Ruth Etting - Dancing in the moonlight (1933)

Ruth's mother died when Ruth was five years old. She spent her childhood living with her Aunt Rose and Grandmother, Mrs. George Etting. She enjoyed singing in church and at school but never had any voice lessons. While in high school, she became intrigued with clothing design. She designed and made her own dress for the Junior-Senior banquet, a scoop-neck, sleeveless dress that was scandalous at the time. After graduating from David City High School, she attended the Chicago Academy of Fine Arts to study clothing design. She was employed by Marigold Gardens, a new night club in Chicago, as a costume designer for the chorus line. One evening, when they were one girl short in the chorus line, Ruth was asked to take her place. She had natural talent and was soon their lead singer and star. Ruth married Moe Snyder, who worked as a bodyguard for entertainers traveling to Chicago. He used his connections to further Ruth's career. Flo Ziegfield saw her perform in Chicago and hired her as the star of the Ziegfield Follies from 1927-1931. She sang and performed across the U.S. and starred in several Hollywood movies. As Ruth's popularity soared, Moe's jealousy and strong-arm tactics became a liability her career could no longer tolerate. After divorcing Moe, Ruth moved to California and purchased a car agency which she ran with the help of Art Etting. When Moe heard that Ruth was spending a lot of time with Art and her accompanist and arranger, Meryl Alderman, he shot Meryl and shot at Ruth, but missed. Meryl was not critically injured and he and Ruth were married two months later. Ruth's career did not survive the sensational divorce and Moe's trial. After World War II and Meryl's return to civilian life, Ruth and Meryl moved to David City for a short time, then settled in Colorado Springs, CO. Ruth died in 1978 at 81 years of age.

Category:

Music

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• Dancing in the moonlight

[LiviaCairo]

I just found a great singer... She's in my list only with this music... Beautiful, thank you!

[aadjuijn]

@LiviaCairo Thank you too! Ruth is for sure a great singer...fine taste...Grtz, Aad

[Honealikethirsty]

I love this song so much its just sweet <3

[aadjuijn]

@Honealikethirsty Glad you like it! ...it's just as sweet as "Dancing in the Moonlight" ;) Grtz, Aad

[Squarerig]

aadjuijn We are in your debt for this dreamy,extremely romantic number.Would that music and singing of this quality were still around today.After listening I am a much happier man.

[aadjuijn]

@Squarerig Thank you too sir! All credits to Ruth...she was one (the only one?) of those singers who could do such! Grtz, Aad

[MaidenSuigintou]

Sorry if this offends some people, but, I'm so sad that I was born in 1997 because this music wasn't here when I was born. And that the fact that the teenagers these days may not listen to this type of and listen to hiphop or rap just saddens me. This is much better then rap or hiphop and I think music from the years 1920 to 1950 was the best music around!

Just sayin'

[aadjuijn]

@MaidenSuigintou Hello dear MaidenSuigintoo, Don't be sad...I have much teenage subscribers on my "oldies" channel! There are also alot of teenagers who loves e.g. classical music ...and that isn't "cool" too in the "youngster scene". I think you are just very honest and brave to write your comment here...and above all your taste is very outstanding! Grtz, Aad

[apocyldoomer]

@MaidenSuigintou WOW..that is good to hear from a 15 yo the Roaring Twenties were the shit Not a beauty she was but her body was nice and for that time her style of dress was considered ..well, you know.

[MaidenSuigintou]

@aadjuijn Thank you for telling me this, dude ( Sorru if saying that offends you 0. I'm glad to know that more teenagers listen to stuff like this then I thought. It's nice to know and you're a very nice man ^__^