[Congressional Record Volume 162, Number 134 (Wednesday, September 7, 2016)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1217]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                    HONORING THE LIFE OF RUBY WILSON

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. STEVE COHEN

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                      Wednesday, September 7, 2016

  Mr. COHEN. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to honor the life of Ruby 
Wilson, a legendary Memphis Blues singer who was known as the ``Queen 
of Beale Street'' and was beloved not only by the city of Memphis but 
by fans all over the world. Ruby Wilson was born in 1948 in Fort Worth, 
Texas before making Memphis, Tennessee her home in 1972. Over time, 
Ruby became one of the greatest ambassadors for Memphis and Blues music 
alike.
  Ruby's passion for singing began early as a child in Texas singing in 
her church choir, which was directed by her mother. Through the choir, 
Ruby performed with notable gospel singers Rosetta Tharpe, The Blind 
Boys of Alabama and Reverend James Cleveland. At age 15, Ruby accepted 
renowned gospel singer Shirley Ceasar's invitation to sing backup 
during a summer tour.
  During this same time in her youth, Ruby learned her love of the 
Blues from her father, who was an associate of famed guitarist and 
blues singer Freddie King. It was time spent with her father listening 
to Muddy Waters and other Blues musicians on the radio that influenced 
her future music career. This included listening to Memphis Blues 
legend B.B. King, whom she met in Texas at age 14. They formed a 
friendship that lasted his lifetime. It was then that B.B. King named 
Ruby his goddaughter, six years before she would sing with him for the 
first time.
  By 1972, Ruby had lived and worked in Chicago singing gospel and 
directing church choirs, and had returned to Texas to sing jazz. She 
was touring by then and had, on occasions, performed in Memphis, where 
she met Stax Records songwriter, recording artist and producer Isaac 
Hayes, who suggested she move there. After relocating to Memphis, Ruby 
taught kindergarten for eight years while building her music career on 
the nightclub stages of Beale Street and surrounding venues, including 
Club Handy, Rum Boogie Cafe, Club Royale, Mallard's, Alfred's, Silky 'O 
Sullivan's, The Blues Room, In The Alley on Beale, Neil's, Bosco's, 50/
50 Tower, The Spot, The Other Place, Beale Street Blues Club, Elvis 
Presley's (on Beale), and the New Daisy and Old Daisy Theaters. Ruby 
was also a regular performer at B.B. King's Blues Club and its upstairs 
restaurant, Itta Bena.
  Ruby enjoyed new experiences and performing in new venues across the 
globe. Throughout her career, Ruby performed in Asia, Europe and New 
Zealand for audiences that included British and Monegasque royalty. She 
also performed for U.S. President Bill Clinton and Vice President Al 
Gore, and she was a featured performer at the New Orleans Jazz & 
Heritage Festival in 2008, 2011 and 2012. In addition to touring, Ruby 
Wilson recorded 10 albums and worked alongside Ray Charles, the Four 
Tops, Willie Nelson, Isaac Hayes, Al Green's Full Gospel Tabernacle 
Choir in Memphis and countless others. She also appeared in over 10 
major films, including The Firm (1993), The Client (1994), The People 
vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Black Snake Moan (2006), and Delta Rising: A 
Blues Documentary (2008).
   Ruby was the recipient of numerous awards and recognitions. She 
earned the title ``Queen of Beale Street'' in 1992 and has received the 
``Authentic Beale Street Musician Award,'' the ``Memphis Sound Award 
for Best Entertainer,'' the ``Blues Ball Award: Special Achievement,'' 
the ``Willie Mitchell Jus Blues Award,'' and the ``W.C. Handy Heritage 
Awards: Lifetime Achievement.'' Ruby also received the St. Jude 
Children's Hospital ``Supporter Award,'' the ``Networking for Memphis 
Community Service Award,'' and the ``Arc of the Mid-South Community 
Leader Award.'' She has been inducted into the African American Hall of 
Fame, the Afro-American Walk of Fame at Lemoyne Owen College in Memphis 
and has a brass note in her honor on the Beale Street Walk of Fame. 
Ruby Wilson received accolades from critics and fans throughout her 
career and she will always be remembered for her great voice and warm 
personality.
   For the city of Memphis, Ruby Wilson was more than just the Queen of 
Beale Street. She possessed a voice that was sought after by businesses 
and politicians for television commercials and radio ads because hers 
was a credible voice of endorsement. She recorded for small local 
businesses and I am forever grateful for the ads that she recorded for 
me and the support that she gave me. I am also thankful for the 
opportunity to have watched her perform many times in Memphis, 
including at her last benefit performance at B.B. King's Blues Club on 
July 31st, less than two weeks before her passing. As always, she was 
beautiful and smiling while performing to a packed house as was 
befitting of her life, achievements, contributions and memory.
   Ruby Wilson's passing places her on the same level, if not higher, 
as many Memphis legendary geniuses that we've recently lost, including 
Elvis Presley's guitarist Scott Moore, Stax Records and American Sound 
Studio producer Chip Moman, The Memphis Horns saxophone and trumpet 
players Andrew Love and Wayne Jackson, and Maurice White, founder of 
the multi-Grammy Award winning music group Earth, Wind and Fire.
   Ruby Wilson passed away on Friday, August 12, 2016 at 68 years of 
age. She is survived by her daughters Shallisa Alexander and Stacey 
Ragston, her sons Keith and Kenneth Moseley, and 12 grandchildren and 
five great-grandchildren. Ruby Wilson had a unique and incredible voice 
that Memphis, Beale Street, the entire music community and all of her 
fans around the world will miss. Hers was a life well-lived.

                          ____________________