Ruby Turner

Ruby Turner
MBE
Brown singing into a microphone onstage
Turner performing live at GuilFest in 2012
Background information
Born (1958-06-22) 22 June 1958 (age 66)
Montego Bay, Jamaica
OriginBirmingham, England, United Kingdom
Genres
Occupations
  • Singer
  • songwriter
  • actress
InstrumentsVocals
Years active1983–present
Labels
WebsiteOfficial website

Francella Ruby Turner MBE (born 22 June 1958) is a British Jamaican R&B and soul singer, songwriter, and actress.

In a music career spanning more than 40 years, Turner is best known for her album and single releases in Europe and North America. She is also known for her work as a session backing vocalist, with artists including Bryan Ferry, UB40, Steel Pulse, Steve Winwood, Jools Holland, and Mick Jagger. She has also written songs that have been covered by musicians including Lulu, Yazz and Maxi Priest.[1]

Turner achieved the rare feat, for a British singer, of reaching No. 1 on the US R&B chart, with "It's Gonna Be Alright" in February 1990. Between 1986 and 1995, eight of her singles appeared in the UK Singles Chart with "I'd Rather Go Blind" being the most successful, reaching No. 24 in 1987.[2] Turner performed at the Birmingham Heart Beat 86 concert,[3] which featured George Harrison. She is a regular guest on BBC Television's Jools' Annual Hootenanny performing every year from 2007 to the present, most recently in 2023/24, and regularly joins Holland and his band on their annual arena tours. She has also appeared as an actress on stage, film and television.

  1. ^ Cite error: The named reference AMG was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  2. ^ Roberts, David (2006). British Hit Singles & Albums (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 569. ISBN 1-904994-10-5.
  3. ^ "Film & TV Database | HEART BEAT 86 (1986)". BFI. 16 April 2009. Archived from the original on 30 January 2009. Retrieved 28 January 2014.