Ruby Winters

Cincinnati, early 1960s - 1979

Soul singer Ruby Winters spent her childhood and teen years in Cincinnati. She is best remembered for a few songs that were R&B chart hits, "Guess Who", "I Don't Want To Cry", and "Make Love To Me", a duet with Johnny Thunders (the soul singer, not the New York Doll). 

While in Cincinnati, she recorded her first 45 at Allen-Martin studios in Louisville. The song "In The Middle of a Heartache" was written by Charlie Daniels (who also recorded it), the future country-rock singer who spent a couple years in the tri-state area.

After her initial recording, she pulled up stakes and relocated to Nashville. She recorded further 45s there and in New York City. Her biggest success came about in an odd way. In 1973 she recorded "I Will", a song that had been a pop hit for Dean Martin. The recording found its way to England, were it was re-released in 1977 and became a huge hit. Back in the US, the Millenium label issued the 45 and an LP, but they didn't sell well.

In the 1970s she moved to Melbourne, Florida, and later to Texas. She passed away in 2016.