Ruth Etting

Born: Nov 23 1897-1978

Rising to fame in the twenties and early thirties, Ruth Etting was renowned for her great beauty, her gorgeous voice and her tragic life. She starred on Broadway, made movies in Hollywood, married a mobster, had numerous hit-records, fell in love and was known as America's Sweetheart of Song.

Ruth Etting made her first record in 1926 and her last in 1937.

Ruth Etting made a string of movie shorts and three full-length features. Her big break came in "Roman Scandals" with Eddie Cantor and Lucille Ball in a bit part. Then came "Gift of Gab" and "Hips Hips Hooray".

Irving Berlin suggested Ruth Etting for the Ziegfeld Follies and she was hired after Ziegfeld checked her ankles, not her voice. She appeared in the Follies of 1927. In 1929 she starred with Eddie Cantor in Whoopee! In 1930 she made 135 appearances in Simple Simon with Ed Wynn. In 1931 she appeared in the very last Follies, shortly before Ziegfeld's death.

Ruth Etting had over 60 hit recordings and recorded hundreds of other songs. Among her best in the Jazz Age are "Button Up Your Overcoat" "Mean To Me" and in the depression, "Ten Cents A Dance". Her versions of "Shine On Harvest Moon", "Let Me Call You Sweetheart" and "You Made Me Love You" became her signature songs.

Discography:

Album
1987 Let Me Call You Sweetheart