Ruby Flipper
Encyclopedia
Ruby Flipper were a multiracial, mixed-sex dance troupe who performed dance routines to songs in the UK Singles Chart
on the BBC
television series Top of the Pops
in 1976.
The troupe made their TOTP debut on 6 May 1976, performing a dance routine to The Stylistics
' version of "Can't Help Falling In Love
".
, choreographer Flick Colby
decided to put together a new troupe which would feature both male and female dancers. In a BBC interview, co-manager Ruth Pearson added, "Pan's People had been around for about eight years and it felt like it was time for a concept change."
Auditions for the troupe took place at the Dance Centre in London's Covent Garden following press advertisements. The final line-up was chosen in March 1976 and began a period of rehearsal before their first appearance on Top of the Pops.
Colby and Pearson chose the name "Ruby Flipper" for the new team, a supposed combination of their personal names. Former Pan's People members, Cherry Gillespie and Sue Menhenick, were invited to join the new TOTP dance troupe.
According to Colby, Bill Cotton advised her and Pearson to disband Ruby Flipper in favour of a new all-girl company: "...He said he didn't like the concept and that he wanted a girl group back on the show. I was told to reform an all-girl group - or quit."
Changes to the line-up of Ruby Flipper occurred during their time on Top of the Pops. Trace last appeared as part of the line-up on 15 July 1976; his final routine being Tavares
' Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel
. Gillespie also left the troupe in September 1976; her last performance was The Ritchie Family
's "The Best Disco in Town
" on 30 September 1976.
By the autumn of 1976, Colby and Pearson decided to disband Ruby Flipper and return to the all-female dance troupe formula of Pan's People with a new sextet, Legs & Co.
. Ruby Flipper made their final Top of the Pops appearance on 14 October 1976 as a quintet, with a routine to Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music
".
Pearce was invited back to dance on TOTP for at least nine routines with Legs & Co. in the next two years, in routines to:
Pearce also appeared along with Legs and Co for two dance numbers dancing to The Real Thing
's "Let's Go Disco" and Odyssey
's "Native New Yorker
" in the film "The Stud", as well as dancing with Legs and Co to The Bee Gees' "Night Fever
" on Larry Grayson
's Generation Game. He joined the dance troupe Hot Gossip
in 1979 and stayed with them until the mid 1980s, occasionally singing lead vocals to songs in stage shows and videos, as well as dancing.
Until 1981 and the introduction of Zoo
, the resident TOTP dance troupe would remain exclusively female. The three remaining female dancers; Cartwright, Hammond and Menhenick; became part of the line-up for Legs & Co., who made their debut the week after Ruby Flipper's last performance and remained as part of the resident TOTP dance troupe until October 1981.
UK Singles Chart
The UK Singles Chart is compiled by The Official Charts Company on behalf of the British record-industry. The full chart contains the top selling 200 singles in the United Kingdom based upon combined record sales and download numbers, though some media outlets only list the Top 40 or the Top 75 ...
on the BBC
BBC
The British Broadcasting Corporation is a British public service broadcaster. Its headquarters is at Broadcasting House in the City of Westminster, London. It is the largest broadcaster in the world, with about 23,000 staff...
television series Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops
Top of the Pops, also known as TOTP, is a British music chart television programme, made by the BBC and originally broadcast weekly from 1 January 1964 to 30 July 2006. After 25 December 2006 it became a radio program, now hosted by Tony Blackburn...
in 1976.
Members
The original Ruby Flipper line-up consisted of four female dancers and three male dancers:- Lulu Cartwright
- Cherry Gillespie
- Phillip Haigh (sometimes credited as Phillip Steggles)
- Patti Hammond
- Susan "Sue" Menhenick
- Floyd Pearce
- Gavin Trace
The troupe made their TOTP debut on 6 May 1976, performing a dance routine to The Stylistics
The Stylistics
The Stylistics are a soul music vocal group, and were one of the best-known Philadelphia soul groups of the 1970s. They formed in 1968, and were composed of lead Russell Thompkins, Jr., Herbie Murrell, Airrion Love, James Smith, and James Dunn. All of their US hits were ballads, graced by the...
' version of "Can't Help Falling In Love
Can't Help Falling in Love
"Can't Help Falling in Love" is a pop song originally recorded by American singer Elvis Presley and published by Gladys Music, Elvis Presley's publishing company. It was written by Hugo Peretti, Luigi Creatore, and George David Weiss. The melody was based on "Plaisir d'Amour" but with a different...
".
How Ruby Flipper came about
As a replacement for Pan's PeoplePan's People
Pan's People were a British TV dance troupe, who are usually associated with the BBC TV music chart show Top of the Pops.In an era before pop videos, they danced to songs whose original artists were not available to perform them live...
