# Ruby Murray

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Northern Irish singer (1935–1996)

Ruby Murray Murray in 1969 Background information Born Ruby Florence Murray (1935-03-29)29 March 1935 Donegall Road, Belfast, Northern Ireland Died 17 December 1996(1996-12-17) (aged 61) Torquay, Devon, England Genres Traditional popular music Occupation Singer Years active 1953–1996 Label Columbia (EMI) Spouse(s) Bernie Burgess (m. 1957-1974; divorced); 2 children Ray Lamar (m. 1991) Website rubymurray.org

Musical artist

**Ruby Florence Murray** (29 March 1935 – 17 December 1996[1]) was a Northern Irish singer from [Belfast](/source/Belfast). One of the most popular performers in Britain and Ireland in the 1950s,[2] she scored ten hits in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) between 1954 and 1959, including a no. 1 with *[Softly, Softly](/source/Softly%2C_Softly_(song))*. She also made pop chart history in March 1955 by having five hits in the Top Twenty in a single week.[3] *[New Musical Express](/source/New_Musical_Express)* named her Britain's favourite female singer of 1955.[4] [Frank Sinatra](/source/Frank_Sinatra) told her that he was her "greatest fan".[5]

## Child star

Ruby Florence Murray was born in Moltke Street,[6] in the "Village" area of the [Donegall Road](/source/Donegall_Road) in south [Belfast](/source/Belfast). She was the youngest child in a [Protestant](/source/Ulster_Protestants) family and had a Scottish father.[7] She underwent surgery at six weeks of age due to swollen glands and, as a result, had a very husky voice.[8] Entering a public speaking contest run by Eglinton Young Farmers Club, Derry in March 1947, she won a special prize for the youngest competitor under 18. A performance at the Ballymena Variety Theatre in February 1948 received a positive reception[9] and she then toured in Northern Ireland as a child singer. Murray first appeared on television at the age of 12, having been spotted by producer Richard Afton.[1] Owing to laws governing children performing, Murray had to delay her start in the entertainment industry.[1] She returned to Belfast and full-time education until she was 14.[10] Of her voice, Murray joked: "I have to gargle with razor blades to get this effect".[11]

## Chart success

Murray kept busy on the variety stage in Northern Ireland in the early 1950s, including performing at the bandstand on the [Newcastle](/source/Newcastle_County_Down) seafront,[12][13] and in 1954 she joined a touring revue called "Yankee Doodle Blarney" which gave her very useful exposure on the English variety stages.[14] Richard Afton offered her the position of resident singer on the [BBC's](/source/BBC_Television) *Quite Contrary* television show, to replace [Joan Regan](/source/Joan_Regan).[15] After being again spotted by [Ray Martin](/source/Ray_Martin_(orchestra_leader))[16] on the first *Quite Contrary* show,[17] Murray was signed to [Columbia](/source/Columbia_Graphophone_Company) and her first single, "Heartbeat", reached No. 3 in the [UK Singles Chart](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) in December 1954.[3] "[Softly, Softly](/source/Softly%2C_Softly_(song))", her second single, reached number one in early 1955.[3] That year, Murray set a pop chart record by having five hits in the Top Twenty in one week, a feat unmatched for many years.[1][2] In 2014, the *[Guinness Book of World Records](/source/Guinness_Book_of_World_Records)* issued three certificates confirming that at the date of issue, nobody had beaten this record, although it was shared with three other singers. The record by a female singer stood until 2022.[18]

The 1950s was a busy period for Murray, during which she had her own television show, starred at the [London Palladium](/source/London_Palladium) with [Norman Wisdom](/source/Norman_Wisdom), appeared in a [Royal Command Performance](/source/Royal_Command_Performance) (1955)[19] and toured the world.[1] In a period of 52 weeks, starting on 3 December 1954 and lasting until the end of November 1955, Murray constantly had at least one single in the UK charts; this was at a time when only a Top 20 was published.

She sang *You are my First Love* (a UK Top 20 hit) as the introductory theme song to the 1956 film *[It's Great to Be Young!](/source/It's_Great_to_Be_Young_(1956_film))*[20][21][22]

Murray appeared as "Ruby" in her only film role, *[A Touch of the Sun](/source/A_Touch_of_the_Sun_(1956_film))*, a 1956 farce with [Frankie Howerd](/source/Frankie_Howerd) and [Dennis Price](/source/Dennis_Price).[1] A couple of hits followed later in the decade; "[Goodbye Jimmy, Goodbye](/source/Goodbye_Jimmy%2C_Goodbye)", a No. 10 hit in 1959, was her final appearance in the charts.[1] [EMI](/source/EMI) released a compilation album of her hits on CD in 1989, including songs that regularly featured in her act; "[Mr. Wonderful](/source/Mr._Wonderful_(1955_song))", "[Scarlet Ribbons](/source/Scarlet_Ribbons_(For_Her_Hair))" and "It's the Irish in Me".[1] They updated this with the release of *EMI Presents The Magic of Ruby Murray* in 1997 and a four CD album, *Anthology – The Golden Anniversary Collection*, in 2005, the 50th anniversary of her peak successes on the charts.[1]

