“Forget ego or money – the music and the people are what drives me.”
Ruby Turner
Introduction
A soulful voice is like a fine wine. It resonates with a depth of emotions and rings true with an audience who are eager to hear more. One lady who ticks all those boxes and more is Ruby Turner. Familiar to many for her solo work and partnership with Jools Holland in his rhythm and blues orchestra, Ruby is an annual New Year’s Eve on the BBC’s Hootananny. This soulful singer creates original and covers music that is manna from heaven with a voice that is smooth, velvety and silky. With classic tracks like Peace in the Valley, We Got It Going On and The Tracks of My Tears, Turner owns a stage and is able hits all the notes with remarkable ease. A heavenly diva in her own right and enthuses an audience with her music.
Living the Beat
“When you feel like quitting, remember that sometimes things have to go very wrong before they can be right.”
Inspirational Quote
Born in 1958 in Montego Bay, Jamaica, Francella Ruby Turner has had an illustrious 40-year career dating back to 1983. A singer, songwriter and actress who started her music career as a backing singer for artists such as Bryan Ferry, Steve Winwood, and Mick Jagger. She has performed with Culture Club and UB40 and written songs that have been covered by Lulu, Yazz and Maxi Priest. An artist who signed to Jive Records. Making Birmingham her spiritual home when she moved to Handsworth at the age of nine in 1967, Turner has achieved the feat of reaching No. 1 in the US R&B charts with It’s Gonna Be Alright in February 1990 and eight of her singles made the UK charts with I’d Go Blind, the most successful, reaching No.24 in 1987. A regular guest at Jools Holland’s Hootenanny from 2007 to the present.
Acting
Ruby has performed in theatrical performances of A Streetcar Named Desire, Carmen Jones, Fame and Simply Heavenly, a West End musical production that was nominated for “Outstanding Musical” at the 2005 Lawrence Olivier Awards. She has also been in films such as Love Actually, Reggae Britannia and Famous Fred.
In Demand
Ruby Turner is in constant demand. With a UK tour with Jools Holland and His Rhythm and Blues Orchestra beginning at the Albert Hall in November this year, Turner has been engaged twice but never married. Her friendship with Jools is described as harmonious with Holland first meeting Turner at a concert in Birmingham years ago. Holland instantly bonded with Ruby, saying that her personality came out in her voice. A powerful voice that he wanted in his hand. Soon becoming one of his dearest friends. A wonderful vibration that is a regular guest in their family home. Turner has to completely believe in the song to sing it. A protective woman who you wouldn’t want to get cross. A sister who Jools never had, a Victorian heroine who he has so many fun times with. They respect each other’s work ethics and laugh so much when together. They never feel sorry for each other and are highly work-driven, focusing on the task in hand and striving to produce the best results.
