The most popular black female recording artist of the 1950s, “The Queen of the Blues”, died young at 39 in the arms of her seventh husband. Although she is most associated with the Chicago music scene, she was born Ruth Lee Jones in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. She changed her name just before joining Lionel Hampton’s band in 1943. She had a string of top 10 R&B hits from 1948 through 1961. September in the Rain is one of her best. Ironically, it was her last hit recording.
September in the Rain