After her years as a major star, Murray continued performing until close to the end of her life. This included singing for [Queen Elizabeth](/source/Elizabeth_II) at a Buckingham Palace Christmas party in 1989.[4]

In late 1994 she officially opened the "Women Too" centre in the Village area of Belfast.[23]

## Legacy

Murray had a shy, girl next door persona, with her appeal to audiences everywhere lying in her "Irish sense of humour and her naturalness".[4][8] Her popularity led to her name being adopted in [Cockney rhyming slang](/source/Rhyming_slang) as a rhyme for "[curry](/source/Curry)".[24] The phrase "have a ruby" appears in various episodes of the BBC TV comedy series *[Only Fools and Horses](/source/Only_Fools_and_Horses)*. It also appeared in another BBC sitcom series, *[The Royle Family](/source/The_Royle_Family)*.

A play about Murray's life, *Ruby*, written by the Belfast playwright [Marie Jones](/source/Marie_Jones), opened at the Group Theatre in Belfast in April 2000.[1] A second play, by Michael Cameron, opened in Belfast on 13 February 2019 and was sold out at all performances.[25][26]

[Virgin Atlantic](/source/Virgin_Atlantic) G-VYUM, a [Boeing 787-9](/source/Boeing_787_Dreamliner), is named the "Ruby Murray" in her honour.

In February 2019, the [Ulster History Circle](/source/Ulster_History_Circle) erected a blue plaque in her honour near to where she had been born.[6]

Her children confirmed what their mother said about having been exploited financially, and Murray received very little from song royalties.[11] Her daughter Julie said: "All mum wanted to do was sing. She had very little business acumen at all".[27]

Murray's manager for more than 10 years, Lee Stevens, commented: "She gave happiness to millions of people, but sadly she never found real happiness herself".[8]

Murray observed in 1979: "As long as I’m singing I'm happy".[11]

## Personal life

In 1957, while topping the bill with [Tommy Cooper](/source/Tommy_Cooper) in Blackpool,[27] Murray met Bernie Burgess, a member of a successful television and recording vocal quartet, the Four Jones Boys. Shortly afterwards she left Northern Ireland to marry him (within six weeks) and live in [Northampton](/source/Northampton);[1] her family did not approve of the marriage because they didn't know the new husband.[27] Burgess, contrary to press reports, did not become her manager; rather, his role was that of a supporting husband. The couple included a song-and-dance segment in Murray's act during the 1960s.[10] She had very strong feelings for fellow-Belfast star [Frank Carson](/source/Frank_Carson).[8] Counted among her close friends were [Max Bygraves](/source/Max_Bygraves) and Norman Wisdom.[4]

Like her father,[27] Murray struggled with [alcoholism](/source/Alcoholism) for most of her life;[8] these struggles contributed to the breakdown of her marriage in 1974. The divorce was finalised in 1976 and Murray moved to [Torquay](/source/Torquay) to live with an old friend, Ray Lamar, a former stage dancer and theatre impresario, who was 18 years her senior.[28] They married in 1991 and spent the evening with a small party of friends and family at an Italian restaurant in [Babbacombe](/source/Babbacombe).

Murray had two children from her marriage to Burgess, Julie (b. 1960) and Tim (b. 1965).[1] Tim died unexpectedly from a heart condition in July 2020 aged 55.[29]

She spent her last years in Asprey's Nursing Home, having given up alcohol.[8] She died of [liver cancer](/source/Hepatocellular_carcinoma) on 17 December 1996 aged 61.[1] At her funeral in St Matthias Church in Wellswood, *Softly, Softly* was played.[4]

Lamar died on 3 August 2005 aged 87.[30] Burgess died on 19 July 2024 aged 95.[31]

## Singles discography

- "Heartbeat" (1954) – [UK](/source/UK_Singles_Chart) number 3

- "[Softly, Softly](/source/Softly%2C_Softly_(song))" (1955) – UK number 1

- "[Happy Days and Lonely Nights](/source/Happy_Days_and_Lonely_Nights)" (1955) – UK number 6

- "[Let Me Go Lover](/source/Let_Me_Go%2C_Lover!)" (1955) – UK number 5

- "If Anyone Finds This, I Love You" (1955) – UK number 4 †

- "Evermore" (1955) – UK number 3

- "I'll Come When You Call" (1955) – UK number 6

- "The Very First Christmas of All" (1955) – UK number 9 (*[Record Mirror](/source/Record_Mirror)*)

