I was sitting here in my studio today playing records and getting some ideas for this week’s show on jukinoldies.com and for some strange reason I dipped into my stash of great 78 RPM records. After spinning a few Ruth Brown records realized that this month was Ruth’s Birtday. I went to my photo archives to rekindle my obsession and memories of the lady known as the “Queen Of R&B”. After checking out some photos I stumbled upon a photo of Ruth Brown and I at the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame. Well that pretty much put my mind in memory mode. What a day … being at the R&R Hall of Fame with my radio hero Porky Chedwick and getting ready to rub elbows with some Rhythm and Blues, Rock & Roll and Soul Icons who were there for a special event that was happening. So, I’m sitting at a table having a drink with Ruth Brown and Bill Pinkney and in just a few minutes I would be on the air from the Hall of Fame with two more Icons … Jerry Butler and Ike Turner. That experience was another future Blog. I had worked with Bill Pinkney a few times and enjoyed conversing with him, but it was the first time I met and spent time with Ruth Brown. Both artists early recordings helped to build the Atlantic Record Empire … in fact Ruth’s contribution became known as “the House That Ruth built” … (play on words referring to the popular nickname for the old Yankee Staduim and Babe Ruth, for all you baseball fans). Well as usual I was like a sponge gathering as much information of the R&B Icon as I could asking questions about the Atlantic Record experience and her influences coming up in the music business … inspired by Sarah Vaughan, Billie Holiday and Dinah Washington. I have a copy of her book, “Miss Rhythm” and a pretty good collection of her records including her Gospel album which I Have an Autographed copy. If you get a chance to stop my Johnny Angel Ginchy Stuff and Museum, you’ll see a framed exhibit honoring the Queen of R&B. Be sure to ask me about the red felt that is autographed in her exhibit. Yep, I met Rhythm and Blues Royalty … Ruth Brown … the Queen of R&B!