This is FRESH AIR. I'm Terry Gross. Today we continue our archive series R&B, rockabilly and early rock 'n' roll with the late R&B singer Ruth Brown. She was one of Atlantic Records' first hitmakers.

Ruth Brown was a trailblazer, a singer whose run of hits in the ’50s included "I Don't Know" and "Mama He Treats Your Daughter Mean." Decades later, she won Tony and Grammy awards. She starred as ...

Unlock access to every one of the hundreds of articles published daily on BroadwayWorld by logging in with one click. Brett Cullum: Now, first, tell me quickly who Ruth Brown is because I think a lot ...