[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 9] [Extensions of Remarks] [Pages 12005-12006] [From the U.S. 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 [[Page 12006]] 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. ____________________