Ruby Andrews obit

Chicago soul legend Ruby Andrews dies

 

She was not on the list.

(August 13, 2026) Though her greatest international fame came more than a half century ago, Ruby Andrews was a powerful soul singer who remained a legend, both around the world and especially in her hometown of Chicago. We’re sad to report tonight the Ms. Andrews has died at age 79

Born Ruby Stackhouse in Hollandale, Mississippi, in 1947, Andrews moved to Chicago as a child and began singing professionally while still in high school, working with the vocal group The Vondells before launching her solo career.

Her breakthrough came in 1967 with the deliciously assertive “Casonova (Your Playing Days Are Over)”, released on Chicago’s Zodiac Records. The song became Andrews’ biggest national hit, reaching #9 on the R&B chart and crossing over to #51 on the pop chart. Written and produced in part by noted songwriter Jo Armstead, the recording established Andrews as a distinctive new voice on the soul scene.

Andrews followed with a series of strong singles, the most popular of which were “You Made a Believer (Out of Me),” an R&B Top 20 hit in 1969, and “Everybody Saw You,” a Top 40 R&B hit the following year. Much of her Zodiac work was created with Fred Bridges, Robert Eaton and Richard Knight, the Detroit-based writing and production team also known as the Brothers of Soul.

Her recordings from the period combined the polished sound of Chicago soul with a tougher, blues-influenced edge, and albums such as Everybody Saw You and Black Ruby have developed a following among soul collectors. Andrews continued recording in later decades, including bluesier material for the Ichiban label produced by the singular soul artist and producer Swamp Dogg. Her final album was 1998’s Hip Shakin Mama.

While she didn’t release any new music in the 2000s, Ruby Andrews remained an important part of Chicago soul history — an expressive singer whose best recordings have aged remarkably well and continue to be rediscovered by new generations of deep soul fans. May she rest in peace.