Remembering Ruth Etting

 

You are listening to the voice of Ruth Etting.

 

[I'm Nobody's Baby (Davis-Ager-Santly) with Rube Bloom (piano) and Murray Kellner (violin), recorded 3 January 1927 (Mat. No. W143562-3; Columbia 1104-D), available on CD "Ruth Etting, Love Me or Leave Me" Pavilion Records Ltd., Sparrows Green, Wadhurst, E. Sussex, England (PAST CD 7061)]

Ruth as she appeared on numerous covers of sheet music which she recorded

 

You're listening to the voice of Ruth Etting--almost entirely unknown today, but in the late 20's and early 30's everyone knew her voice. A more astute judge of sex appeal you will not find than Mae West. When Mae first saw Ruth Etting in the Ziegfeld Follies, she described her in this way: 'The curtains opened, and here was this girl. Not what you'd call a classic beauty--but unusual. She had a sex quality that seemed to mesmerize the audience. And when she finished singing, they just kind of went crazy.' As the "Sweetheart of Columbia Records," she made hundreds of recordings, had her own radio program, appeared on Broadway in many Ziegfeld shows, and made several pictures in Hollywood. Even by the primitive recording standards of her era, her voice carries an immediacy and intimacy unparalleled in singers of her era.

 

Ruth with Will Rogers and Jimmy Durante

 

A rare photo of Ruth as she appeared sometime after the Ziegfeld Follies of 1927. The picture was taken in California and given, as it appears, to her driver in thanks for a vacation she had there. Her inscription reads: "Best Wishes to Mr. Fred Clampett in memory of a wonderful vacation with your Best of all cars 'Stutz Waymann.' Ruth Etting 'Sweetheart of Columbia Records' Ziegfeld Follies of 1927".

The picture is undoubtedly an authentic fan photo and was obtained from a New York agency possessing such pictures.  The signature looks like other examples of Ruth's signature.  But the puzzling thing about the writing on the picture is the dates at the bottom. The dates have nothing to do with Ruth's life but may be associated somehow with the picture's addressee.

I am in the process of writing a book about Ruth Etting, her life and career.  If you have information which might help me in that process or if you would like to write me, click  here.

For other interesting sites dedicated to Ruth Etting, please visit this link: