Ronald & Ruby (Bronx, New York)




Personnel :

Julius Dixon (Ronald)

Beverly Ross (Ruby)




Discography :

1958 - Lollipop / Fickle Baby (RCA 7174)
1958 - Lovebirds / Make A Little Love  (RCA 7252)




Biography :

Beverly Ross was born in Brooklyn, New York, and as a child moved with her family to Lakewood, New Jersey where she learned the piano. While living in The Bronx as a teenager, she began canvassing writers at the Brill Building with some of her songs. The first to be recorded was "Dim, Dim The Lights (I Want Some Atmosphere)", co-written with black songwriter Julius Dixon, which was recorded by Bill Haley and His Comets in 1954 and became a crossover hit in both the pop chart and R&B chart the following year.

  
The Real Ruby (Beverly Ross)                                               

In 1958 she and Dixon wrote one of her most lasting songs, "Lollipop". When Dixon explained that he was late for a songwriting session because his daughter had gotten a lollipop stuck in her hair, Ross began writing the song, and later recorded a demo version with Dixon's neighbor, teenager Ronald Gumm (or Gumps). Dixon, who owned the master and had produced the demo, then agreed to let RCA Records release it as by "Ronald and Ruby".

  
                                                                                       Julius Dixon & the New "Ruby"

The pair's version rose up the chart reaching no.20, but when it was learned that Ronald and Ruby were an inter-racial duo, television appearances that had been previously booked got cancelled. A Teenage black girl replacing the Caucasian Ross place in the publicity stills and on personal appearances. Cover versions by The Chordettes (no.2 in the US) and The Mudlarks (no.2 in the UK) rose higher up the charts, and the song became an international hit.




Songs :

  
Lollipop                                            Fickle Baby

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