, choreographer Flick Colby
Flick Colby
Flick Colby was an American dancer and choreographer best known for being a founder member and the choreographer of the United Kingdom dance troupe Pan's People which was a fixture on the BBC 1 chart show Top of the Pops from 1968 to 1976.Born in Hazelton, Pennsylvania, her father was Thomas E...
decided to put together a new troupe which would feature both male and female dancers. In a BBC interview, co-manager Ruth Pearson added, "Pan's People had been around for about eight years and it felt like it was time for a concept change."
Auditions for the troupe took place at the Dance Centre in London's Covent Garden following press advertisements. The final line-up was chosen in March 1976 and began a period of rehearsal before their first appearance on Top of the Pops.
Colby and Pearson chose the name "Ruby Flipper" for the new team, a supposed combination of their personal names. Former Pan's People members, Cherry Gillespie and Sue Menhenick, were invited to join the new TOTP dance troupe.
The end of Ruby Flipper
However, the troupe were not retained as the resident dancers on Top of the Pops for long. Haigh recalled, "They didn't really give a clear reason why, but they just said that it had been decided that 'Ruby Flipper will be coming to an end and that they'd be looking for a new group'."According to Colby, Bill Cotton advised her and Pearson to disband Ruby Flipper in favour of a new all-girl company: "...He said he didn't like the concept and that he wanted a girl group back on the show. I was told to reform an all-girl group - or quit."
Changes to the line-up of Ruby Flipper occurred during their time on Top of the Pops. Trace last appeared as part of the line-up on 15 July 1976; his final routine being Tavares
Tavares (band)
Tavares are a successful American R&B, funk and soul music group, composed of five Cape Verdean-American brothers from New Bedford, Massachusetts.-Band members:...
' Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel
Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel
"Heaven Must Be Missing an Angel" is a disco song written by Freddie Perren and Keni St. Lewis. It was recorded by the New England band Tavares in 1976. The song was released as a single from the album Sky High! and was split into two parts. The first part was 3 minutes and 28 seconds in length,...
. Gillespie also left the troupe in September 1976; her last performance was The Ritchie Family
The Ritchie Family
The Ritchie Family was the name of an American vocal group, based in Philadelphia, who achieved several hits during the disco era.-Career:...
's "The Best Disco in Town
The Best Disco in Town
"The Best Disco in Town" is a 1976 crossover disco single by Philadelphia-based group, The Ritchie Family. In the United States, the single was a top 20 hit on both the soul and pop charts and reached number one for one week on the disco/dance chart....
" on 30 September 1976.
By the autumn of 1976, Colby and Pearson decided to disband Ruby Flipper and return to the all-female dance troupe formula of Pan's People with a new sextet, Legs & Co.
Legs & Co.
Legs & Co. were a female dance troupe who were mainly associated with their appearances on the BBC television series Top of the Pops between 1976 and 1981....
. Ruby Flipper made their final Top of the Pops appearance on 14 October 1976 as a quintet, with a routine to Wild Cherry's "Play That Funky Music
Play That Funky Music
"Play That Funky Music" is a funk song written by Robert Parissi and recorded by the band Wild Cherry. The performers on the classic recording included the members of the band at the time: lead singer Parissi, guitarist Bryan Bassett, bassist Allen Wentz, and drummer Ron Beitle, with session horn...
".
Life after TOTP
The two male dancers in the final line-up, Haigh and Pearce, continued their dancing careers.Pearce was invited back to dance on TOTP for at least nine routines with Legs & Co. in the next two years, in routines to:
- Stevie WonderStevie WonderStevland Hardaway Morris , better known by his stage name Stevie Wonder, is an American singer-songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, record producer and activist...
's "I WishI Wish (Stevie Wonder song)"I Wish" is a hit song by Stevie Wonder. It was released in 1976 as a single and included on the album Songs in the Key of Life. Written and produced by Wonder, the song focuses on his childhood...
" on 23 December 1976 - Andrew GoldAndrew GoldAndrew Maurice Gold was an American singer, musician and songwriter. His works include the Top 10 single "Lonely Boy" , as well as the singles "Thank You for Being a Friend" , and "Never Let Her Slip Away" ....
's "Lonely BoyLonely Boy (Andrew Gold song)"Lonely Boy" is a song written and recorded by Andrew Gold in 1976 for his album What's Wrong with This Picture? The song features backing vocals provided by Linda Ronstadt . When released as a single in 1977, the song became a top-twenty hit in both the United States and the United Kingdom...
