Original: December 2011
Updated: November 2023
She was Bertha Bearden Dorsey from Jackson, Tennessee. Country music fans got to know her
by her stage name, Ruby Falls. It has been written in several sources that she was among
the most successful black female country music singers. But from our research so far, seemingly very
little was written about her. But we will at least begin to document her career from what we have
been able to find.
She began singing at a young age, in church or at local events. When she was a teenager, she
moved to Milwaukee, Wisconsin. She actually became a professional entertainer at that time and
worked with several local bands including Harvey Scales and the Seven Sounds as their lead singer.
By the late 1960's, Charley Pride was beginning to take the country music world by storm and providing
perhaps a glimpse of opportunity for other black country music performers to be seen and heard.
In 1974, Ruby moved back to Tennessee - to Nashville. Her talents were recognized and soon found
herself touring with Justin Tubb. Her ability to entertain audiences was well received, even in
Las Vegas. She was discovered by Johnny Howard who signed her to a recording contract with the 50 States
record label.
She was nominated as country music's most promising female vocalist in 1975.
In 1977, Ruby released "Do The Buck Dance", written by Charlie Fields and Donald Riis and produced by
Johnny Howard and Chuck Fields. In October of 1977, her tune "You've Got To Mend This Heartache" was number
40. On the same chart, Charley Pride was No. 3 with "More To Me".
Billboard magazine reported that on July 14, 1979, Ruby and her band entertained at the Nashville 420
Grand National where she performed the Star Spangled Banner before a crowd of 18,000. Waylon Jennings
was also on the bill. The race was broadcast on the Performance Racing Network.
In October 1980, she released "Bringing Home That Feeling", written by Ray Griff and produced by Johnny Howard
and Charlie Fields.
She was managed by the Atlas Talent Agency in Nashville; Haze Jones was its president at the time. Around
1981 or so, they were booking what was termed "mini packages" that would feature a Grand Ole Opry or
Hee! Haw! star accompanied by two other lesser known acts. Ruby toured with Justin Tubb and Doyle Holly
and the Vanishing Breed during this time. She also worked with other country stars such as Faron Young,
Jeannie Pruett, Del Reeves, Narvel Felts and Dave and Sugar.
According to Pamela Foster, her television appearances included such shows as The Ralph Emery Show, Nashville Today, Good Ol' Nashville
Music and Music Hall America.
Ruby died suddenly at the age of 40 of a brain hemorrhage in Nashville. She was survived by her mother,
Lillian Hightower and two daughters. No mention was made of whether she was or had married.
Ruby Falls
Cash Box Country Singles Chart History
|
|
Sweet Country Music
Fifty States 31
Written by: Charlie Fields and Don Riis
Sandburn Music / Music Craftshop ASCAP
Produced by Johnny Howard and Charlie Fields
Weeks on the Charts: On the Charts: 10
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| March 22, 1975 |
75 |
| March 29, 1975 |
70 |
| April 5, 1975 |
63 |
| April 12, 1975 |
58 |
| April 19, 1975 |
55 |
| April 26, 1975 |
53 |
| May 3, 1975 |
52 |
| May 10, 1975 |
58 |
| May 17, 1975 |
63 |
| May 24, 1975 |
71 |
He Loves Me All To Pieces
Fifty States 33
Written by: Charlie Fields — Don Riis
Sandburn Music / Music Craftshop ASCAP
Produced by Johnny Howard and Charlie Fields
Weeks On the Charts: 11
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| June 21, 1975 |
84 |
| June 28, 1975 |
81 |
| July 5, 1975 |
81 |
| July 12, 1975 |
73 |
| July 19, 1975 |
72 |
| July 26, 1975 |
70 |
| August 2, 1975 |
69 |
| August 9, 1975 |
68 |
| August 16, 1975 |
60 |
| August 23, 1975 |
58 |
| August 30, 1975 |
58 |
Show Me Where / Somewhere There's a Rainbow Over Texas
Fifty States 39
Written by: Ray Griff (Show Me Where)
Blue Echo Music ASCAP
Produced by Johnny Howard and Charlie Fields
Weeks On the Charts: 6 weeks
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| April 17, 1976 |
87 |
| April 24, 1976 |
87 |