- "You are My First Love" (1956) – UK number 16

- "Real Love" (1958) – UK number 18

- "[Goodbye Jimmy, Goodbye](/source/Goodbye_Jimmy%2C_Goodbye)" (1959) – UK number 10

† Ruby Murray with [Anne Warren](/source/Anne_Warren)[3]

A detailed discography is found on the official website.[32]

## See also

- [List of artists who reached number one on the UK Singles Chart](/source/List_of_artists_who_reached_number_one_on_the_UK_Singles_Chart)

- [List of Northern Irish people](/source/List_of_Northern_Irish_people)

- [Culture of Northern Ireland](/source/Culture_of_Northern_Ireland)

- [List of Belfast people](/source/List_of_Belfast_people)

## References

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-5) [***g***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-6) [***h***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-7) [***i***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-8) [***j***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-9) [***k***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-10) [***l***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-11) [***m***](#cite_ref-AMG_1-12) ["Ruby Murray – Artist Biography by Sharon Mawer"](https://www.allmusic.com/artist/p23722). AllMusic. Retrieved 20 February 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Obit_2-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Obit_2-1) Vallance, Tom (18 December 1996). ["Obituary"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ruby-murray-1315048.html). *The Independent*. Retrieved 28 February 2009.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums_3-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums_3-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums_3-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-British_Hit_Singles_&_Albums_3-3) Roberts, David (2006). *British Hit Singles & Albums* (19th ed.). London: Guinness World Records Limited. p. 384. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-904994-10-5](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-904994-10-5).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-henderson_4-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-henderson_4-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-henderson_4-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-henderson_4-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-henderson_4-4) Guy Henderson, ['Ruby Murray - Torquay's record breaking singing superstar and Cockney slang legend'](https://www.devonlive.com/news/history/ruby-murray-torquays-record-breaking-6711897). Devon Live, 5 March 2022. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-dib_5-0)** Andrew O'Brien and Linde Lunney, ['Murray, Ruby'](https://www.dib.ie/biography/murray-ruby-a6115). Dictionary of Irish Biography, October 2009. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-donnelly_6-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-donnelly_6-1) Paul Donnelly, ['Ruby Murray – The Heartbeat Girl from The Donegall Road'](https://deadcentretours.com/2021/12/07/ruby-murray/). DC Tours, 7 December 2021. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-7)** ["Culture Northern Ireland"](https://web.archive.org/web/20070518180858/http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=15&to=286&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1). Archived from [the original](http://www.culturenorthernireland.org/town_Home.aspx?co=15&to=286&ca=0&sca=0&navID=1) on 18 May 2007.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-independent_8-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-independent_8-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-independent_8-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-independent_8-3) [***e***](#cite_ref-independent_8-4) [***f***](#cite_ref-independent_8-5) Vallance, Tom (18 December 1996). ["Obituary: Ruby Murray"](https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/obituary-ruby-murray-1315048.html). *[The Independent](/source/The_Independent)*. Retrieved 13 January 2020.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-9)** "Ballymena Weekly Telegraph". *Ballymena Weekly Telegraph*: 2. 20 February 1948.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-Larkin_10-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-Larkin_10-1) [Colin Larkin](/source/Colin_Larkin_(writer)), ed. (1997). *[The Virgin Encyclopedia of Popular Music](/source/Encyclopedia_of_Popular_Music)* (Concise ed.). [Virgin Books](/source/Virgin_Books). p. 886. [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [1-85227-745-9](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/1-85227-745-9).

