Ruby (Ruby Gentry theme) explained

Ruby
Type:	single
Artist:	Ray Charles
Album:	Dedicated to You
B-Side:	Hardhearted Hannah
Released:	November 1960
Recorded:	August 23, 1960
Studio:	Bell Sound (New York City)
Genre:	Soul, traditional pop
Label:	ABC-Paramount
Composer:	Mitchell Parish, Heinz Roemheld
Producer:	Sid Feller
Prev Title:	Georgia on My Mind
Prev Year:	1960
Next Title:	Them That Got
Next Year:	1961

"Ruby" is the 1952 theme song for the film Ruby Gentry starring Jennifer Jones, written by Mitchell Parish and Heinz Roemheld. There were six charted versions of the song in 1953.^[1]

The theme enjoyed much popularity in orchestral recordings by Les Baxter, with harmonica solo by Danny Welton.,^[2] Victor Young And His Singing Strings with George Fields on harmonica (Columbia DO-70040, Australia), Richard Hayman And His Orchestra with Richard Hayman on harmonica, and Jerry Murad and the Harmonicats.

Notable recordings

It has subsequently become a jazz and pop standard, both as an instrumental and with lyrics by Mitchell Parish:

• Richard Hayman and His Orchestra. This reached No. 3 in the Billboard charts in 1953.^[3]
• Les Baxter and His Orchestra (harmonica solo by Danny Welton) had a hit with the song in 1953, peaking in the No. 7 position.^[4]
• Harry James and his Orchestra. A No. 20 hit in 1953.^[5]
• Victor Young and His Singing Strings. Reached number 20 in the charts in 1953.^[6]
• Vaughn Monroe and His Orchestra, reaching number 27 in the charts in 1953.^[7]
• Les Brown and His Band of Renown - briefly charted in 1953 at number 29.^[8]
• Ray Charles - reached No. 28 in the Billboard charts in 1960.^[9]
• Adam Wade accompanied by George Paxton & His Orchestra with The Bel-Aire Singers. This directly competed against the Ray Charles version and reached No. 58 in the charts in 1960.^{[10] [11]} Wade's B-side was "Too Far" written by Pat Lambert and Bob Haymes.

Notes and References

1. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 573.
2. Web site: PHILHARMONIC POPS CONCERT UNCORKS DAYS OF '47 CELEBRATIONS, ACTIVITIES. Ivan M.. Lincoln. 11 July 1990. Deseret News. 2 May 2021.
3. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 204.
4. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 48.
5. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 228.
6. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 463.
7. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 320.
8. Book: Whitburn. Joel. Joel Whitburn's Pop Memories 1890-1954. 1986. Record Research Inc. Wisconsin, USA. 0-89820-083-0. 64.
9. Book: Whitburn. Joel. The Billboard Book of Top 40 Hits. 2004. Billboard Books. New York. 0-8230-7499-4. 117.
10. Wednesday's Child "New York's own Adam Wade was singing his million seller hit “Ruby”"
11. Book: Potter, Joan . African American Firsts . 4th . 2013 . New York . Kensington Books . 978-0-7582-9242-1 . 73 . His first ADAM WADE record, Ruby, was a hit, and a year.