Ruby Johnson

Biography

Ruby Johnson (April 19, 1936 – July 4, 1999) was an American soul singer, best known for her recordings on the Volt label in the late 1960s.

Life and career

She was born in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, and was raised in the Jewish faith. She sang, with her eight brothers and sisters, in the Temple Beth-El choir. After completing high school, she moved to Virginia Beach where she worked as a waitress and began singing rhythm and blues with local bands, before spending two years with Samuel Latham and the Rhythm Makers. She then moved to Washington, D.C. in the late 1950s, and joined Ambrose and the Showstoppers, the house band at the Spa nightclub. Local entrepreneur Never Duncan Jnr. became her manager, and placed her with record producer Dicky Williams. Her first single, "Calling All Boys", was issued in 1960 on the V-Tone label, before Duncan established his own recording company, NEBS. She released a succession of singles on NEBS, including "Here I Go Again", "Worried Mind", and "Nobody Cares", some of which became local hits.
When her local supporter, disc jockey Al Bell, began working for Stax Records in Memphis in 1965, he won her a contract with the label. There, she recorded a handful of classic soul records with the writing and production team of Isaac Hayes and David Porter, and backing musicians including Steve Cropper, "Duck" Dunn and Al Jackson. These were issued on the Stax subsidiary label, Volt. They included "I'll Run Your Hurt Away×I'll Run Your Hurt Away1993 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1I'll Run Your Hurt Away3:082What More Can a Woman Do2:393Won't Be Long2:514The Love of My Man4:215Why Not Give Me a Chance2:346It's Not That Easy3:057Don't Play That Song (You Lied)2:328Come to Me My Darling3:389It's Better to Give Than to Receive3:0510Keep on Keeping On2:2311How Strong Is My Love2:5912Need Your Love So Bad3:1413Come to Me My Darling3:2614Left Over Love2:4815I'd Better Check on Myself2:4516I'd Rather Fight Than Switch2:2017No No No2:2218If I Ever Needed Love (I Sure Do Need It Now)2:2319When My Love Comes Down2:4620Weak Spot2:32", which reached No. 31 on the Billboard R&B chart in 1966, and "If I Ever Needed Love", both tracks which became staples of subsequent soul compilations, such as those by Dave Godin.
Despite the quality of her records, they met with little success, and after a few more years singing in clubs, she gave up her singing career in 1974. She worked in government posts, and eventually became the director of Foster Grandparents, a federal programme helping handicapped children relate to older generations. She also returned to worship and sing at the Temple Beth-El near her home in Lanham, Maryland. A compilation CD, including many previously unissued tracks, was issued in 1993.
She died in 1999, aged 63.

Singles

1961 "Callin' All Boys" / "Pleadin' Heart" – V-TONE 222
1963 "I Received Your Message" / "Stop Wasting Your Tears" – Pledge 108
1964 "Worried Mind" / "I'm Hooked" – NEBS 502
1964 "What Goes Up Must Come Down" / "I Want A Real Man" – NEBS 503
1965 "Let Me Apologise" / "Don't Start Nothing" – NEBS 101
1965 "Here I Go Again" / "Jerk Shout" – NEBS 501
1966 "I'll Run Your Hurt Away×I'll Run Your Hurt Away1993 · Album · CompilationSpotify (search)YouTube Music (search)Tracklist · 20 tracks1I'll Run Your Hurt Away3:082What More Can a Woman Do2:393Won't Be Long2:514The Love of My Man4:215Why Not Give Me a Chance2:346It's Not That Easy3:057Don't Play That Song (You Lied)2:328Come to Me My Darling3:389It's Better to Give Than to Receive3:0510Keep on Keeping On2:2311How Strong Is My Love2:5912Need Your Love So Bad3:1413Come to Me My Darling3:2614Left Over Love2:4815I'd Better Check on Myself2:4516I'd Rather Fight Than Switch2:2017No No No2:2218If I Ever Needed Love (I Sure Do Need It Now)2:2319When My Love Comes Down2:4620Weak Spot2:32" / "Weak Spot" – Volt 133
1966 "Come To Me My Darling" / "When My Love Comes Down" – Volt 140
1967 "Reach Out and Touch Me" / "Come Back To Me" – NEBS 508
1967 "If I Ever Needed Love (I Sure Do Need It Now)" / "Keep On Keeping On" – Volt 147
1968 "I've Been Hurt (So Many Times)" / "Through Dealing" – NEBS 509
1968 "Why You Want To Leave Me" / "I Can't Do It" – NEBS 511
1969 "Nobody Care" / "Why Do You Want To Leave Me" – NEBS 600