" on 14 April 1977 - Bo Kirkland and Ruth Davis' "You're Gonna Get Next To Me" on 16 June 1977
- Donna SummerDonna SummerLaDonna Adrian Gaines , known by her stage name, Donna Summer, is an American singer/songwriter who gained prominence during the disco era of the 1970s. She has a mezzo-soprano vocal range. Summer is a five-time Grammy winner and was the first artist to have three consecutive double albums reach...
's "I Feel LoveI Feel Love"I Feel Love" is a song by Donna Summer, taken from her 1977 concept album I Remember Yesterday.The song constituted the "future" segment of the album, which represented a stylistic progress through time...
" on 11 August 1977, - Stevie Wonder's "Sir DukeSir Duke"Sir Duke" is a song composed and performed by Stevie Wonder, from his 1976 album Songs in the Key of Life. Released as a single in 1977, the track topped the U.S...
" on 25 December 1977 - John TravoltaJohn TravoltaJohn Joseph Travolta is an American actor, dancer and singer. Travolta first became known in the 1970s, after appearing on the television series Welcome Back, Kotter and starring in the box office successes Saturday Night Fever and Grease...
and Olivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-JohnOlivia Newton-John AO, OBE is a singer and actress. She is a four-time Grammy award winner who has amassed five No. 1 and ten other Top Ten Billboard Hot 100 singles and two No. 1 Billboard 200 solo albums. Eleven of her singles and 14 of her albums have been certified gold by the RIAA...
's "You're the One That I WantYou're the One That I Want"You're the One That I Want" is a song written by John Farrar for the 1978 film version of the musical Grease. It was performed by John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John....
" on 25 May 1978 - The Real ThingThe Real Thing (group)-Albums:Studio albums* Real Thing - UK #34* 4 from 8 * Step Into Our World , retitled Can You Feel the Force - UK #73* ....Saints Or Sinners? Live albums* The Real Thing Live Compilation albums...
's "Let's Go Disco" also on 25 May 1978 - SylvesterSylvester James-Studio albums:-Live albums:-Compilation albums:* Mighty Real UK #62* 12 By 12 * Immortal -Singles:-Additional recordings:*Lights Out San Francisco...
's "(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real" on 21 September 1978 - John Travolta and Olivia Newton John's "Summer Nights" on 25 December 1978.
Pearce also appeared along with Legs and Co for two dance numbers dancing to The Real Thing
The Real Thing (group)
-Albums:Studio albums* Real Thing - UK #34* 4 from 8 * Step Into Our World , retitled Can You Feel the Force - UK #73* ....Saints Or Sinners? Live albums* The Real Thing Live Compilation albums...
's "Let's Go Disco" and Odyssey
Odyssey (band)
Odyssey was a New York, now UK-based dance music band. It grew out of the talent of the Connecticut-born Lopez sisters: Lillian Lopez , Louise Lopez , and Carmen Lopez , who left the group before Odyssey, as the group came to be known after her departure, was formed.-Career:Filipino singer Tony...
's "Native New Yorker
Native New Yorker (song)
"Native New Yorker" is a song written by Sandy Linzer and Denny Randell and was a 1977 hit single for the dance band Odyssey, which reached number five on the UK charts. In the U.S., the song went to number three on the disco chart. "Native New Yorker" also went to number six on the soul chart and...
" in the film "The Stud", as well as dancing with Legs and Co to The Bee Gees' "Night Fever
Night Fever
"Night Fever" is a disco song, written and performed by The Bee Gees. It first appeared on the soundtrack to Saturday Night Fever. Producer Robert Stigwood wanted to call the film Saturday Night, but singer Robin Gibb expressed hesitation at the title. Stigwood liked the title Night Fever but was...
" on Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson
Larry Grayson , born William Sulley White, was an English stand-up comedian and television presenter of the 1970s and early 80s...
's Generation Game. He joined the dance troupe Hot Gossip
Hot Gossip
-Formation:Arlene Phillips came to London to learn and teach developing American Jazz dance routines. Employed as a dance teacher, she taught at locations including the Pineapple Dance Studios and the Italia Conti Stage School. In 1974, Phillips started forming the core of a troupe; Italia Conti...
in 1979 and stayed with them until the mid 1980s, occasionally singing lead vocals to songs in stage shows and videos, as well as dancing.
Until 1981 and the introduction of Zoo
Zoo (dance troupe)
Zoo were a dance troupe who appeared on the weekly British music series Top of the Pops between 1981 and 1983.Like previous dance troupes Pan's People, Ruby Flipper and their immediate predecessors Legs & Co., Zoo were put together and choreographed by Flick Colby...
, the resident TOTP dance troupe would remain exclusively female. The three remaining female dancers; Cartwright, Hammond and Menhenick; became part of the line-up for Legs & Co., who made their debut the week after Ruby Flipper's last performance and remained as part of the resident TOTP dance troupe until October 1981.