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      *Ruth Brown, known as “The Original Queen of Rhythm & Blues" and a pioneer in the fight for royalty reform, passed away Nov. 17 in a Las Vegas area hospital from complications following a stroke and heart attack. She was 78.

      Also known as "The Girl with a Tear in her Voice" and "Miss Rhythm" – the nickname given her by Mr. Rhythm, Frankie Lane – Ruth Brown was credited as the first star made by Atlantic Records. Her string of hits from 1949 to the close of the 50s helped to establish the New York label's predominance in the R&B field, a track record for which the young label was referred to as "The House That Ruth Built."

      Among her two-dozen hit records are "So Long" and her first No. 1 R&B hit, "Teardrops From My Eyes." She stayed atop the charts during the 50s with such hits as "5-10-15 Hours" and "(Mama) He Treats Your Daughter Mean."

      As R&B shifted styles in the 60s, Brown’s aggressive down-home flavor was suddenly out of step with the direction in which Atlantic was heading. In 1961, her relationship with the label ended and she was forced to take jobs as a maid, school bus driver, and Head Start teacher to support her two sons as a single parent.

      However, things turned around significantly in the mid-70s, as Brown returned to recording blues and jazz material for a variety of labels and even toured overseas, where audiences are usually more appreciative of black music pioneers.

      After returning to the U.S. in the early 80s, she starred in Allen Toussaint's off-Broadway musical "Staggerlee" and made a spectacular splash in the film "Hairspray" as Motormouth Maybelle.

      Beginning in 1985, Ruth hosted the Harlem Hit Parade series on National Public Radio and in 1989 won a Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for the Broadway revue "Black and Blue."      

      In 1989 Ruth Brown received a Grammy Award for the album "Blues On Broadway." In 1993, she was inducted into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame. Ruth was recognized in 1999 with a Lifetime Achievement Award from The Blues Foundation, in addition to receiving two W.C. Handy Awards from the organization. Her autobiography, "Miss Rhythm," received the Ralph Gleason Award for Music.     

      Brown was given a Pioneer Award from the Rhythm and Blues Foundation, an organization which was founded as a direct result of her efforts to foster wider recognition and provide financial assistance to Rhythm and Blues musicians of any stature.      

      "The Foundation is deeply saddened by the loss of not only our beloved co-founder of the organization but also by what will now become a glaring absence in the fight for Pioneer R&B Artists to achieve recognition, dignity and support of their work,” said Kendall Minter, Chairman of the Rhythm and Blues Foundation. “The Foundation, its Board and Staff celebrate Ruth and her life and hope that others will now pick up her call."

      Brown’s friend and blues colleague Bonnie Raitt said: "Ruth was one of the most important and beloved figures in modern music. You can hear her influence in everyone from Little Richard to Etta (James), Aretha (Franklin), Janis (Joplin) and divas like Christina Aguilera today. She set the standard for sass, heartache and resilience in her life as well as her music, and fought tirelessly for royalty reform and recognition for the R&B pioneers who never got their due. She taught me more than anyone about survival, heart and class. She was my dear friend and I will miss her terribly."      

      The firstborn of seven children in a family with deep religious roots, Ruth Weston's father worked on the docks at the seaport in Portsmouth, VA and was choir director at Emmanuel AME Church. Ruth is survived by her two sons, Earl Swanson and Ron Jackson, and siblings: Leonard Weston, Delia Weston, Benjamin Weston and Alvin Weston.      

      The Rhythm and Blues Foundation will be planning a public memorial to honor Ruth Brown and celebrate her contribution to Rhythm and Blues in New York City, details to be announced at a later date.