Ruth Fernández
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Ruth Fernández (born May 23, 1919 in Ponce, Puerto Rico) is a singer who according to the "Comisiones Nacionales para la Celebración del Quinto Centenario" (National Commission for the Celebration of the Fifth Centennial) is said to be one of three artists whose contributions have helped unite Latin America. The other two artists named were Libertad Lamarque from Argentina and Pedro Vargas from Mexico.
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[edit] Early life
Ruth's mother died when she was three years old and she was raised along with her four other siblings by her grandmother. She received her primary and secondary education in her hometown. As a child she learned to play the piano and was very active in her school and community's activities. In high school she organized her own musical group. She became a professional singer at the age of 14 when she would go to the local radio stations, WPRP and WPAB, and sing for 50 cents a day. In 1935, when she was 16 years old, she was heard by Mingo, a bandleader of a locally popular band and was hired. She then performed in nightclubs, dances and casinos.
[edit] Rise to stardom
Ruth started to gain popularity and in 1941, was signed by Columbia Records with whom she recorded her first hit song, "Cuando Vuelvas" (When you return) a theme written by Myrta Silva. Her first appearance in New York was in The Latin Theater of New York. There the Master of Ceremonies, Hector del Villar, introduced her as "El Alma de Puerto Rico hecha cancion" (The Soul of Puerto Rico made song). That nickname or introduction was to stay with her forever.
When Ruth returned to the island, she enrolled in the University of Puerto Rico with the intention of becoming a social worker. However, she once again joined Mingo and his band, the "Whoopee Kids" and toured with them throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America.
Ruth was the very first successful black female Puerto Rican singer, and as such, she broke color barriers and stereotypes. On one occasion the Mingo band was contracted to perform in the Condado Vanderbilt Hotel. The director of the orchestra told her that according to the hotel's rules, she had to enter through the kitchen door like all other black musicians (a de facto integration rule, illegal at the time in Puerto Rico, but still in place at the time out of concern for American patrons of the hotel). Ruth however, did not follow the instructions and entered through the main entrance. She went on stage and performed before the astonished audience. During World War II and the Korean War, she traveled overseas to entertain the soldiers of Hispanic descent.
When she returned to Puerto Rico, she decided to go solo. In 1954, Ruth participated in the first televised musical television show in the history of Puerto Rico "El Show Libby's". She also had many other "firsts", she was the first woman to sing in a Puerto Rican orchestra; the first Puerto Rican woman to sing "popular" music at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City; the first latina singer of romantic music to sing in the Scandinavian countries and the first latina to record with a North American band.
Ruth sang in the United States and was transmitted coast to coast when she was contracted by a network of CBS radio stations. She also performed at the Carnegie Hall of New York. Among the many countries in which she has performed are Italy, France, Spain, Norway, Venezuela, Mexico, Panama and Cuba.
[edit] Awards and recognitions
Among the many awards and recognitions which have been bestowed upon her are:
- The Medal of Vasco Nuñez de Balboa from Panama;
- The Order of Francisco de Miranda from Venezuela;
- an Honorary Doctorate from the World University and
- the declaration of a "Ruth Fernandez Day" in the cities of Washington, D.C., New York City, Los Angeles and in Puerto Rico.
In 1963, Pablo Casals wrote and dedicated to Ruth Fernandez the song "Ven a Mi" (Come to Me).
In 1985, she was given a tribute in recognition of the 50 years which she has dedicated to the artistic world with the participation of Mario Moreno "Cantinflas", Libertad Lamarque, Pedro Vargas, Olga Guillot and many others. She was also named by 500th Centennial commission as one of the three Latin American artists who have contributed the most in uniting Latin America.
In 2000, she was paid a tribute in the Antonio Paoli Hall of the Luis A. Ferre Center for the Performing Arts in Puerto Rico. During the tribute she was proclaimed "The Singer of the Century" of Puerto Rico.
[edit] Political life
She was elected into the Senate of Puerto Rico, representing the district of Ponce as a member of the Partido Popular de Puerto Rico (Popular Democratic Party of Puerto Rico). As a legislaturer she sought many reforms and better working conditions for the artistic class. In 1990, she was selected by Imagen (Image) magazine as one the ten most powerful women in Puerto Rico.
Ruth Fernández is currently retired from all political activities and at times works with the House of the Puerto Rican Artist organization.
