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