After Dinner Speakers: Ruby Turner, Nicole Kidman, Eric Clapton

b. 1958, Montego Bay, Jamaica. Ruby Turner moved to Birmingham, England, in 1967. Initially it was her thespian talents which brought her to prominence, as she appeared in numerous plays and musicals before joining the Crescent Theatre. However, discouraged by the lack of opportunities in her chosen career, she elected to concentrate on her singing. A number of years were spent trying to attract attention in smoky pubs and clubs, until she eventually made the acquaintance of Boy George. After joining Culture Club on their world tour, she found work with UB40 and Bryan Ferry, with whom she toured and recorded. Maturing as a singer and songwriter, Turner recorded her debut single, "Every Soul", for a small local label, before being offered a contract with Jive Records, for whom she made her debut in 1986 with Women Hold Up Half The Sky. Produced by Jonathan Butler, this included her four UK Top 60 singles, "If You're Ready (Come Go With Me)", "I'm In Love", "Bye Baby" and "I'd Rather Go Blind", the latter reaching number 24 in March 1987. This led to further collaborative projects with Billy Ocean, Womack And Womack, the Temptations, Four Tops and Jimmy Ruffin. Although neither of her subsequent albums for Jive, 1990's Paradise and 1991's The Other Side, reaped similar commercial reward in the UK, the title-track of the latter album, which was used in Willy Russell's film Dancing Through The Dark, became a US number 1 R&B hit. In 1994 she released Restless Moods for a new label and toured Australia and New Zealand, where her Best Of compilation went to number 1. She also returned to the UK Top 40 with the single "Stay With Me Baby" in February. Already an established personality, Turner furthered her celebrity reputation by presenting programmes on BBC Radio 2 and performing George Gershwin songs at the Birmingham Symphony Hall backed by a 40-piece orchestra. Before the release of Guilty, Turner returned to a theatrical career, taking lessons part-time at the Birmingham School Of Speech And Drama and making her professional stage debut playing the part of Frankie in Carmen Jones. She subsequently appeared in the UK television BBC drama series Back Up.