The nine-year-old Ruby was fresh out of Jamaica when her family arrived in Birmingham. “Yes, it was a bit of a culture shock but in time, how can I say? It was an adventure, it really was just that. I was just as excited as I was afraid, you know. As time went by you sort of started to reminisce about home, you know. So you have more of an understanding.”

They were the biggest pop band going and I was a part of it, so it was quite an exciting time for someone starting out

Ruby Turner explains her early success, “When I got my recording contract, to be honest, I was just out having a good time, getting some drinks and literally just enjoying the gift and the experience”, says Ruby Turner. “It was not until I had the contract that it became more serious, and more competitive. You realise you’re in a race of some sort you know what I mean?”

This British soul artist says, “Creativity is what really drives me, I have no motions about fame or fortune, I was just absolutely enjoying the art really. I actually started out in acting, which inspires me, and then from that my voice developed or came through. I was like a kid in a sweet shop and I was having the best time with it, you know”

After Ruby Turner’s experience with the pop band Culture Club, she finally released a record on Jiva Records. “Up until this point I’d worked five years on the road, I had my own band, doing session work with Culture Club, which was fantastic. They were the biggest pop band going and I was a part of it, so it was quite an exciting time for someone starting out. It was just a question of getting a deal and that was kind of hard to come by. So the distraction was to work with somebody else — which is a great distraction.”

She continues, “I got looked after well. I got to play at Madison Square Gardens, and Wembley, so it was just fantastic. Then I came back home and the record deal happened and I was really happy about that because I was years on the road looking for a recording contract and it came about,” says Ruby Turner. “Then my life changed again because I became an artist in my own right and then it all took off from there really”.

Ruby Turner explains, “The recording contract instigated the idea really, Jiva had the insight and foresight and had the concept of the album. The initial idea was my idea to work with the other Motown artists. I was a big fan of Motown and I didn’t want to touch these songs because you can’t better them”, she proceeds, “If you cover a song and can’t do it as well then you shouldn’t touch it. My thing was if they get some of the Motown artists to appear then I was able to pull it off, and they did, so it was great.”

I’m no pioneer, I came in this industry and there were people before me and there were people behind me

Ruby Turner would soon find herself a developing a Stateside fan base, as she scored an R&B chart hit in the American R&B charts with ‘It Will Be Alright’. “Because it was a great song and it sounded relevant to the American market and the American people. I went over there and promoted the single for about three weeks. While I was there the song was getting heavy air play and doing well in the charts. “What I wasn’t expecting was how positive the song was and how they could relate to it and it was just one of those things.”

She’s no stranger to hit records in the UK either such as ‘When You Can Hold Me’ and more recently ‘Stay With Me Baby’ was a top 40 hit.

Ruby confesses to not knowing what makes a hit record, “Sweet heart if I knew, I’d be a millionaire! I’m a lyricist so that’s where I go. I can get off on a groove but it’s the lyrics that reach my ears first.”

She won’t be drawn either on the state of the industry, “I have my views but they are quite irrelevant. Who wants to hear my views? So it’s kind of wrong for another artist to criticise another artist for what they do. I’m no pioneer, I came in this industry and there were people before me and there were people behind me. As long as you make your contribution to life, who’s to say your right or wrong?”

She is more ready to share what she does value in life, “Oh good friends, good health, genuine friendships, you know, they are hard to find.”

Catch Ruby doing her own thing or singing with Jools Holland’s band.