Biography
Constance Henrietta Mierzwiak started singing Brenda Lee covers as a young girl in Toledo Ohio, but eventually took the stage name Ruby Jones and was signed to Curtis Mayfield's Chicago based Curtom label as Janis Jopiln-esque white soul singer circa 1971.
Their sole album was released in the US in 1972, but despite becoming a midwest regional live circuit fave, the LP failed to gain airplay elsewhere. (The record was never released in the UK until a 2000 CD reissue on Sequel).
Shortly after the album's failure to gain commercial traction Ruby Jones and her band played with Black Oak Arkansas, and Constance i.e Ruby signed with that band's management, bringing the Ruby Jones Band to an end.
She changed her name to Ruby Starr, and sang the memorbale line "Go Jim Dandy! Go!" on Black Oak Arkansas major mid 70's hit "Jim Dandy" and performed with the band onstage. She toured with the group for years, and was known for flamboyant onstage antics including cartwheels and appeared on the albums Street Party and Balls of Fire.
She later formed Ruby Jones & Grey Ghost recording three albums for Capitol and one more under the name Ruby Starr and The Jones Band before being dropped in 1977.
She later performed with Blackfoot and various a bands including Ruby Star & the Grey Band, Grey Star and The Ruby Star Band. Connie's last official release came out in 1985, and she was back in Toledo, dead at age 44 in 1995, cut down by a brutal battle with brain and lung cancer.
Discography
Albums
* Ruby Jones (Curtom 1971)
* Ruby Starr & Grey Ghost (Capitol 1975)
* Scene Stealer (Capitol 1976)
* Smoky Places (Capitol 1977)
* Stone Junkie (Sequel, 2000)
With Black Oak Arkansas
* Street Party (Atco 1974)
* Balls Of Fire (MCA 1976)
* Live On The King Biscuit Flower Hour 1976 (Capricorn 1998)
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