| May 1, 1976 |
88 |
| May 8, 1976 |
97 |
| May 15, 1976 |
100 |
| August 28, 1976 |
94 |
Beware Of The Woman (Before She Gets To Your Man)
Fifty States 43
Written by: Vera Lakey
Don Wayne Music / Stars & Stripes Music / HitKit Music BMI
Produced by Johnny Howard and Charlie Fields
Weeks On the Charts: 6
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| July 24, 1976 |
100 |
| July 31, 1976 |
92 |
| August 7, 1976 |
66 |
| August 14, 1976 |
60 |
| August 21, 1976 |
55 |
| August 28, 1976 |
94 |
Do The Buck Dance
Fifty States 50
Written by: Charlie Fields, Don Riis and Ruby Falls
Sandburn Music / Music Craftshop ASCAP
Produced by Johnny Howard and Charlie Fields
Weeks On the Charts: 4
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| March 5, 1977 |
96 |
| March 12, 1977 |
95 |
| March 19, 1977 |
94 |
| March 26, 1977 |
97 |
You've Got To Mend This Heartache
Fifty States 56
Written by: Charlie Fields, Don Riis and Ruby Falls
Sandburn Music / Music Craftshop ASCAP
Produced by Johnny Howard and Charlie Fields
Weeks On the charts: 9
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| October 1, 1977 |
100 |
| October 8, 1977 |
96 |
| October 15, 1977 |
85 |
| October 22, 1977 |
74 |
| October 29, 1977 |
67 |
| November 5, 1977 |
59 |
| November 12, 1977 |
59 |
| November 19, 1977 |
59 |
| November 26, 1977 |
99 |
Three Nights A Week
Fifty States 60
Written by: Antonio (Fats) Domino
Travis Music BMI
Produced by Johnny Howard
Weeks On the Charts: 5
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| April 8, 1978 |
99 |
| April 15, 1978 |
87 |
| April 22, 1978 |
85 |
| April 29, 1978 |
81 |
| May 6, 1978 |
81 |
If That's Not Loving You (You Can't Say I Didn't Try)
Fifty States 63
Written by Charlie Fields, Don Riis, Ransford
Sandburn Music / Music Craftshop ASCAP
Weeks On the Charts: 5
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| September 2, 1978 |
100 |
| September 9, 1978 |
96 |
| September 16, 1978 |
96 |
| September 23, 1978 |
93 |
| September 30, 1978 |
100 |
I'm Gettin' Into Your Love
Fifty States 70
Written by: Jim McBride and Roger Murrah
Weeks on the Charts: 8
|
|
| Date |
Chart Position |
| June 9, 1979 |
96 |
| June 16, 1979 |
91 |
| June 23, 1979 |
86 |
| June 30, 1979 |
80 |
| July 7, 1979 |
74 |
| July 14, 1979 |
67 |
| July 21, 1979 |
67 |
| July 28, 1979 |
99 |
Ruby Falls
Record Reviews From The Billboard and Cash Box
|
|
| Date |
Label |
Rec No. |
Review |
| 2/15/1975 (CB) |
50 States |
FS-31 |
Sweet Country Music b/w
Love Away The Wrong I'm About To Do
Sounds like we have a fantastically talented young, black, female artist on the country
scene. Great production and super vocals, for this record that's already gaining
heavy airplay. |
| 5/31/1975 (CB) |
50 States |
FS-33 |
He Loves Me All To Pieces b/w
Let's Spend Summer In The Country
this release follows Ruby's last
chart single with a dynamite solid country love song Vocals are superb about a man's
way of lovin' his woman and how she does enjoy it! This one will be burning up the
charts in a hurry. |
| 6/26/1976 (CB) |
50 States |
FS-43 |
Beware The Woman b/w
Jump In The River Of Tears
Flavored with country blues and tinged with black, this one is a slow-moving, easy style
ballad. |
| 10/1/1977 (CB) |
50 States |
FS-56 |
You've Got To Mend This Heartache b/w
Love's Sweeter Than Sugar
Another good up-tempo female offering this week. Ruby has had many records out, but
this time producers Johnny Howard and Charles Fields have found perfect material with
which their arrangement should see chart action.
|
Credits & Sources
- Billboard Magazine; February 26, 1977; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio
- Billboard Magazine; October 29, 1977; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio
- Billboard Magazine; August 11, 1979; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio
- Billboard Magazine; November 21, 1981; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio
- Billboard Magazine; July 12, 1986; Billboard Magazine; Cincinnati, Ohio
- Definitive Country; Barry McCloud and Contributing writers; 1995; The Berkley Publishing Group;
New York, NY
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