl
"Hey There Lonely Girl" is a song by R&B singer Eddie Holman. Recorded and released in 1969, it charted in 1970. An original version by Ruby and the Romantics was entitled, "Hey There Lonely Boy" in 1963. Holman's song hit #2 on the Billboard Hot 100 chart...
" and peaked in the US at #2 in February 1970); "Hurting Each Other
Hurting Each Other
"Hurting Each Other" is a song popularized by the Carpenters in 1972. It was originally written by Gary Geld and Peter Udell in 1965, and was recorded multiple times by artists from Ruby and the Romantics to Rosemary Clooney.-Previous versions:...
" recorded for A&M in 1969 which became a #2 hit for The Carpenters three years later; and "When You're Young and in Love
When You're Young and in Love
"When You're Young and in Love" is a song composed by Van McCoy. The first recording of the song was by Ruby & the Romantics; like all the group's singles on Kapp Records the track was produced by label a&r head Allen Stanton...
" (recorded by The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes
The Marvelettes were an American singing girl group on the Tamla label. Motown's first successful female vocal group, the Marvelettes are most notable for recording the company's first #1 Pop hit, "Please Mr...
which peaked at #23 in the US in May 1967. British a cappella
A cappella
A cappella music is specifically solo or group singing without instrumental sound, or a piece intended to be performed in this way. It is the opposite of cantata, which is accompanied singing. A cappella was originally intended to differentiate between Renaissance polyphony and Baroque concertato...
band The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets
The Flying Pickets are a British a cappella vocal group, who had a Christmas number one hit in 1983 in the UK Singles Chart with their cover of Yazoo's track "Only You".-History:...
also took the song to #7 in the UK Singles Chart in 1984). Additionally, "Our Day Will Come" was covered
Cover version
In popular music, a cover version or cover song, or simply cover, is a new performance or recording of a contemporary or previously recorded, commercially released song or popular song...
by Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli
Frankie Valli is an American musician, most famous as frontman of The Four Seasons. He is well-known for his unusually powerful falsetto singing voice...
and peaked at #11 in the US in the fall of 1975.
The names of the "Romantics" were:
- Ed Roberts (second tenor) - Worked as a bank tellerBank tellerA teller is an employee of a bank who deals directly with most customers. In some places, this employee is known as a cashier. Most teller jobs require cash handling experience and a high school diploma. Most banks provide on the job training....
. Died of cancerCancerCancer , known medically as a malignant neoplasm, is a large group of different diseases, all involving unregulated cell growth. In cancer, cells divide and grow uncontrollably, forming malignant tumors, and invade nearby parts of the body. The cancer may also spread to more distant parts of the...
on August 15, 1993. - George Lee (first tenor) - Died of cancer in 1994.
- Ronald Mosley (baritoneBaritoneBaritone is a type of male singing voice that lies between the bass and tenor voices. It is the most common male voice. Originally from the Greek , meaning deep sounding, music for this voice is typically written in the range from the second F below middle C to the F above middle C Baritone (or...
) - deceased. - Leroy Fann (bass) - Died of a heart attackMyocardial infarctionMyocardial infarction or acute myocardial infarction , commonly known as a heart attack, results from the interruption of blood supply to a part of the heart, causing heart cells to die...
in New York in November 1973.
Postscript
- Ruby & the Romantics were given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues FoundationRhythm and Blues FoundationThe Rhythm and Blues Foundation is an independent American nonprofit organization dedicated to the historical and cultural preservation of rhythm and blues music....
in 1997. - Ruby & the Romantics were inducted into the Vocal Group Hall of FameVocal Group Hall of FameThe Vocal Group Hall of Fame was organized to honor outstanding vocal groups throughout the world. It is headquartered in Sharon, Pennsylvania, United States. It includes a theater and a museum....
in 2007. - Buddy MilesBuddy MilesGeorge Allen Miles, Jr. , known as Buddy Miles, was an American rock and funk drummer, most known as a founding member of The Electric Flag in 1967, then as a member of Jimi Hendrix's Band of Gypsys from 1969 through to January 1970.-Early life:George Allen Miles was born in Omaha, Nebraska on...
drummedDrummerA drummer is a musician who is capable of playing drums, which includes but is not limited to a drum kit and accessory based hardware which includes an assortment of pedals and standing support mechanisms, marching percussion and/or any musical instrument that is struck within the context of a...
for the group when he was 16 years old. - Ruby's married name is Garnett, and she has been married for over 40 years.
- As of 2003, Ruby was working in Barberton, OhioBarberton, OhioAs of the census of 2000, there were 27,899 people, 11,523 households, and 7,443 families residing in the city. The population density was 3,095.2 people per square mile . There were 12,163 housing units at an average density of 1,349.4 per square mile...
at The Salvation Army thrift store. Though she rarely sings anymore, she will still sing with her church choir. She also says that she receives no money from the use of her songs.
Albums
- 1963 Till Then - Kapp KS3341
- 1966 Greatest Hits - Kapp KS3458 (stereo), 1980 MCA 541
- 1967 Ruby & the Romantics - Kapp KS3526
- 1968 More Than Yesterday - ABC ABCS638
External links
- Amazon's Ruby & The Romantics Fan Page
- Ruby & The Romantics' "Best Of CD Reviews
- Ruby & The Romantics - All Music Guide bio
- Ruby & the Romantics-Vocal Group Hall of Fame Induction site- 2007 Inductees
- Ruby & The Romantics at the Soul Patrol website
- Ruby and The Romantics' History of Rock site
- American Singing Groups:a history from 1940s to today By Jay Warner - Ruby & The Romantics