Ruby Lovett was born in Laurel, Mississippi, her excellent debut album "Ruby Lovett" was released in 1997 on Curb Records. Ruby's pure country voice competently delivers a combination of traditional, bluegrass and gospel tracks not only from the pens of some great writers but from own too. This is an album that lovers of country should certainly have in their collection. If you would like to know more about Ruby and her music visit her website.

RUBY LOVETT True Love Never Dies. Nothing To Prove. I'm So Afraid Of Losing You. Little Bitty Crack In His Heart. Look What Love Can Do. That Train Don't Stop Here Anymore. Crazy Enough. Your Love Speaks Louder Than Words. One Of Them's Yours. In the Arms Of Love. I Don't Want To Go Out Wondering. When He's All You've Got.

CMF:- A lot of Country Music performers who grew up in rural America seem to have sung in church from as far back as they can remember. Did you do the same?

RUBY:- Yes, I did. My first public appearance was at a gospel music singing convention. After that, I would sing almost every Sunday at different churches throughout southern Mississippi.

CMF:- Presumably it was gospel music you were singing at the time and didn't you make a record at a very early age? Was that fun?

RUBY:- I made a little 45 rpm record when I was 8 years old. "Me And Jesus", a gospel song written by Tom T. Hall, was on one side and "One Day At A Time" was on the flip side. I do remember it being very fun and quite the experience for an 8 year old.

CMF:- Was it your family who, discovered your musical talents and, how were they encouraging?

RUBY:- Both my parents were present at my first public appearance. After that, my mother was the one who mainly went with me to the different churches to sing. She also involved me in bluegrass festivals, fiddlers conventions, talent contests, piano lessons and guitar lessons. I guess you could say she was more than encouraging. (laughs)

CMF:- By your early teens, you had a Country band. Where did you play?

RUBY:- My parents owned an old building that was used as their grocery store. My mom and dad cleaned it out, built a stage at one end and on Friday and Saturday nights we'd (my band and I) play there. Mama made refreshments and folks from the neighborhood would come out and hear us play

CMF:- Although not dissuading you from your musical ambitions, your mother sensibly suggested you obtain a marketable skill. Did you still find time to continue to regularly perform?

RUBY:- I don't recall doing much performing when I was in X-ray school. I was a typical teenager; just out of high school, hanging out with friends, and my studies from college and X-ray school kept me very busy.

CMF:- Had you started writing your own material at this time?

RUBY:- Yes, I believe I wrote my first song at the age of 10. The song was titled "Country Girl." I continued to write throughout my teenage years

CMF:- Your big break came following an appearance at the Jimmie Rodgers Festival that resulted in you and your mother regularly travelling to Nashville. That must have been both an exciting and exhausting time for you?

RUBY:- Well, I had my first X-ray job at the time, so I was working full time and only had three days off a month. So, yes, it was both exhausting and exciting at the same time. You would be surprised how motivated one can be and how much you can get done in just three short days.

CMF:- You must have been pleased you took your mother's advice to learn a skill as it meant you were able to support yourself by working at a hospital whilst trying to get a break in the business after moving to Nashville

RUBY:- I still have my moments when I turn my nose up at the thought of taking X-rays to make my living. I have to be honest, it's never been one of my favorite things to do. But, that's also because my heart is in my music and when I sit back and really think about it, it has been a great job that has given me the means to support myself while I pursue my dream

CMF:- On the album there's some great songs - a version of Charley Pride's No 1 hit "I So Afraid of Losing You Again", a duet with Ken Mellons "One Of Them Is Yours" - "Little Bitty Crack In His Heart", written by Shawn Camp and three co-written by yourself. From where do you get your writing inspiration?

RUBY:- I tend to draw a majority of inspiration from self experiences as well as from the person or persons that I co-write with. The gospel song, "When He's All You've Got", came from my love for and faith in God, as well as my promise to my mother and myself to put at least one gospel song on my album. I feel very blessed that I was able to include it on the album.

CMF:- One of the most thought provoking songs on the album is undoubtedly "Look What Love Can Do" - A story where a young girl gives up her baby for adoption to an older woman. Now this song, which you wrote, has a very personal significance to you. Can you tell us about it?

RUBY:- The inspiration came from my own personal experience as an adopted child. I wanted to write a song that would thank both my birth mother and my adoptive mother, for giving me the opportunity at life. I actually happen to have that title in mind for a love song. But, as it happened, one of the co-writers on that song is also adopted. We got to talking, sharing ideas and one thing led to another, and we ultimately felt we could write a song about love and the uniqueness of adoption.

CMF:- If you could co-write with any writer - who would it be and why?

RUBY:- I would love to write with Tony Arata ("The Dance", as recorded by Garth Brooks). I love the way that man's mind works.

CMF:- Looking back, who would you say has been the biggest influence on your life and your music?

RUBY:- There are a couple of people: My mother, for helping to get me started with my music; A fella by the name of Jimmy Metts, who brought me to Nashville 10 years ago and made me believe there was a place for me in this business.

CMF:- You're travelling to Europe, sadly not the UK, later in Julywith Shawn Camp and Rob Crosby. When you are away from home, do you get homesick and who or what do you miss the most?

RUBY:- Yes, actually, I get very homesick. I fret about my parents, my friends and my dog, Sally. I find myself worrying that everything back home is okay. It's just my nature, I suppose. (laughs)

CMF:- Thank you Ruby for taking time out for a chat. Good Luck for future and with the European tour in July.

©2000 CountryMusicFile