Ruby & the Romantics

Ruby & The Romantics was an American early 1960s R'n'B group, frequently considered a one-hit wonder, which topped the charts once with 1963's "Our Day Will Come", written by Mort Garson and Bob Hilliard.

Ruby Nash Curtis (born November 12 1939, Akron, Ohio), the female lead of the group, originally sang with an all-girl group, consisting of her sister and two friends. They sang at record hops, mixers, talent shows and clubs in Akron and surrounding areas.

Some of the male members of the Romantics sang with The Embers. Eventually, The Embers became known as The SupremesFact|date=June 2007 (not to be confused with Detroit's The Supremes of Motown Records fame).Fact|date=June 2007

Since they all grew up in AkronFact|date=June 2007 and knew each other, Leroy Fann, a member of The Supremes, asked Curtis to sing with them on occasions.Fact|date=June 2007 The group auditioned for and was signed to Kapp Records, and the group changed their name from The "Supremes" to "Ruby and the Romantics".Fact|date=June 2007

An Abraham Lincoln quotation over the stage in the auditorium at Akron Central High School, where the group members attended may have been the inspiration for "Our Day Will Come" - "I will study and get ready, and some day my chance will come". Those who attended Akron Central High School in the early 1960s will recall hearing that song sung between classes by members of the group. After the group's success with "Our Day Will Come" in 1963, different members of the group argued over various mattersFact|date=January 2007. After repeated attempts to match their earlier success, the group had a complete line-up change in 1965.

In 1968, an all-female lineup was brought in.Fact|date=June 2007 The group broke up in 1971. But many of the songs they recorded went on to be hits for other artists, such as "Hurting Each Other" (a #2 hit in the United States for The Carpenters in February 1972), "Hey There Lonely Boy" (which was recorded by Eddie Holman as "Hey There Lonely Girl" and peaked in the U.S. at #2 in February of 1970) and "When You're Young And In Love" (recorded by The Marvelettes and peaked at #23 in the U.S. in May 1967). British a cappella band The Flying Pickets also took the song to number 7 in the UK Singles Chart in 1984). Additionally, "Our Day Will Come" was additionally covered by Frankie Valli and peaked at #11 in the U.S. in the fall of 1975.

The names of individuals who were the "Supremes" when they became the "Romantics" are:

* Ed Roberts (tenor) - Worked as a bank teller. Died of cancer on August 10 1993.Fact|date=June 2007
* George Lee (tenor) - Was working in New York.Fact|date=June 2007
* Ronald Mosley (baritone) - Nursing Home in the Akron area.Fact|date=June 2007
* Leroy Fann (bass) - Died by violence in New York in 1973.Fact|date=June 2007

Postscript

* Ruby & the Romantics were given a Pioneer Award by the Rhythm and Blues Foundation in 1997.
*Buddy Miles drummed for the group when he was 16 years old.Fact|date=June 2007

Recordings

* 1963 "Our Day Will Come" - Kapp KS3323, 1985 Charly CRM2030
* 1963 "Till Then" - Kapp KS3341
* 1966 "Greatest Hits" - Kapp KS3458 (stereo), 1980 MCA 541
* 1967 "Ruby & the Romantics" - Kapp KS3526
* 1968 "More Than Yesterday" - ABC ABCS638