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-onthisday_11-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-onthisday_11-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-onthisday_11-2) [(02:02–) '#OnThisDay 1979: Where Are They Now?, hosted by David Jacobs, began. His first guest was popular 50s chart-topper, Ruby Murray'](https://archive.org/details/twitter-1159362356087885826). BBC Archive, 8 August 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-12)** ["Diane Harron reports on Pierrots at Newcastle, County Down, and the lack of entertainment acts that have booked the location (0:19)"](https://bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/5b056dddd6d60700296d0f88?q=%22Ruby%20Murray%22). BBC Scene Around Six, 14 January 1971. Retrieved 27 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-13)** "Portadown News". *Portadown News*: 1. 16 June 1951.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-14)** "The Stage". *The Stage*: 5. 18 March 1954.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-15)** ["Singers of the Fabulous Fifties"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080913014230/http://www.communigate.co.uk/sussex/bmbgat/page8.phtml). *CommuniGate*. United Kingdom: This Is Sussex. Archived from [the original](http://www.communigate.co.uk/sussex/bmbgat/page8.phtml) on 13 September 2008. Retrieved 24 September 2008.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-16)** ["28 Nov 1955, 6 - Evening Standard"](http://www.newspapers.com/image/720986052/?terms=Ray+Martin&match=1). *Newspapers.com*. Retrieved 30 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-17)** "not forward". *Daily Mirror*: 2. 23 August 1954.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-Dailey-2022_18-0)** Dailey, Hannah (6 December 2022). ["Here Are All of Taylor Swift's Biggest Accomplishments in 2022"](https://www.billboard.com/lists/taylor-swift-biggest-accomplishments-2022/). *[Billboard](/source/Billboard_(magazine))*. Retrieved 7 December 2022.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-NME_Rock_'N'_Roll_Years_19-0)** Tobler, John (1992). *NME Rock 'N' Roll Years* (1st ed.). London: Reed International Books Ltd. p. 20. CN 5585.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-20)** Mark Cunliffe, ['It's Great to be Young!'](https://letterboxd.com/man_out_of_time/film/its-great-to-be-young/). Letterboxd, 4 February 2024. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-21)** ['It's Great to be Young!'](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0049372/). IMDB, undated. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-22)** ['It's Great to be Young!'](https://www.loc.gov/item/jots.200016450). Library of Congress, undated. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-23)** ["Report by Maggie Taggart on the building of the 'Women Too' centre in the village area of Belfast (0:40)"](https://bbcrewind.co.uk/asset/6048ec70e279d5002794a567?q=%22Ruby%20Murray%22). BBC Inside Ulster, 22 November 1994. Retrieved 27 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-24)** ["Ruby Murray rhyming slang"](https://web.archive.org/web/20080511081605/http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/Cockney%2BRhyming%2BSlang%2B%28Transliterated%29/ruby%2Bmurray). *Webster's Online Dictionary*. Archived from [the original](http://www.websters-online-dictionary.org/translation/Cockney+Rhyming+Slang+%2528Transliterated%2529/ruby+murray) on 11 May 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2007.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-25)** ["Ruby!"](https://lyrictheatre.co.uk/event/ruby/). *Lyric Theatre*. Retrieved 26 February 2019.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-26)** Lee, Jenny (5 January 2019). ["New stage play celebrates the life of 1950s Belfast pop star Ruby Murray"](http://www.irishnews.com/arts/2019/01/05/news/new-stage-play-celebrates-the-life-of-1950s-belfast-pop-star-ruby-murray-1521205/). *[The Irish News](/source/The_Irish_News)*.

1. ^ [***a***](#cite_ref-bbcni_27-0) [***b***](#cite_ref-bbcni_27-1) [***c***](#cite_ref-bbcni_27-2) [***d***](#cite_ref-bbcni_27-3) ['Growing up with Ruby Murray'](https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/p070zjfb). BBC Northern Ireland, 15 February 2019. Retrieved 21 May 2026

1. **[^](#cite_ref-28)** ["Ray Lamar"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180716224110/https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2005/ray-lamar/). *Thestage.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](https://www.thestage.co.uk/features/obituaries/2005/ray-lamar/) on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-29)** ["Tim Murray: Son of singing sensation who found his own voice in a life filled with music"](http://www.irishnews.com/notices/livesremembered/2020/08/01/news/tim-murray-son-of-singing-sensation-who-found-his-own-voice-in-a-life-filled-with-music-2020327/). *[The Irish News](/source/The_Irish_News)*. 1 August 2020. Retrieved 30 September 2021.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-30)** ["Ruby Murray's husband Ray Lamar dies aged 87"](https://web.archive.org/web/20180716225447/https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2005/ruby-murrays-husband-ray-lamar-dies-aged-87/). *Thestage.co.uk*. Archived from [the original](https://www.thestage.co.uk/news/2005/ruby-murrays-husband-ray-lamar-dies-aged-87/) on 16 July 2018. Retrieved 16 July 2018.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-31)** ["The sad passing of Bernie Burgess"](https://www.rubymurray.org/forum/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=2521). *www.rubymurray.org*. Retrieved 18 August 2024.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-32)** ["The Recordings of Ruby Murray"](https://www.rubymurray.org/songs.html/), official website.

## External links

- [Official website](http://www.rubymurray.org/)

- [Short biography](http://www.45-rpm.org.uk/dirr/rubym.htm) 45rpm.org.uk

Authority control databases International ISNI VIAF GND WorldCat National United States Italy Spain Netherlands Norway Israel Artists MusicBrainz Discography of American Historical Recordings People Ireland Deutsche Biographie

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Adapted from the Wikipedia article [Ruby Murray](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Murray) by Wikipedia contributors ([contributor history](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ruby_Murray?action=history)). Available under [Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/). Changes may have been made.