Biography

Ronald & Ruby were an American interracial pop vocal duo, best known for their 1958 hit single "Lollipop". The duo's members were the black Ronald Gumm (or Gumps) and the white Beverly "Ruby" Ross; interracial pop groups were not widely regarded at this time, and the group did not appear in public or in major press and television outlets. They had previously worked together as songwriters; among their credits are "Young and Hungry for Love", "Frankenstein Rock", "Fat Pat", "Soul Mates", "Don't Come to My Party", and "The Ghost of Love". In 1958, they released a single together entitled "Lollipop". It became a hit in the U.S., reaching #20 on the Billboard Hot 100. The song would be covered by The Chordettes and The Mudlarks. They released several further singles, including "Love Birds", none of them hits. Ross continued as a songwriter, registering nearly 200 songs with BMI, including "Candy Man" and "Judy's Turn to Cry".