Ruth Brown

Acting

Ruth Brown

Born — Died

1928-01-30 — 2006-11-17

Known for

Acting

Credits

23 titles

Ruth Brown (January 12, 1928 – November 17, 2006) was an American rhythm and blues singer and actress, widely regarded as one of the key figures in popularizing R&B music in the 1950s. Known as “Miss Rhythm,” she recorded a series of major hits for Atlantic Records, including “So Long,” “Teardrops from My Eyes,” and “(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean,” helping establish the label’s early success. Born Ruth Alston Weston in Portsmouth, Virginia, she attended I. C. Norcom High School. Her father directed a church choir, but Brown was drawn to secular music, performing in clubs and USO shows. Influenced by singers such as Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday, and Dinah Washington, she left home in …

Known for

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson poster
7.6

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

Late Night with David Letterman poster
6.2

Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night with Conan O'Brien then filled the time slot. As of March 2, 2009, the slot has been filled by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It will be filled by Seth Meyers in the spring of 2014, after Fallon becomes host of The Tonight Show.

Late Night with David Letterman

1982

American Playhouse poster
6.6

American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

American Playhouse

1982

Austin City Limits poster
6.3

Now the longest-running music series in American television history, ACL showcases popular music legends and innovators from every genre.

Austin City Limits

1975

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child poster
6.3

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is an American anthology animated television series.

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995

The Dick Clark Show poster
6.7

The Dick Clark Show is an American musical variety show broadcast weekly in the United States on the ABC television network 7:30-8 PM on Saturdays from February 15, 1958 through September 10, 1960, sponsored by Beechnut Gum.

The Dick Clark Show

1958

Film credits

1990s · 8 titles

True Identity poster
5.6

In order to escape from the mob, an African-American man must disguise himself as a white man.

True Identity

1991

Shake, Rattle and Rock! poster
6.0

In 1950s America, teenage rebellion comes easy when something like rock 'n' roll is viewed as sinful. Looking to have a good time while they're young, small-town teens Susan, Cookie and Tony start a nightclub where host Danny Klay introduces the newest rock 'n' roll talent, and everyone can dance the night away. Of course, not everyone in town is happy with the new establishment.

Shake, Rattle and Rock!

1994

B.B. King: Blues Summit poster
7.7

Inspired by the 1993 Grammy-winning album, this historic meeting of superpowers stars the King of the Blues performing duets with a pantheon of fellow legends: Ruth Brown, Albert Collins, Robert Cray, Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Irma Thomas and Joe Louis Walker. Interspersed with exclusive interviews, it's an inspired and unprecedented gathering of blues greats that may never be equaled. The performances include B.B.'s signature song, "The Thrill Is Gone," and "Playin' With My Friends," which was penned by Robert Cray just for The Blues Summit. Best of all, with this home video, you sit right on stage where you don't miss a beat.

B.B. King: Blues Summit

1995

No artwork available
6.5

As Christmas at the Messiah Church in Washington D.C. approaches, a young preacher and, later in the day, a mysterious pregnant girl arrive at the church doors looking to begin new lives. Reverend Oliver Crawford is not the judgmental committee's first choice; an unwed father of a teenage son, he is given only two days to prove his worth. Meanwhile, pregnant 16-year-old Katherine has arrived in the area fleeing an abusive home and seeking a grandfather she doesn't know. With the help of local homeless advocate 'Big' Willie Thorton, Crawford attempts to revive the spirit of the church and provide solace to the displaced girl.

Hallelujah

1993

Black and Blue: A Musical Revue poster
NR

The famous rhythm and blues revue featuring such standards as the title song, "After You've Gone" and "In a Sentimental Mood," to name just a few, and sung by R&B legends Ruth Brown, Linda Hopkins and Carrie Smith.

Black and Blue: A Musical Revue

1993

Montreux Jazz Festival 1991 poster
NR

No synopsis available yet.

Montreux Jazz Festival 1991

1991

Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested poster
8.5

No synopsis available yet.

Bonnie Raitt: Road Tested

1996

No artwork available
NR

Willie Dixon tells tales of the blues, spiced by stories from Ruth Brown, Albert Collins and Buddy Guy. Blues from all, as well as Booker T. Laury, Otis Rush, Albert Collins.

Blues Alive

1990

1980s · 3 titles

Series credits

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson poster
7.6

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson is a talk show hosted by Johnny Carson under The Tonight Show franchise from 1962 to 1992. It originally aired during late-night. For its first ten years, Carson's Tonight Show was based in New York City with occasional trips to Burbank, California; in May 1972, the show moved permanently to Burbank, California. In 2002, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was ranked #12 on TV Guide's 50 Greatest TV Shows of All Time.

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

1962

Late Night with David Letterman poster
6.2

Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night with Conan O'Brien then filled the time slot. As of March 2, 2009, the slot has been filled by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. It will be filled by Seth Meyers in the spring of 2014, after Fallon becomes host of The Tonight Show.

Late Night with David Letterman

1982

American Playhouse poster
6.6

American Playhouse is an anthology television series periodically broadcast by Public Broadcasting Service in the United States.

American Playhouse

1982

Austin City Limits poster
6.3

Now the longest-running music series in American television history, ACL showcases popular music legends and innovators from every genre.

Austin City Limits

1975

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child poster
6.3

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child is an American anthology animated television series.

Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every Child

1995

The Dick Clark Show poster
6.7

The Dick Clark Show is an American musical variety show broadcast weekly in the United States on the ABC television network 7:30-8 PM on Saturdays from February 15, 1958 through September 10, 1960, sponsored by Beechnut Gum.

The Dick Clark Show

1958

Rebel Highway poster
8.0

Rebel Highway is a 1994 revival of American International Pictures, created and produced by Lou Arkoff, the son of Samuel Z. Arkoff, and Debra Hill for the Showtime network. The concept was a ten-week series of 1950s "drive-in classic" B-movies remade "with a '90s edge". Each episode shares a title with a late 1950s-early 1960s-era AIP film. However, they are not remakes; each installment is a different story from that which they are titled. The impetus for the series, according to Arkoff was, 'what it would be like if you made Rebel Without a Cause today. It would be more lurid, sexier, and much more dangerous, and you definitely would have had Natalie Wood's top off'.

Rebel Highway

1994

Hello, Larry poster
5.7

Radio host Larry Alder has to cope with being a single father to his two daughters, Diane and Ruthie.

Hello, Larry

1979

Hello, Larry poster
5.7

Radio host Larry Alder has to cope with being a single father to his two daughters, Diane and Ruthie.

Hello, Larry

1979

Checking In poster
6.0

Checking In is an American sitcom that aired on CBS in April 1981. The series is a spin-off of The Jeffersons, which itself had spun off from All in the Family.

Checking In

1981